Friday last week till now

Friday 13th nov

So I started at salvos international social justice commission
The ISJC for short are the Salvation armies representatives in fighting for human rights in the world and in the united nations
we were one of the first outside organizations to be in the united nations back in the 40s when we joined. It's amazing. We travel all overthr world speaking to parliment and leaders or ambassadors and we represent the army at UN
so on Friday I got to know what they do. I had induction tour in morning and got to know what they do and why. Then I started doing research Through united nations 100s of website to get info for the directors talk for Russia. Was really interesting to be pulling information for someone else but was great. I also learnt about the UN
we got an early mark too and finished at 4pm so that was nicE since I was still sick and had had big and very late day at Washington night before. I was going to go out on Friday night but wasn't feeling up to it at all. I spent some time with my elderly friend and learnt more about her. Then I went to bed early

Saturday
I woke up treadfully sad cause I realised today was my last Saturday here. Now I had big plans for the day but it was raining and I was still so sick. I got up early to head out but was really sick so went back to bed with shoes and all on and slept for few hours. Then I headed out for day. I went to disney store and the big toys are us which has massive ferris wheel inside the store. It's amazing. I went to the big m & m store that was very cool. Went to street markets in time square to buy some gifts. I went to rockafeller centre toget some more photos. The Christmas tree is up but not decorated it yet. Hope it's done before I go. I went to lots of other stalls
then headed home for sleep. I'm so sick today. Was going to go to statue of liberty but too wet. Saturday night I took captain Jessica - a single officer lady here out for walk. She's had surgery on foot so in wheelchair. We walked to visit one of the young girls that lives here in hospital. She's from Korea and has no family here And was rushed to hospital jn the time I've been here. She had to have surgery for stones in gall bladder. They removed her whole gall stones. The markle have tAken such good care of her. It' be scary not having family and her English isn't the best and she's scared knowing she has to pay for it. There aren't free hospitals here and she hasn't got health cover although she thought she Did through her school but she doesn't.
She is gettig better and they think she can come home soon. From their we walked to a human trafficking exhibition they have in Washington park at moment. It's been organized by an English foundation that helps people who the victim of human rights violantions. Emma Thompson the actress is here promoting it too. I am actaully a member of this foundation so was very excited to see it.
The whole exhibition is based around the story of a 19year old girl who was trafficked into the sex industry in london. The way it's set up is u get a booklet with the girls writing and drawings about her life before during and after the trafficking. It's set up with 7 big shipping containers all attached like a big tunnel. When you first walk in it's pitch dark and you walk through and hear the story of the girl before she was traffikrf. U look through holes in wall to see reconstructed examples of her home. School and going on the train when her and family were told the lies about where shed be going. The next container is the darkest I've ever seen anything except for flashing lights every now and then and u can hear a train and the voices of people on train. The next container wAs a walkway and you stuck your head through holes and it looked like you were a trafficking victim with skimpy clothes on and bruises all over u. It looked so real with your head attached it was quite scary. Then u went through to the most horrific part. Even for me and people who know a lot about trafficking there is no way on earth u could not be overwhelmed in there. As u start to walk in the first thing that hits u is the smell it's like something has died in there. The sign says. This is where I Slept ate lived and worked. It is the room she was locked in and forced to sell herself. Sh never left the room for 2 yrs. When u walked it the smell knocked u over. There was dirt all over the floor. There were condoms everywhere. There was blood all over walls there was rubbish and bras and gstrings everywhere. On the mirror was where she wrote the tally of how many men she had that day written in lipstick I think the average tally was 25 or so. Horrific. There was a dirty dirty sink and no shower or toilet. There was a hand written sign on the cost of services. Horrific again. The single bed she had was filthy with dirt and blood stains and scribled writing all over bed showing differnt names of clients and what they usually like. Yuck. And the bed moved up and down. There was backing sound of men screaming at her and bashing her and her crying. It was really terrifying but I tried not to rush through I wanted to feel these girls pain. And to think that this is happening in Every country all over the world and often go girls as young as 5. Can u beleieve that?
The next container was full of photos. The backing sound was different men being interviewed why the use tr service. How often etc and if they can tell us the conditions the girls live in. And if they knew how these girls were treated. That was really eye opening. All the pictures were of an undercover artist and photography. A men pretended he was clietn and went to brothels in the area around where he grew up. He wanted to see what it was like for them. Once hE was in room with girls he would ask the girl to take photos of him he didn't tell them what to do he just asked that they would photograph him in the way the pimps make the girls. All the photos were so so sad. The poses these girls told him to do because that is what they have been taught was horrible. He asked the story of the girls and they were very brokenwomen. One was a wife trying to make enough money. HEr husband didn't know what she did. The next container was about life for the girl after her rescue she had so much to get help with. Her life will never be the same n
it was amazing experience and I hope it comes to Australia

Life changing and will show video and photos of it later

Then we went to all American diner for yummy tea. Then I went home and we debriefed on what we had seen
then went to bed.
Very challenging night

Sunday
I went to salvation army corps in Harlem. It's for everyone but is African American style
I was nervous about finding it but caught subway and found it straight away and boy was I welcome
it's a very relaxed culture so didn't start right on time but wasn't too bad
they had cadets from bible college there so meeting was probably bit differnet to normal but was so great. They boxes of tamborines etc for people to use. There were soooo many kids and eveyone was dancing and singing some up and down the aisle. They were so welcoming. We sang probably 8 songs in a row at beginning. U get great work out :)wad lots of gospel music
meeting was so great and felt so welcome
God really spoke to me about fear - that I should have none. Bible says in Christ their is perfect love and perfect loves drives out fear. So if God is in me I should have no fear
each day I am living by that
although money is extremely tight. And the accomodation I had for first few weeks in London has fallen through and I need it this friday I'm not worrying. Believing God will provide something free of charge. Praying army will find something or someone like here in new york
but I have no fear I trust in Him

After church I went back for lunch. The plan was to go see statue of liberty and it was nice day but I checked times on net and it said free ferry was closed Sunday. I couldn't find my friends to ask them so didn't go bfound out since that it does run now. Oh well. I'll go after work on Wednesday
so I had sleep was only going to have nap to try and get ontop of flu but slept for 4 hours. When I woke I went into time square and did some gift shopping and photographing. Then I had tea and went to church service. Based sound thanksgiving which happens next week. So wish I was going to be here. It's a great holiday. People really become thankful. And Macys thanksgiving parade is something I've always wanted to see. Hopefully one day
have I written about macys I went there. Can't remember ill check before writing it again

Monday
was at international social justice commission
I met with the head director for few hours. She is amazing women. Amazing advocate and Christian. Then I worked on research and writing a speech for her and started putting together slide shows of photos of women from big conference for us to how at UN in preparation for the conference in feb. I've been invited back but havent got the money. Maybe one day

I spent time with the armies UN representativ e and intervewed her
then at 5pm I stayed on with head director and students from a college came to learn from her and we had UN diplomats and ambassadors come and a lady from UNICEF. Although I wasn't well and exhausted so glad I stayed. What an opportunity to sit and talk and learn from these people

Got home very Late and went straight to bed

Tuesday
at Salvos ISJC today again and went with our UN rep to United nations. Was awesome. I got special clearnce and all. We went to a briefing in morning about FGm which is female genital mutilation. If you've never hurt of it educate yourself. It's an horific religious and cultural tradition affecting girls as young as 4 - 14
and because of refugees and immigrants into western country it happens in Every Country even ours
the briefing was in one of the big international rooms with speakers from all over the world. It was horrific but learnt so so much. That went for 3 hours. We rushed and got lunch then went to another meeting on womens rights and then to planning meeting for conference happening in feb to celebrate the Beijing platform forum from 1995. Check is out on web
very interesting
after long day we went back to ISJC and I continued on work for UN conference in feb
after work I went home had tea and then went to salvos time square corps where wnt last week to see their dance and music program for the community last week. Last week I joined in the adult ballroom dancing for a bit and had so much fun I thought i'd go again
we finished learning the cha cha. Made me realise how much I miss dancing and sometimes still wish I couldve danced for a living but when syndrome and pain got worse it wasn't possible anymore
I had a blast and caught up with the kids fro
last week. I thEn caught subway home and spent time listening to Christian tv station and then stayed up for speci human traffckinh report on 10pm news. Was amazing and horrible story. A 5 yr old from here in he US was sold by her mother last week into sex industry. At age 5. They would use her for pornopgraphy etc. Horrific that mother. Let alone anyone would do that. The police caught onto it and tried to track her Down but the little girl was found murdered in park yesterday. The mother is now in prison and they are searching for guys who bought her. Horrible case. God is opening my eyes so much to the pain God goes through when watching our world. I know the little girl is in the arms of God now
God is showing me His heart
I went to bed crying for this little girl and this issue

Wednesday
at ISJC again today
doing reseach and learning history and stats of diffferent soci justice issues and helping to find info for director. I'm also designing the banners to be used at UN international conference in feb here at UN
amazing responsibilty

I have just taken a tour of UN and learnt history and seen all the behind the scene things. It's amazing. Will add some photos to facebook tonight
I am heading back to ISJc Now for meeting and more work
hopefully will go to statue of liberty tonighy and do some shopping

Tomrrow I am at UN for big meetings on the intenational rights of the child.
So excited and feel so hknoured
then Friday I fly out.
Please pray God brings somewhere perfect for me to stay in London and some resources
love u all and miss u so much
will fill u in on next few days on weekend

Love
Leah