Archive for human trafficking

Normal??? Christine McDonald

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Christine "Clarity" McDonald with tags , , , , , , on August 10, 2022 by paulthepoke

Remember that for sex trafficked individuals, their normal is not our normal, and stable is not always stable. Many youths, teens, and adults who are pulled out of commercial exploitation and human trafficking situations, or who enter programs and are placed in the care of loving and healing situations, do not adjust well. The reason for this is that their brains are conditioned to a state of “normal” that functions best in the traumatic situation they have just been removed from.

The longer someone was in the life (human trafficking, prostitution, addiction, etc.), the more deeply engrained this abnormal/normal reversion becomes in their brains, and the longer it will take to break through those barriers to retrain and find a healthy normal.

Changing the mindset and behavior of an individual who has endured a multitude of traumas does not happen by simply changing his or her environment. We have to understand this from the get–go. This is something that even the most loving care professionals may not understand. Often, creating a new and healthy normal for an individual exiting the life involves much counseling and work to alter his or her bases of understanding.

Building trust doesn’t always come easily. They will test you, but be consistent. Your job is to continue to walk alongside them, building trust, helping them process, assisting them as they recover a healthy normal, and allowing them to express their feelings and discover their true selves. The following tools will help you be an agent of this growth as you continue your relationship with them.

In this photo from the film I Will Rise, the actress is reenacting a moment of time. I’ll never forget my humanity was seen. Needs were met. I’ll never forget Miss Jeannie and Metro Lutheran Ministries and that “drop in center” on McGee in the ’90s. She allowed me to sleep on the floor of her office. It was the most significant amount of love I had experienced. #IWillRise

Contact Information:
Christine C. McDonald
636-487-8986
https://iwillriseproject.com/

“Love your neighbor, all of ’em.” -Christine Clarity McDonald

Through The Eyes of Grace – Christine C McDonald 

Setting the Stage for Kindness… Christine McDonald

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Christine "Clarity" McDonald, Uncategorized with tags , , , , on December 20, 2021 by paulthepoke
shallow focus photography of cafe late
Photo by Kevin Menajang on Pexels.com

Continuing the series… If you are an outreach person or a drop–in center worker and have random encounters, it will take many encounters with the same person to build a relationship of trust. Here is a guide and process you can go through at the intake stage that will help set the stage for an organic relationship of kindness.

You are building a relationship organically and verbally, recognizing that they are hurting by offering tissues, water, and maybe special treats that aren’t usually readily available to them. They are seeing you show acts of compassion and kindness. Ask them if they would like to take five minutes before you move on in order to eat or drink and just allow them to breathe. Ask them if they would like you to leave the room for a few minutes, or if they would like you to stay.

Instead of leading off with hugs, try loving the hurting individual by serving them with kindness and a bit of hospitality. For example, you could lead with, “I understand this is difficult; may I get you a cup of tea? Soda?” Keep candy bars in your desk, in a bag, in your car, or in your purse for times like these. A little chocolate, a cup of tea, and a box of tissues can go a long way in helping the person have their space and be allowed to feel what they are experiencing.

Conversations

Don’t force conversations. Instead, ask them after you have given them some time if they would like to talk about anything. Fight the urge to engage further. After all, at this moment of the intake, you are just getting them to open up to a relationship. Don’t force things too early. Don’t probe to get them to talk just because you have a heart that wants to help and is ready to listen. They might not be ready to talk. Although your heart may hurt, you are going to have to fight the urge to hug them and tell them it will be okay. Just remember we are setting the stage for an organic relationship built by the participant, not filling your need to hug and fix!

Contact Information:
Christine C. McDonald
636-487-8986
Christine.CryPurple@gmail.com

“Love your neighbor, all of ’em.” -Christine Clarity McDonald

Through The Eyes of Grace – Christine C McDonald

Building Trust and Relationships With the Hurting… Christine McDonald

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Christine "Clarity" McDonald with tags , , , , , , on July 10, 2021 by paulthepoke
crop friends stacking hands together
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

The church can make a difference—and indeed, has a responsibility to make a difference—for men, women, girls, and boys who are hurting, victimized, addicted, exploited, and suffering. Jesus Christ came to set the captives free, and Christians have the amazing and humbling opportunity to be His hands and feet in this redemptive recovery. Christ calls us to reach out not only to those who are in physical captivity in commercial sexual exploitation escort services, street prostitution, internet exploitation, strip clubs, and other bad situations, but also to those who are captives in their own minds to the lies of the enemy and a distorted understanding of life formed by terrible experiences in their pasts.

It is a great privilege to get to build relationships with hurting individuals and assist them on their path to recovery. But there is much to be learned and understood in order to be effective and helpful in those relationships. The rest of this section is my attempt to help you process through how to foster a healthy relationship and connect with the individual in a way that is empowering for both of you.

For a person who has grown up in a relatively stable, functional environment, things like the words “I love you,” hugs, and other simple, physical touches are normal and generally accepted signs of affection, compassion, or relational affirmation. But for individuals who have been trafficked or prostituted, or are victims of other forms of abuse, these seemingly innocent gestures take on a whole different meaning.

In order to help these individuals, building a relationship of trust is vitally important. But to build that trusting relationship, you need to understand how these gestures—which might be instinctive and well–meaning for you—may affect the individuals you are trying to help. Then you will be equipped with the knowledge you need to be able to discern when these gestures are appropriate and good, and when they are not.

With victims of trafficking, violence, and abuse, you must first understand that their views on relationships have been distorted by their traffickers, abusers, and the men who paid them for their touch. Traffickers and other abusers have emotionally, physically, and sexually harmed them. They have used physical touch and the words “I love you” to coerce and manipulate. Or, worse, they have used these things to initially build trust in their targets, then shown their true selves and brought harm. Some of these individuals were victimized by family members, who used words like “I love you” while doing it. These words and actions now have a tainted internal value. They no longer convey authentic affection; they are tools of manipulation and harm.

When you are trying to build a relationship with someone you are working with, it is nature to want to extend physical gestures or words of affection and affirming. Oftentimes, the individual will reciprocate because of their preformed responses and learned behavior. You may think they are receiving your gestures well when, in fact, their response is a sign of their hurt and abuse. You could be unintentionally intruding on their space or causing them discomfort, yet they have been preprogrammed to give the expected responses instead of responding in a way true to their feelings.

For an individual who has experienced trauma, disparity, abuse, and other ill−treatment, they often have no clue what their true feelings are. The longer an individual has existed in a dysfunctional lifestyle such as substance abuse, neglect, early childhood trauma/abuse, homelessness, and prostitution, the more distanced they become from authentic emotions. Every bit of passing time adds complexity to the challenge of learning to process their true feelings and build organic relationships with friends, acquaintances, helping professionals, and family members.

Contact Information:
Christine C. McDonald
636-487-8986
Christine.CryPurple@gmail.com

“Love your neighbor, all of ’em.” -Christine Clarity McDonald

Through The Eyes of Grace – Christine C McDonald 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEj5RbFpuzjx_CuksAqgyXA/featured

https://crypurplemovie.com/

Fight Human Trafficking… Christine McDonald

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Christine "Clarity" McDonald with tags , on September 17, 2020 by paulthepoke

Excerpts taken from…

Art Installation to Memorialize Victims of Human Trafficking in Lykins Park, By Abby Hoover 

A permanent public art installation is in the works for Lykins Square Park memorializing victims of human trafficking. The memorial will consist of four lighted panels of painted Venetian glass created by artist Hasna Salam.

Salam got the idea for the installation about two years ago when her friend told her about Christine McDonald, a blind survivor of commercial sexual exploitation in Northeast, who now works to bring awareness through telling her story.

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Join us for our Fitness Fundraiser!! Thank you Sheri Pettit and The Port KC Fitness and Performance for hosting an all age/all fitness levels workout on Sept 26th at 10 a.m. for Relentless Pursuit to help raise awareness against human trafficking here in KC!! Everyone is welcome!! Come out and help support a local organization that is fighting this horrible epidemic right here in KC!! Donations can also be made at our website www.rpor.org

#berelentless#relentlesspursuit#sextraffickingishappeninginyourbackyardtoo

https://paulthepoke.com/2020/08/21/into-the-light/

Contact Information:
Christine C. McDonald
636-487-8986
Christine.CryPurple@gmail.com

“Love your neighbor, all of ’em.” -Christine Clarity McDonald

Through The Eyes of Grace –Christine C McDonald 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEj5RbFpuzjx_CuksAqgyXA/featured

https://crypurplemovie.com/

Into the Light

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Christine "Clarity" McDonald, Culture with tags , , , , , , on August 21, 2020 by paulthepoke

Exodus 20:2 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

“Into the Light” is a project that Hasna Sal has been working on for the past 2 years and now we can all see this project come to life very soon! Inspired by the story of survivor Christine McDonald, this is the first memorial in the nation for victims and survivors of modern day human slavery; those caught in vicious circles of poverty, addiction and human trafficking, and also to those who minister to them.

This memorial is to confront the perpetrators of this heinous crime.

https://glassconcepts360.com/

Comprised of 4 glass panels, each telling a story of isolation, damnation, redemption and salvation; this installation “Into the Light”, will be installed at Lykins Park, KCMO this fall.

Glass Concepts 360 has also donated their sculptures for this cause to Habitat for Humanity, and has helped raise funds for this project.

We want to thank the following agencies and municipal departments whose approval and support have made this project possible: Habitat for Humanity, Lykins Neighborhood Association, Art Commission of Kansas City, Kansas City Parks and Recreation, St. Michael the Archangel Church in Leawood, KS.

Special Shoutout to Director of Sacred Art at SMC Kevin Vogt; Outreach Director of HFH, Jude Huntz; Executive Director of LNA Gregg Lombardi; Art Commissioner of Kansas City, MO, James Martin; Kansas City Parks and Rec Commissioner, Scott Wagner and all the others who have made this project possible.

Where nobody knows and nobody goes, except the forgotten. Take a journey with glass artist & architect Hasna Sal as she explores Lykins Park, situated in the shadows of bustling, thriving Kansas City, MO. In a park that has suffered cases of gun violence, crack addiction and prostitution, Hasna presents a 4 panel glass installation for the public. Listen to Hasna’s story on Lykins Park Project.

We are very grateful to the group of donors who have generously contributed to the budget of this project. Without them, this project would never have succeeded.

We are so grateful to see artists of different genre coming forward to collaborate and donate their time on this project.

Hasna & the entire team at Glass Concepts 360 are doing this project pro bono, for the greater good of our community, with the hope that this will raise the awareness towards this issue and help fight this crime.

We hope to see you all at the groundbreaking ceremony, showing your support for this very special cause and event.

https://glassconcepts360.com/

Choices and Outcomes… Christine McDonald

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Christine "Clarity" McDonald with tags , , , on August 8, 2020 by paulthepoke

My choices that day haunted me for years. After I got clean and was in college, I attempted to find information about my daughter. No luck. I had abandoned her. If her adoptive family had told her she was adopted, I might have a chance to connect with her when she was an adult. I prayed that if it was God’s will, it would happen.

Then one day it happened. I got a private message. I had been in the hospital for a number of weeks, unable to walk due to complicated medical issues. I was reviewing my dozens of messages, and there it sat: a private message introduction from the woman who had adopted my little girl.

She knew who I was. She said she had kept track of me for a while. She said that little girl knew who I was, too. I wept.

I was facing life–threatening situations, and yet a long–held prayer was being answered. I finally knew she was okay, she was safe, and, most of all, she was loved. But I had not met her and wasn’t sure if that would happen.

Then one day, in August 2015, I was preparing to speak to a room of about 200 individuals about human trafficking. A woman approached me and said, “Hello. I’m the woman who adopted your little girl.”

I paused, and my heart skipped a beat. Then I heard another voice say, “And I’m your little girl.”

“What?!” That is all I could say. I stood and asked if I could touch her. Was this real? Could it be? It was indeed.

It was time for my presentation. I told them both I wasn’t sure I could speak for 90 minutes and not share what had just happened. I asked if they were okay with my sharing about them being there. They said of course.

About four or five minutes into my speech, I could hardly talk. I was trembling. I had to share. So, to that room of strangers, in that church, I shared the blessing from God with all in attendance. We all wept together. And we all rejoiced together.

The courage that my baby’s adoptive mom, who I am proud to call friend, had to bring her that day astounds me. She gave me the chance to meet that little baby I had fallen in love with so long ago. I know today, without a doubt, that I made the best choice I ever could have for her little life.

One thing I have learned is that if I continue trying doing the best I can, God is faithful. He throws amazing situations, and gifts such as this one, to confirm His grace and presence in my life. Although mankind still judges me, holding against me the stigmas of my past, the Creator of All continues to shower me with love and grace.

We have had chances to visit a few times and to continue to grow and get to know one another. I am truly humbled that God would find me worthy of such a gift. I am excited to be a part of her life, and am continually thankful that God used this as a piece of healing for me—as well as, hopefully, for her.

Contact Information:
Christine C. McDonald
636-487-8986
Christine.CryPurple@gmail.com

“Love your neighbor, all of ’em.” -Christine Clarity McDonald

https://crypurplemovie.com/

Christine McDonald, American View Points

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Christine "Clarity" McDonald with tags , on February 14, 2020 by paulthepoke

Revelation 18:11,13 And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls.

For about 17 years, Christine McDonald was sold for sex. Now she’s a human trafficking survivor who uses her experience to help others escape “the life”. McDonald explains some of the ways predators find their victims and trap them in the human trafficking underground. Listen to Christine as she discusses the issue with Mike Ferguson on his show.

https://american-viewpoints.simplecast.com/episodes/show-2-segment-4-christine-mcdonald?fbclid=IwAR3hQl_7ntm0u2QiTn169ZJV7sWbtR1OaKvVfCwrsNS7YODDRkFLft6S_iA

For those who are interested in more of Christine’s discussion with Mike Ferguson, check out the link below at Christinesvision.org

Christine also has three additional appearances listed for your listening pleasure.

http://www.christinesvision.org/media.html

Christine is available to Keynote, present a workshop or consult with your Agency, Corporation, Church or Community on a variety of topics including, but not limited to:

  • Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation
  • Safe relational street outreach for Homeless individuals experiencing substance abuse disorders and commercial sexual exploitation
  • Understanding the “Demand” that fuels human trafficking and the commercial sex industry and ways to address it
  • Residential recovery programs for adult trafficking survivors
  • Helping the judiciary system understand symptomatic charges and identify victims of human trafficking
  • Helping medical professionals and hospital systems identify and engage with individuals who deal with substance abuse disorders and are potential victims of human trafficking
  • Substance abuse disorders and recovery
  • Homelessness related topics
  • Topics around formerly incarcerated persons and reentry
  • Inclusion for those with disabilities/ blindness in the workplace, church and the community
  • Parenting as a blind, single parent
  • Passing policy at the local, state and federal level
  • The harms of pornography 
  • Her narrative and testimony
  • Faith based presentations and The Word
  • Engaging with those who have come from harm in the church

Contact Information:
Christine C. McDonald
636-487-8986
Christine.CryPurple@gmail.com

“Love your neighbor, all of ’em.” -Christine Clarity McDonald

https://crypurplemovie.com/

Precious in His Eyes… Christine McDonald

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Christine "Clarity" McDonald, Culture with tags , , , , , , , on September 7, 2019 by paulthepoke

…My hands were shaking. As I looked up, I saw a truck flash his lights as he drove past and turned the corner. I jumped out of the fountain and ran and jumped in his truck. I knew that if I had money to get dope, I could cope. It was the only way I could cope. It was how I removed myself and made the pain go away. It was how I kept the shame at bay and survived.

I heard once in a meeting that if I had not chosen to use, then I wouldn’t have ever faced the horrific situations I faced. I have often been perplexed by that statement. I am responsible for using, I guess. I suffered from a disease of addiction and the endless cycle it created.

However, I am not responsible for another’s evil actions. I am not responsible for those who seek out the broken, the weak, the invisible of our society, the ones everyone knows no one will go looking for if they go missing, the ones no one dares make eye contact with, the ones society has deemed less than human, without equal value as a human being.

Years later, as I reflect on my growth, I value myself as many things. From addict to child of God, I am human with as much value as any other. I understand the Word of God, and have my own relationship with Him.

The God of my understanding loves the outcasts, those who are shunned and viewed by others as disposable. I can’t help but remember the women and men who were homeless, who were prostituted, who were mentally ill, who were addicted, who were vulnerable, and who died horrific deaths at the hands of those from a higher socioeconomic class, death by people who see themselves as worthy of life while others are not.

What people like me and like them need is to be seen as the priceless treasures they are to the God who created them. Then, and only then, can they truly believe that a way out is possible, that the cycle can end, and that there is another way of coping and living with the pain they have experienced. They need to be set free from the pain and trauma, no matter who caused it or why they are the way they are. They need someone to look at them and say, “You are precious in His eyes, and He loves you. Oh, how He loves you.”

“Love your neighbor, all of ’em.” -Christine Clarity McDonald

https://crypurplemovie.com/

Christine McDonald to Speak at INSPIRE

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Christine "Clarity" McDonald, Culture with tags , , , , , , on August 16, 2019 by paulthepoke

As a child, Christine McDonald’s life at home was nightmarish. She was in a poverty-stricken, fatherless home. Her mother struggled with mental illness. She suffered from sexual abuse. She’d been in juvenile justice and foster care.

She ran away — dozens of time.

Now an author, whose first book about her journey out of sexual exploitation and human trafficking is to be made into a film, McDonald is a consultant and motivational speaker…

https://www.facebook.com/events/472527770156471/permalink/489917895084125/

Christine is set to speak about under-served and marginalized populations during INSPIRE, a daylong women’s conference September 14, 2019 to raise money for homeless children and help women “nourish, beautify and feed their souls.”

INSPIRE is 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. September 14 at Miller Performing Arts Center, 501 Madison St. in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Tickets are $50 and may be found at haloworldwide.org. Once on the site, click on “Events,” then on “INSPIRE: A women’s conference to benefit HALO.”

A tab for buying tickets is on that page. VIP tickets, which cost $100, will allow ticket-holders to attend a meet-and-greet with speakers at a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception following the event from 4-6 p.m. in the Bella Vista Room at Double Tree by Hilton Hotel, 422 Monroe St. in Jefferson City, Missouri.

For the complete article, see the link below.

http://www.newstribune.com/news/local/story/2019/aug/15/sex-trafficking-survivor-speak-halo-event/790785/

“Love your neighbor, all of ’em.” -Christine Clarity McDonald

https://crypurplemovie.com/


Human Trafficking, Up Close & Personal

Posted in Christine "Clarity" McDonald, Culture, Uncategorized with tags , , , , on August 17, 2018 by paulthepoke

Colossians 4:5–6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Christine McDonald

Featuring Christine Clarity McDonald

Christine has been recognized by the Missouri House of Representative for outstanding civil service in the state of Missouri. She is an advocate for Mental Health Champions.

Human trafficking is a topic that has been making its way into the mainstream over the last several years. The awareness of this issue is greatly rising, and that is certainly good. As awareness about human trafficking and other marginalized populations—such as the homeless, addicted, and mentally ill—has risen, so has the impulse to address these real problems. People want to know how to help. They want to make a difference.

I have read a number of books about how to help the homeless, the commercially exploited, the prostituted, and those generally marginalized. Some have been written by authors who share their own journey out of these places of darkness and hopelessness. The majority, however, have not.

Most of the literature that exists in this field fails to inform and educate people from an insider perspective. The authors of most of these books do not write from personal experience. They haven’t felt the desperation of trying to find something to grasp hold of to continue living. They haven’t faced the barriers put up by service providers that prevent them from receiving services. They haven’t experienced the social and spiritual disenfranchisements that can occur. While they are well–meaning, I haven’t found these particular books accurate in their depictions, nor were their “helping” suggestions all that helpful.

Human_Trafficking_0

The need for something more true–to–life has stirred in my heart. It is something I have prayed about often. Perhaps a book on this subject should be written by someone who has walked in the very shoes of those we are trying to help. If we can see and understand the journeys the forgotten and overlooked have walked, then we can better understand the rejection, hurt, and struggles they face when people attempt to reach out to them.

And so I find myself writing this book, sharing pieces of my journey and the stories of others I encountered on my journey, to help the world better understand the thoughts, feelings, and struggles of those who have been exploited and marginalized in our society.

“Love your neighbor… ALL of ’em!” -Christine “Clarity” McDonald

Read more at…

 

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