Dressember day 31.

December 31, 2014. 

This not only means that tomorrow begins a new year, but it also means that tomorrow I can wake up and put on jeans or sweatpants instead of deciding which dress I want to wear for the umpteenth time. It's a really strange feeling actually, and part of me is sad. Dressember has been such a good experience in so many ways for me. I've continually been reminded of the redemption we find in Christ. I've found joy in seeing others participating and finding new passions. I've been thankful each and every day when I do put on a dress and am reminded of the life-giving freedom I have found in my Savior. The other day a friend of mine was watching a documentary on sex-trafficking and asked, "Kelsey, how am I suppose to relate to these women?" And I couldn't really give an answer because we can't- I've lived a pretty freaking privileged life. I complain about putting on a dress while women around the world are sitting on a stained bed in tattered rags. I complain when my legs are cold through my tights while women are forced to stay outside at truck-stops waiting for customers to strip them of their dignity. I complain about wearing a dress for 31 days in a row..but you know what? Most days I felt truly beautiful, loved,and supported while millions of women have never felt beautiful but instead feel used and unworthy of love. This oppression is normal for many women and that's what struck me most this December. One day I picked out my dress and thought about how putting a dress on each morning was becoming normal, and suddenly I was HORRIFIED. For so many women, enslaved in trafficking or not, oppression is normal. Feeling unloved and unworthy is normal. Abuse is expected. Being raped up to 40 times a day is normal. Many women in trafficking don't know another reality and therefore don't even self-identify as victims. This makes me hurt. It literally makes me sick. Each women is a beloved daughter of the King, relentlessly pursued by their maker, and should be treated as such. This is why I fight. I fight so love, joy, and beauty will be normal for women around the world instead of abuse, oppression, and hopelessness. 

Dressember is about embracing femininity, standing up for the oppressed and enslaved, and fighting for women everywhere to feel beautiful and be free. I've been blessed to take a stand with thousands of others around the world but it doesn't end today. Keep praying. Keep learning. Keep having those tough conversations, and keep fighting for the voiceless.  

Isaiah 58:10-11
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
 with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and spend yourself in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
  then your light will rise in the darkness,
 and your night will become like the noonday. 
The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land 
and will strengthen your frame." 

All oppression shall cease.

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, 

It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth. 
Long lay the world in sin and error pining, 

'Til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth. 

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, 

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. 

Fall on your knees! O hear the angels' voices! 

O night divine, O night when Christ was born; 

O night divine, O night, O night Divine. 

Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is love and His gospel is peace. 

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother; 

And in His name all oppression shall cease. 

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, 

Let all within us praise His holy name. 

Fall on your knees! O hear the angels' voices! 

O night divine, O night when Christ was born; 

O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

I have heard this song hundreds of times before. I've grown up singing it each December, and yet it took on a whole new meaning to me this year. It's been my favorite Christmas song for years, and once again I was reminded why. Those lyrics in red? Yeah. They're awesome. Read them again. He taught us to love. Jesus Christ is love and peace even in the midst of our chaotic and broken world. And this unfathomable love will one day break all chains. In HIS name, all oppression shall cease and this folks, is why I'm participating in Dressember. I'm participating because the slave is my brother or sister and I wish to see a world in which all oppression ceases in the name of our risen Savior.

The problem is big and the injustice is overwhelming, but the hope is immense too. The work of ending trafficking is often tiresome and tedious, but one moment can give hope for a lifetime. Every time that injustice seems to swallow me whole, I remember those moments. I remember sitting on the floor next to a beloved thirty-something year old who had endured trafficking for SEVEN YEARS and I see her paint "God is love" in watercolor. I hear her say those same words in her broken English. After seven years of injustice, Jesus Christ broke the chains in her life and his love prevailed. I remember walking into the center, seeing a shy woman with a large scar of her chest huddled in the corner and sitting down next to her. She grabbed my hand and never let go. Those are moments I will never forget and those are moments that give me hope. I see love, I see chains breaking, and I see oppression ending. Those are moments I see Jesus.

Merry Christmas! I hope you're able to rejoice in Emmanuel- God with us.

Day 22- Sarah W.

Day 22. This may be our last profile for Dressember, but I am so incredibly thankful for all the people who have participated on Northwestern's campus. I've definitely seen the Lord work through Dressember and I've seen a generation rise up to fight injustice. About 30 people at Northwestern committed to wearing a dress or tie for all 31 days of December, more people participated weekly, and our team has raised $2,623 so far. SO BLESSED. Today you get to meet Sarah Wedel. Sarah's also worked in Bangalore with trafficking survivors and is near and dear to my heart. 

“I will never forget the first time I heard about human trafficking. Shockingly, it was just last year. How could I have gone through my first 19 years of life never hearing about the 30 million slaves in the world today? People can’t fight against what they don’t know is happening. When I found out the truth about human trafficking, it changed me. It moved me to action. This past summer, I had the opportunity to live in Bangalore, India for six weeks to work at a safe house for rescued trafficked women. It was such an incredible blessing to get to know these beautiful women and to see them beginning the process of healing. That’s why I am participating in Dressember. Because awareness comes before action. By me wearing a dress this month, maybe just one more person will join the fight against human trafficking. And one by one, we can change the world. I wear a dress for the women I met in Bangalore. I wear a dress to bring rescue, hope and healing to one more of the 30 million.”

Over half the slaves in the world today reside in India, which is about 14 million. 

Day 20- Taylor

Day 20. TWENTY. Where has December gone? Today you meet Taylor, who is near and dear to my heart and has a passion unlike any other.

"My interest in the welfare of women began in a class I took sophomore year called "Violence against Women."  We read the book "Half the Sky" by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn (once again- they're awesome!) and learned about so many tragic things that women are experiencing around the world:  Prostitution. Maternal mortality. Rape. Domestic Violence. Unequal pay. Female genital mutilation. At one point the authors quoted one magazine who wrote, "Maternal deaths in developing countries are often the ultimate tragic outcome of the cumulative denial of women's human rights. Women are not dying because of untreatable diseases. They are dying because societies have yet to make the decision that their lives are worth saving." Women are dying because people don't think their lives are worth saving. ​Since my sophomore year I've learned so much more about modern-day slavery, and the truth is that yes, violence against women is such a huge issue and one I hope to passionately pursue forever, but it's not just women that are experiencing the many ways in which slavery is occurring. This is why I'm participating in Dressember. There's a girl in Africa who isn't getting justice even though she was gang-raped. There's a woman in your county who is living in the cycle of domestic violence and she's too scared to come forward because her partner has threatened to take her kids away if she does. And there's little girls and boys all over the world who are being kidnapped and sold into slavery. 30 million people in this world don't have the ability to choose their food or whether they're educated or who they marry. It's enraging and discouraging, but I hold onto God's promises. There is power in the name of Jesus to break every chain, including slavery. How blessed are we that we can walk alongside God in this fight for freedom? It's not their fight, it's our fight."

Day 19- Caleb

Yesterday you met Matt and today you get to meet his roommate, Caleb, who's joining him in the endeavor to wear a tie each day, regardless of their outfits. 

"Hi, I'm Caleb Hawks and I am wearing a tie for all of December because Justice Matters. I do not think enough people are aware that there are still nearly 30 million slaves in our world. That is not okay. It is time for us all to step up and do something about this. Like some of the other guys participating, I believe that it is time for men to join the fight against human trafficking. So I am wearing a tie with whatever I have on this entire month so people will ask me about it. I want people to be aware that human trafficking is a major problem."

Day 18- Matt

Can you believe it's already December 18? Personally I feel like these 18 days have flown by. I love hearing and seeing how different people are participating, and today you get to hear my good friend Matt Lange's spin on Dressember.

"My roommate Caleb and I decided to do this weird thing where we would just wear ties on top of T-shirts instead of dressing all the way up. Some days I've dressed up more, but not often. It has been pretty incredible to think of my fellow human beings in their suffering every time I notice a tight feeling around my neck. I often find myself a bit ashamed of the tie, because it looks funny on a t-shirt and because I get tired of telling people why I'm wearing it. This has been humbling, to realize that it's a stupid tie and that I am dumb enough to grow tired of talking about sex trafficking. 

My aunt and uncle work with a house in Thailand that keeps girls off of the streets at  http://breannashouseofjoy.com/ and my mom has worked for several years as a part of the Freedom Climb  http://www.thefreedomclimb.net/ so I figured that Dressember was a really small way for me to join my family and friends in the fight for freedom of our trafficked sisters and brothers. 

Notice of course, I've only been talking about myself. Dressember really has been a great opportunity to talk about the people of this world, and the ways in which we treat each other like garbage. It is time this ends. ​God is love, and we should be too."

Day 17- Jessica

Hey! My name is Jess, I am an Elementary Education with a Reading Endorsement major. Today was a major turning point for me in my reasoning to do Dressember. As I was getting ready I was struggling to figure out how I was going to wear my dress differently because lets be honest, it's getting harder and harder to be creative. Well as I was searching through my jewelry box I came across a necklace, the one I am wearing in my photograph. As soon as I held it in my hand, a flash back of memories flooded my mind from the time that I was in Cambodia in 2010 and I got to visit Daughters of Cambodia. Daughters of Cambodia is a rescue house for girls and women who have been involved in sex-trafficking. I was holding a necklace that was given to me from a resident there, a women whose story touched my life at just 15 years old. I remembered how that entire day was so full of emotion and how I could not stop thinking about how lucky I was to have already experienced so much more than she was able to at my age.  Wearing that necklace brought back many, many memories and the idea that I once had to go back to that same place and see the redeeming work that has been done in rescuing women in the past five years. Today I was reminded that I am not just wearing a dress because it would be fun or because everyone else is doing it. Instead I am wearing a dress to be reminded of those who are oppressed and lonely, with hopes through prayer and petition that all Daughters of our One True King may be FREE!

http://daughtersofcambodia.org/

Day 16- Samantha

So today's post makes me feel a little strange because it talks about me and I'm the one posting it. BUT! There's a reason for it. Sometimes I think people get annoyed with how much I talk and post about trafficking, and I use to worry about it. But then I decided I really don't care because trafficking isn't something you get to chose to believe in or not. It's a fact, it happens, and you only get to choose whether you're going to do something about it. William Wilberforce once said, "You may choose to look the other way, but you can never say again that you did not know." And that's why I don't stop talking about this and advocating for the men, women, and children trapped in slavery- because people's lives are at stake and until we stand up for them, that won't change. But we can't stand up for them if we're unaware of the problem our world faces. Also, both apathy and passion are contagious. I'm currently reading "A Path Appears" by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn (YOU SHOULD ALL GO BUY IT. Seriously, it's rocking my world.) but they talked about how when people are apathetic to injustice, people around them are more apathetic. Similarly, when people are passionate, people around them are more likely to be passionate about a similar cause. So go find your passion- whether that's human trafficking, homelessness, or orphans- and run with it. Be a world changer. 

Sam's one of the people I blabbed on and on to about trafficking, and this is the result. Here's day 16. 

"Hello! My name is Sam and I am a freshmen elementary education major at Northwestern this year. This is also my first year participating in Dressember and I am loving every moment of it! The reason I am participating is because of Kelsey. She is so passionate about the cause and hearing her speak about trafficking I learned how serious the cause is. I have learned many new things about trafficking that I had not even thought about before. Dressember is a GREAT cause and I am so happy to be a part of it! I'm so thankful  that I've been shown a little of the injustice in this world and what I can do to change it."

Day 15- Ashley

"Hi guys, my name is Ashley Doran but everyone calls me Dora. I am currently a sophomore, Christian Ed/Youth Ministry major. I have decided to participate in Dressember because to be honest, why not wear a dress everyday? But in all seriousness, there is so much injustice in the world we live in and a lot of it we don't even see. Isaiah 1:1-17 is a bit of scripture I looked at when thinking about this. I know it is a completely different context but I think it says a little bit about our call to seek justice for the oppressed especially in verses 16 and 17. I'm not going to lie, I have kind of struggled wearing a dress everyday and it's only half way through the month. But, I know that my struggle is nothing compared to what the victims of human trafficking are going through. And as a matter of fact, my struggle is just because I want to be lazy and comfortable, something these people don't have an option to do. If I look at it in this way, I realize how important it is for us to raise awareness for these injustices and speak for those who can't."






"Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
    remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
17     learn to do good;
seek justice,
    correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
    plead the widow's cause." - Isaiah 1:16-17

Day 14- Brett

On day 14, you get to meet Brett and you get the opportunity to see more men join in the fight against trafficking and exploitation.

"As I have entered this Advent season I've been reflecting on how the Israelite's were waiting for a King. A King who would be bring justice and rescue them from their oppressors. This gives me cause to wonder about the 30 million people being trafficked, and if they have any shred of hope of being rescued. My heart breaks for the pain that exists in the world, and for those who have been forced into horrid circumstances beyond their control. I have hope in Christ's return where shalom will be achieved, perfect peace and perfect justice. Until then, I will work on bringing the Kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven, through love, justice, and hope. Dressember was an incredible opportunity to get involved in the fight to end slavery. In my experience, it has mainly been women fighting to end trafficking, which is incredible. But, now it is time for men to follow their lead to unite and fight to end, what I believe to be, the largest injustice of our generation. This is why I'm wearing a tie to raise awareness, funds, and education for the 30 million whose crying out have not been heard."

Day 13- Erin

"My name's Erin Holle. I'm a senior here at NW. I started Dressember 5 days late. During those 5 days that my roommate and countless others were dressing up and I was not, I was not planning on participating Dressember at all. "I don't own enough dresses" was my excuse. Then I saw the girls who committed to wearing the same dress for all 31 days and my reasoning became invalid. I have had countless conversations with friends and family about my passion for people (specifically children) and my passion for the truth of the Gospel, and yet I found myself skipping out on this opportunity to represent A LOT of people who are hurting and who need to know the Truth that can set their hearts free. 
I recently wrote on my blog about the problem of seeing injustice and not doing anything about it. The fact that our world sees this huge problem of human trafficking and talks about this injustice but then behind closed doors, support the industry that enslaves these people infuriates me. And so I put on a dress to support those being exploited. I haven't been participating in Dressember long and have already had powerful conversations about the 30 million women, children, and men who are trapped in this fight. I have also had conversations about how I could put on a dress when I leave my home but when I am at home or other places where I'll just be "lounging" just leave on my sweatpants. I do not put on a dress only to remind other people, I put on a dress to remind myself to pray for them. I put on a dress because people matter. I put on a dress because the average age of a girl entering trafficking is 12 years old. I look at the faces of my sister who is 6 and my cousin who is 10 and think how much effort I would put forth to free them if they were the ones being trafficked and used. I think about how much I would pray for the Lord, the Prince of Peace who loves them more than I ever could, to rescue them and to hold them. Those 30 million are cared about in the same way. So I put on a dress and pray for them the same way. I put on a dress because people matter."

Day 12- Gleidys

Today's a little different because our profile is not a Northwestern student, but today you have the privilege of meeting my sweet sister, Gleidys. I met Gleidys when I was probably 16 and went down to Venezuela for the first time. Our church has a long standing partnership with a church in Valencia, Venezuela and I've gone down twice. Gleidys and I formed a wonderful bond, and have been sisters ever since. She messaged me that she too decided to participate in Dressember. Passion is contagious- even across continents.

"My name is Gleidys Escalona. I'm from Venezuela.

I used to ignore the topic of human trafficking like many of us, until my American sis, Kelsey, went to India. When she came back we were talking on skype and she told me what this whole "human trafficking" thing was about. Sometime after our conversation I started to see some posts on Facebook about human trafficking and her pictures with what said " I STAND FOR FREEDOM" so, I got interested about this whole thing. When I knew that she and her friends were participating in this movement called "Dressember" I wanted to know more about it. So I looked it up and when I got the answer, it really touched my heart. For some days I was thinking about how I could help them and support this cause if I live so far away from Iowa. So, I decided to keep praying for every single person that is going through human trafficking and wear a dress to let everyone know I support freedom. Maybe in my country we don't have this movement, but, who says that one person can't make the difference? Even though I'm miles away from Iowa, I'm part of those who care about this, and support it. Don't give up, keep fighting for those who are victims of human trafficking. I am confident that someday everyone will have the freedom we are fighting for today. And the most important thing, they will be free in Christ. We can have a better world, we just have to decide to make the difference caring for those no one else cares for."

Yesterday, Dressember shared these facts: 65-90% of women sold for sex are victims of incest, 80% are victims of rape, 70-90% have a trafficker selling her as a commodity and keeping all or most of the money, 72% have considered suicide, 68% suffer from PTSD (2x higher than a solider in a war zone!) and on average, a women who is sold for sex will die within 7 years after entering prostitution. This is not okay.

Day 11- Sarah

Since December 1st I have found myself continually walking around campus and seeing more and more people in ties or dresses. Seriously guys, I've been blown away. I secretly think to myself, "Do you just like dressing up or are you participating in Dressember?" Well I had this with Sarah, but since I know her I just asked if she was participating in Dressember...and her response, "Heck yes!" I'm so blessed to attend a college where I walk around and am astounded by the number of people who care and who are challenging themselves to make a difference! We may just be a small college in Northwest Iowa, but we've sure got a lot of people with big hearts who are passionate about justice. The other day I was actually reading about the Eric Garner case and read several articles on trafficking and felt defeated. I was tired of fighting when injustice seems to pop up in another place just after I feel like progress is being made. I was saddened at the world we live in and was scared by the thought of the world my children may one day grow up in. But at the same time I was incredibly encouraged as I thought about the people I see each day walking around campus in a dress or tie. I was encouraged that these people are braving the cold to make a statement and to stand up for the oppressed. In my position as 'Justice Matters Leader' I have the unique opportunity to see people rise up and take a stand against injustice. So while I was defeated, tired, sad, and scared...I was also HOPEFUL. You see, I have this hope that our generation will rise up and end slavery in our lifetime and even more, I have hope in my blessed Savior who LOVES justice (Isaiah 61:8) and promises to fight for us (Exodus 14:14). 

So today- meet Sarah. 

"I often feel like there is no way that I can actually help the women subject to sex trafficking seeing as I am a college student and not out there physically helping them, but wearing dresses for all of December in the Mid-West winter is really making a statement. We are suffering the cold, which is nothing compared to the suffering of the women who are victims to sex trafficking."

"No one can do everything, but everyone can do something."

Fact: Victims of sex trafficking often do not self-identify as victims due to multiple factors such as mistrust, self-blame, and years of abuse. 

Day 10- Madelaine

"Hello! I'm Madelaine Miller and a junior nursing student. I plan on participating in Dressember by wearing one dress for the entire month of December. When I heard about this cause I was super stoked to join in because we always hear about different causes to help people out and it can be overwhelming when trying to figure out where to start making an impact. Well putting on a dress seems like a pretty simple first step."

There are so many injustices in today's world, and there are so many organizations that fight these injustices that I, too, don't know where to start. Dressember gives people of any age and in any place, the opportunity to seek justice. Many people may argue Dressember doesn't accomplish much- but until we're a generation that's aware, injustice will not end. Until we stand up and say, "Gender inequality is NOT okay. Slavery is NOT okay." we'll continue to see injustice in our broken world. We're making a change, and our voices are being heard. 

Day 9- Mica

Welcome to day 9 of Dressember. As of today, 2,510 registered Dressember advocates have raised $170,144! That's enough to cover 9 IJM lawyers' salaries for a year or to fund 38 IJM rescue missions! Together, we're making a difference in the lives of many! And today you get to meet someone near and dear to my heart- Mica Graves. 

"Hey, my name is Mica. I am participating in Dressember because I am passionate about justice and I believe in being a voice for the voiceless.  I am a senior Psychology and Sociology major at Northwestern, and it was through various classes and conversations that I became passionate about empowering women and women’s rights. Once I learned about sex trafficking and whom it targets, my heart was changed. Dressember is a way for me to advocate for these women who cannot for themselves. I do not love wearing dresses, but it has already been humbling to make myself each day this month. I hope that by putting on a dress each day, I think of the women I am wearing it for daily. For me it is about raising awareness and starting conversations on campus and everywhere about this injustice. Even in the first week, I have been humbled and encouraged by the conversations that have already happened and the awareness that has been raised. This world is a broken place, and if we don’t start to make a difference who will? For me, and everyone else participating, it is bigger than a dress. It is for the women and children who do not have a choice. It is about being their voice."

Day 8- Monique.

Day 8 and Monique says she's only wearing a dress a couple times each week, but thus far she's been a rockstar! 

"My name is Monique Lehman and I am participating in Dressember.  I plan on wearing dresses at least a couple times a week.  I want to participate in this unique movement to advocate for all the women who have ever been exploited for their femininity.  I want to help raise awareness for the 30 million slaves who are so easily forgotten about in our comfortable lives.  To me, the dress symbolizes an attitude of cherishing the precious freedom I have as a woman and a reminder that not every woman is so lucky.  Dressember serves as an opportunity to bring the injustice of worldwide trafficking and exploitation to the forefront of our minds so that we can first, live in gratitude that we can freely celebrate our femininity, secondly, bring deeper awareness to our communities, and finally, to fund-raise in efforts of rescuing victims of slavery.  After all, we are all deeply loved children of God. "



Fact: Out of the estimated 20-30 million enslaved today, only 1-2% are ever rescued. - A21 Campaign

Day 7- Ally

We're one week in folks. One week, with lots to go so you'll start hearing more about some of the experiences happening throughout Dressember, and today you get to hear from Allyson Austin.

"To all the lovely folks that will read this,

It has been seven days of putting in the same black and white striped cotton dress and it has been the strangest and most beautiful of times. There is a glint of annoyance when the morning comes around and I know that I will, yet again, put the same thing on for the seventh morning in a row. BUT my minor annoyance over a dress, which truly is such a luxury, only reminds me of how called we are to fight for those who don't have the choice of what their day will hold. So, to the millions in bondage, we wear these dresses and these ties for you. For the millions enslaved we praise you tenacity and will to fight. For the millions hurting know you are loved, cherished, and special and we will not stop seeking justice on you behalf. It may just seem like a dress, but it is so much bigger than that.  Dress up this December, let's honor our brothers and sisters in slavery."

Fact: According to 'Free the Slaves' the average cost of a slave globally is $90. 

Day 6- Emily

Day 6 already, folks! Today you get to hear a little of Emily's heart, and trust me- it's beautiful. 

"Hey friends! My name is Emily Culver and I am a junior nursing major here at Northwestern College. It is day 6 of Dressember and I already want to take my dress and throw it across a corn field. I don't wear dresses very often and so to put a dress on everyday and the same one for that matter is a struggle. But here's the cool thing about it, I get to CHOOSE whether to put this dress on or not. Too many women in our world today don't have a choice. It may seem to be an insignificant parallel but I think that it is important. In some ways I feel trapped inside this dress. I feel chained to it. I can't put on sweats when I choose to and I can't criss-cross-apple-sauce my legs anymore. I feel limited. In a very miniscule way I try and parallel this to women who are being enslaved; women who are trapped inside their bodies, inside their situations. They feel as if there is no escape and their future is hopeless. Many of these women have brilliant minds but cannot express them because their bodies are being used and abused. The saddest part about this though, is that most of these women do not know that they are the Beloved bride of Christ. The God of this universe, the one who made caterpillars, stars, and the ocean chooses to love me. He longs for my love, and considers me His. Not only do I get to choose whether to put a dress on, I also have the privilege of knowing this radical, gracious, and undeserving  love. My heart breaks everyday for these women and that is why I am wearing the same dress everyday for the whole month of December; to raise awareness and to do my part in taking a stand because there is no excuse for this injustice."

Still time to join us!https://support.dressemberfoundation.org/fundraise/team?ftid=38529 

Day 5- Alexia

"Hey! I'm Alexia Pater.  I'm a senior exercise science major at Northwestern and I am participating in Dressember because in this season of holiday celebrations, cramming for finals, and other joyous chaos there are people in the world today who don't have these privileges that I so often take for granted. Putting a dress on every day, which isn't a very normal thing for me, is a way for me and hopefully others to be reminded of those people, specifically women enslaved in he sex trade. Whenever I wish I could just put a pair of sweatpants on for the day, I hope that my thoughts, prayers and conversations will be intentionally focused on these women.  Wearing a dress each day throughout December seems like such a little thing, but it's an opportunity here and now to be conscious of injustice and to take a stand."

Think trafficking doesn't happen close to home? Maybe you thought it only happened in other countries...
Fact: About 293,000 US children are at risk of being exploited and trafficked for sex, according to the 2011 FBI report on trafficking. Anyone under the age of 18 performing a commercial sex act is being trafficked, no matter what the circumstances may be. There's an interesting article on child "prostitution" here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-child-prostitute/2014/02/14/631ebd26-8ec7-11e3-b227-12a45d109e03_story.html 

Day 4- Ashley and Mady

You've learned that men can participate in Dressember and advocate for the oppressed, and today you'll learn kids can too!

"My name’s Ashley Stanislav and my daughter Mady and I are excited to participate in Dressember. I care deeply about the issue of human trafficking but I often find myself feeling a bit stuck when I think about what I can possibly to do make a difference in small town Iowa. Dressember provides a tangible way to actively “do something” about human trafficking. Proverbs 31:8 says to “Speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves, for the rights of all who need an advocate” (CJB).  If by wearing a dress all month long I can help shed some light on such a tragic thing happening in our world and advocate for people who are suffering, then I will happily change up my wardrobe! International Justice Mission is one of my favorite organizations and I love the work they do around the world on so many issues. I’m excited that the money raised through Dressember will help them as they continue to change people’s lives. I chose to have Mady participate in Dressember because I want her to grow up with a heart that is compassionate and empathetic to the world around her. Slavery is a tough issue and she doesn’t need to know everything about it yet, but I think it’s okay for her to know that there are people that aren’t free; families that don’t get to be together and kids like her that don’t get to go to school and play and feel safe because some people think it’s okay to make them do whatever they want. I think right now she’s mainly excited about wearing a dress every day, but I hope that by the end of the month she will be able to tell people why we are doing Dressember and that it will be about more than looking pretty"

Fact: The average age of a trafficking victim is TWELVE years old. - The A21 Campaign

Day 3- TJ.

Today you get to meet Tyler Janssen, or TJ as most people know him by. Northwestern is unique because we have had guys actually request to participate in Dressember, and therefore our campaign became "Dress(up)ember." Guys are pivotal in the fight of ending modern day slavery and here's what TJ has to say:

"My name is TJ. I go to Northwestern college as a 5th year senior studying Marketing. I was one of the college students that was confused at the topic of "human trafficking." I was curious on how this can be a thing. I was upset on how this could be ignored. I am currently wondering why this is a thing. I am also currently hopeful for this "thing" to be gone forever.
I was sick of letting others do something about this while I easily could be a part of something that can better our world, and I believe in a world where human trafficking doesn't exist. That is why I am fighting for this to end. If I must wear a tie everyday to show I care about the freedom and the dignity of countless women everywhere, then that really isn't too hard to do. I want to choose to be part of Dressember, and just because I'm a guy doesn't mean I can't care for the 30 million. I just want people to get out of the unawareness that I was in about the subjugation of women. People need to know. Because only we can end this."

Here's a link to another blog featuring Teej: http://buckeyesimplicity.com/2014/12/03/dressember-a-guy-in-a-tie/ 

Fact: "Over 85% of sex trafficking cases the National Human Trafficking Resource Center received from 2007-2012 dealt with women and girls, leaving almost 15% male and transgender victims." - NHTRC and Polaris Project

Day 2- Kristen.

On day 2 of Dressember you get the privilege of meeting Kristen. She's also a senior at NW majoring in nursing. Kristen's passion for justice and desire to serve the Kingdom shines through everything she does. ALSO, Kristen will be wearing this same black dress for the next 30 days! 

"I'm participating in Dressember because I believe in the individual beauty and creativity of each woman who walks this earth, including the 30 million women who find themselves in slavery.  I'm participating in Dressember with the women and children of Goa, India specifically on my heart and mind.  This past summer I had the chance to spend six weeks getting to know so many stories of these beautiful individuals who find themselves in such diverse and challenging circumstances.  And one of those circumstances includes finding themselves at a very high risk for becoming victims of sex trafficking.  This issue has pulled at my heart for a couple of years now, and I'm thankful for events like Dressember that allow so many of us to be involved in the fight to end slavery.  Dressember shows that fighting for justice can be creative, unique, and diverse.  May we use our individual voices and passions to bring hope to the 30 million. "

Fact for today: Human trafficking generates more than $32 billion annually. This is twice as much as Starbucks profits in one year.

Dressember day 1.

Dressember is officially here, folks! Goodbye pants and hello dresses. For the next 31 days, I hope to do a daily profile of different people participating in Dressember. We'll have a short introduction, and a snip-it of why they've chosen to participate. Remember, no one can do everything, but everyone can do something. Dressember is about solidarity. It's about joining forces to make our voices heard and fight for the oppressed. So here are a few of our voices:


   Many of you know me, as this blog is home for me, but I'm Kelsey and I'm participating in Dressember because I believe in freedom for all women. I believe we're called to be a voice for the voiceless. I'm a Jesus follower, justice seeker, and coffee enthusiast. I'm finishing up my senior year at Northwestern, and hope to have those little letters, "RN, BSN" behind my name in six months. I have a heart for the nations, which is what originally gave me such a passion to fight human trafficking.

    In June 2013 I hopped on board a plane to live in Bangalore, India for two months. I worked with an anti-trafficking organization doing prevention work in the slums, cleaning in an HIV hospital, and working in an aftercare center. There, I fell in love with 28 women who had survived the horrific injustices of sex-trafficking. I saw their scars, learned their names, and heard their stories. I saw women, unsure of their own age, who endured greater injustices than I can even fathom. The number of people trafficked globally- 27 million suddenly became so much more real to me. Because for me, some women included in that number are women oh so dear to my heart. They are women who have touched my heart and changed my life. They are strong, joyful, and they are over-comers! So I'm participating in Dressember for these 28 women and the millions of others out there who I haven't met because I believe that each and every one of them is a beloved daughter of the King! By simply wearing a dress for 31 days I hope to shine a light on slavery and raise awareness in order to free women around the world. I have a voice, and this December I am using it. Your voice matters, too, and our voices are louder together. 

Fact for the day:  Human trafficking, as defined by the Trafficking in Persons Report is "The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery."

https://support.dressemberfoundation.org/fundraise/team?ftid=38529

Give Thanks in All Circumstances.

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."  - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

In this season of giving thanks, I have so much to be thankful for, but more than anything else this Thanksgiving I am thankful for the verse above. I am thankful that in Christ I can truly give thanks in all circumstances. You see, for a long time I didn't understand this. I read 1 Thessalonians during times when disease, injustice, and death surrounded me and I thought, "Really Lord? You want me to be thankful now? You want me to be joyful? No thanks." But in Christ we can be joyful in the midst of sorrow and suffering. We can give thanks, and we don't have to give thanks for a particular circumstance but we do give thanks in all circumstances. Because even death cannot separate us from the love of Christ! What joy! My #SheReadsTruth study said, "God doesn’t ask us to silence our sorrow in favor of thanksgiving. Rather, He uses our sorrow to proclaim a type of thanksgiving we wouldn’t be able to express otherwise." On Tuesday, we had to say goodbye to a man that I loved so, so dearly. And it can be difficult to find joy in that and give thanks through the tears and sorrow, but we didn't have to really say goodbye. I have no doubt in my mind that one day I will once again hug Pete and hear him say, "Hey sweetie!" I have no doubt that he is walking on streets of gold and celebrating our Risen Savior. And that my friends, is the greatest joy I could ever imagine.  

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:35-39

I am also thankful for the every day things. I am thankful for my freedom. I'm thankful that I woke up this morning, in a home, to parents who love me more than anything. I'm thankful that I could curl my hair and feel pretty. I'm thankful that I had a meal that I walked away from overly stuffed. I'm thankful for the many, many people in my life who encourage and strengthen me. I'm thankful for the basic things that I probably forget to be thankful for each day. This morning I was thinking about how Dressember is only 3 days away, which reminded me of all the women around the world who may not have any of the things I just listed. They may have woken up this morning in a brothel or truck stop, not even knowing what love truly looks like. So today I will rejoice, give thanks, and pray for those who may not be so thankful today. 

Dressember

This December I will be participating in Dressember with several other men and women on Northwestern's Campus and even more around the world. Dressember is a movement that uses creativity to restore dignity to all women. The heart of Dressember is freedom, which many of you know is my heart as well. 

Women around the world are locking arms to fight one of the greatest injustices of our time, but on Northwestern's Campus we're blessed to have men participating as well. So for all 31 cold days of December, I'll be wearing a dress (and guys participating will be wearing ties, so we've named our campaign 'Dress(up)ember'). For those of you who know me, I don't often wear dresses and I surely don't in the dead of winter in Iowa. As they days have been getting colder, I've often had negative thoughts about running across campus in tights and a dress in a negative seven windchill, but then my mind goes back to my beloved sisters in India. I remember the pain they carried with them on a daily basis from years of abuse. I remember their sweet hands grabbing mine as I entered the aftercare center. I remember painting pictures of God's love. And most of all I remember their joy despite their trials, and "suffering" through wearing a dress in the cold for 31 days seems like nothing. So I'm doing this for them. 

Some of you may be curious how Dressember actually helps fight for freedom, and it's a valid question. By wearing a dress every day during the month of December I am embracing my freedom on behalf of those who aren't allowed to live free, vibrant lives. Wearing a dress when it's below freezing for 31 days is also pretty strange, and people will ask questions. These questions are the perfect opportunity for me to share about the 30 million in slavery today. This campaign gives me an opportunity to share my heart for the enslaved and the oppressed! So Dressember spreads awareness of modern day slavery, but seeking justice goes beyond awareness. So for the second year, all funds raised during Dressember 2014 will go to support the work of International Justice Mission. IJM is a human rights organization that seeks to bring rescue to victims of slavery, sexual exploitation, and violent oppression. In 2013, over $165,000 was raised for IJM. The average rescue operation costs $4,500 so that's 37 rescue operations funded by Dressember. Education for one year of college for a survivor of trafficking is $886. 186 victims could receive education because of Dressember 2013. You CAN make a difference.

So please join me in my fight to end human trafficking. You can do so first by joining me in prayer. Pray for the victims, pray for organizations fighting human trafficking, pray for those at risk, and pray for the traffickers. Second, you can join our team to raise your own funds (or you can choose not to make an online profile and simply participate)! Or third, you can donate to support the cause. I would love for you to pledge a dollar a day, or even 50 cents a day. Anything can make a difference and I'd be beyond grateful if you joined me in this cause. The link to our team page is here: https://support.dressemberfoundation.org/fundraise/team?ftid=38529 and my individual page is: https://support.dressemberfoundation.org/fundraise?fcid=358674