A calling from God: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms”. 1 Peter 4:10-11

Today is the last day of human trafficking awareness month but it doesn’t stop me from sharing a unique experience that I have encountered while trying to raise awareness of this important issue in the community.

In the summer of 2013, I spent two months in London for an internship opportunity that I eventually didn't get. As a result, I ended up wandering around in London and other cities in the U.K. as a tourist and as a dreamer; I often found myself writing stories or postcards to my loved ones or reading novels at various coffee shops in the U.K. However, most importantly, I became involved at a church where I was connected with the locals while sharpening my faith since I was a new Christian at the time. Subsequently, I was invited to do volunteer work with this church’s partner organization named A21 Campaign (Home | A21). At first, I hesitated because I felt quite intimidated to march around London while being required to wear a black shirt with black tape over my mouth, but being inspired to see how many other volunteers showed up at the event I realized there was nothing to be afraid of. The goal of this march was to raise awareness about human trafficking.

Although the issue of human trafficking was not new to me as I used to work as an outreach coordinator for an anti-human trafficking project at a non-profit organization in Oakland, California before, the march felt different, it felt powerful. As we marched around with the city with our black t-shirts and with tape over our mouths, we were frequently stopped by curious residents in various neighborhoods that we passed by or pedestrians on the streets. I was excited and surprised how people wanted to know more about this issue until I saw police walking toward us.

My instinct was “Oh no, are we doing something illegal? Are we being too dramatic? Will we be questioned and asked to stop what we were doing?” As the police approaching us, he nodded at us with a sense of respect and said, “thank you for raising awareness of human trafficking, it is important, because my wife was a victim of human trafficking.”

Almost 8 years later when I look back at that quick yet special encounter, I couldn’t stop to praise how God had placed me at the right time and right place to be encouraged of my calling and to remind me that the human trafficking issue is real and it impacted people’s lives whether we see it or not.

God has led me to work with this isolated and often marginalized population again and again. I smiled when a former colleague asked me if I could take on a role in serving survivors of human trafficking at a non-profit organization last year. I smiled because I caught myself feeling unexpectedly at peace and ready to take on the role knowing it would sacrifice my startup private practice; I smiled because it is the fourth time God placed this calling in my heart since I kicked off my career in 2010. I thought to my head after I accepted the job offer, “God, okay you get me again, I can’t seem to run away from it huh?”

Proverb 16:9
We can make our plans,
but the Lord determines our steps.

Proverb 31: 8-9
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;
ensure justice for those being crushed.
9 Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless,
and see that they get justice.

- Susan C.
A social worker striving to follow God’s call to serve, listen, encourage and love others well. Currently a senior program manager at Human Trafficking Intervention Program at Garden of Hope - NY. Formerly served as a counselor at Restore NYC, counselor advocate at Womankind (also known as New York Asian Women Center), and community outreach coordinator at Asian Community Mental Health Services (ACMHS), all for human trafficking program.
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