He's out of there.

Last week was difficult, I heard one too many horror stories. I don't always know where that line is (the line between being able to live in hope and not being able to sleep or function well) but I crossed it last week. Slavery is so very ugly.

I left the office one day and asked myself, why do I do this? The answer came. It was small but clear; because I know what Love looks like.

Love is when a little girl who used to sit in the corner outside a safehome and pour dirt over her body runs up to you arms akimbo laughing and chattering in Thai.

Love is when a child has no memory of being raped because a prevention program did its job.

Love is watching a girl sing and play guitar when not that long ago she threw herself out of a fourth story brothel because escape was going to happen one way or another.

Love looks like the abolition movement that we are all a part of. I see it in your emails, and in your action.

Love is the power that will end slavery.

Stephen Baldwin decided to leave the reality show I'm a celebrity get me out of here due to health concerns (if you would like to read more about it, go here).

Love146 is grateful for the awareness that came from Stephen's effort on the show. There are so many more people that know the story of 146, her story, because of what Stephen did.

Love looks like a little girl standing behind glass with a number pinned to her chest, sold as a slave and still being able to say "you don't own me" through her eyes.

The Love story continues. That's reality.

Road Trip.

Love146 was invited by the Fray to participate in the EcoVillage on their tour this summer. As an office full of hipsters, we were thrilled receive such a high profile invite; and as the new office intern, I was shocked and highly graced to be chosen to attend the first concert just outside of Washington D.C.

I set out with Anastasia at 6AM to make the journey. In addition to raising awareness about Love146 at the venue, this trip was also a pilgrimage for Anastasia and I to find a Chick-Fil-A, a fast food restaurant which we bonded over our devotion to. There are no Chick-Fil-As in the tri-state area. None. It really hurts.

At 9:30 we stopped to refuel at a service station. Distracted by Starbucks coffee and lots of big trucks, we actually neglected our very thirsty car and hit the highway again, pleased and relieved with our lattes. Not twenty minutes later, I hear Anastasia say, "Somethings wrong with this car! It's not working!" Sitting on the side of the Jersey Turnpike waiting for AAA for two hours, we watched the minutes tick, realizing with self-loathing and fury that we we're going to miss our lunch at Chick-Fil-A, still a hundred miles away.

At one point, I wailed, "Where is Chick Fil A!!??? We called them an hour ago!!!!"
"Do you mean Triple A?" "...Oh. I guess so."

When we finally arrived, after a dash for chicken sandwiches, our next task was to find a hotel. We saw a cluster of blue directional signs. Figuring the blue "H" sign must mean Hotel, we followed it and ended up at a Hospital. It was quite an adventure, I haven't laughed so much in months.
It did end up being an awesome experience. When we arrived at the concert, our brains were waiting for us, we did quite well and had some amazing conversations about abolition.

But when it comes to a road trip with Anastasia and I, all I can say is:
"Everyone knows we're in over our heads, over our heads."

Much love Abolitionists,
The Intern
(aka Marilyn)

Voting is open!

Voting continues until 8pm tonight for I'm a celebrity get me out of here.

If you're so inclined, you can vote by phone (1.877.553.3710) or online (here). Up to ten times!

The longer Stephen Baldwin stays on the more awareness and funds are raised.

Thanks for joining us in this!

Desirea

Feeling the Love

Our good friends at Brains on Fire sent us some Love this week. Watching the staff go after the packets of individual coffee (Brains on Fire has excellent taste in coffee) was like watching one of those nature shows where the pack swarms a poor defenseless deer.

Their generosity got me thinking about what a Love146 package could look like. A deep fried spider from Cambodia,

A fertilized duck embryo from the Philippines, and

a Thai iced tea to wash it all down.

Thanks to everyone over at Brain's on Fire, you are loved and appreciated. Your package is on its way...

Desirea

I'm a celebrity (you know the rest...)!

This week on “I’m a celebrity get me out of here” Stephen Baldwin talked about why his charity choice is Love146. He asked the question “how far would you go if this was your child?”

For me, this question was answered by the fact that I’m actually watching a reality show about celebrities camping in the jungle.

All joking aside, the longer Stephen stays the more awareness and funds will come. Within the first hour that Stephen mentioned us on NBC we received 5,000 hits on our website. We have also seen donations come in over the past two days from people saying they heard about us through Stephen.

This reality show is definitely not something I would normally tune in to but we are grateful to Stephen and each of you spreading the word for joining the collective shout.

I think of the girl that returned to our safehome this week. She has no idea that her life is being affected by people in the US watching a TV show. I think of all the children who will never know sex slavery because our prevention programs are being funded by people hearing about Love146 through Stephen Baldwin. You know, there are weird things that happen in the world everyday and there are some deeply beautiful things as well, and then there’s a reality TV show that’s bringing them both together.

Thanks friends,

Desirea

She knew she could always come Home again.

You may remember this story from our safehome in the Philippines

Her mother left the family when she was 5. Her father was murdered shortly after. Relatives and neighbors took her in and sexually used her. She ran away to the streets, only to be abused further. At 13 she was caught and put in a detention center for youth where she lived through further trauma.

She came to the safehome after 4 years of the detention center. She thrived. She said the safehome was her first real Home, it was the first place where she experienced real Love. Being cared for, she realized that she wanted to care for others. She was eventually reintegrated with her brothers and grandmother. Love146 assisted this family in different ways and kept in contact with this girl.

Recently, her grandmother died. At this point her uncles became abusive and exploitive. She ran away again but this time she was running toward Home. She knew she could call, she knew she would be welcomed with open arms full of Love.

She called from Manila, the staff immediately went and brought her Home again.

Love never fails.

Love never abuses.

Love never values you differently because you are a girl.

Love always hears your voice.

Love drives in to Manila the moment you call.

Loves says your Home is always your Home.

To everyone who watched last night -

Just stay away from my shampoo.

It begins...

Tonight is the night. 

I'm a celebrity, get me out of here begins on NBC.

NBC is expecting 4-8 million viewers per episode. The longer Stephen Baldwin stays on the more money will be donated to Love146. 

We will keep you guys updated with new information. Please spread the word (seriously, we can't do this without you), this could be a major source of funding which will provide prevention and aftercare to the children we serve. 

I'm a celebrity, get me out of here will be on:

Monday-Thursday (that's right 4 nights a week!) from 8-9 (although tonight's premiere is 2 hrs.) 

June 1 -18 and:

Monday-Wednesday from 8-9, June 22-24

So, even though June is one of the most beautiful months of the year, stay inside, watch TV and vote:) (who really needs sunshine and fresh air)

Abolition!

Desirea