Celebrate Freedom!

Bastille Day Celebration, Lyon, France –

Image taken from: https://en.lyon-france.com/What-s-on/Shows/Lyon-Fireworks-on-July-14th

          The national day of France, called Bastille Day, is celebrated on July 14th across France with fireworks.  On July the 4th we shared a story about celebrating freedom.  We are continuing to celebrate freedom internationally; on July 11th we received confirmation that the authorities have worked together to break up a trafficking ring involving the arrest of 10 controllers working in Bulgaria, Germany, and France.  Because of this intervention, some of our friends have been set free!  What an incredible joy it is to pray and watch God answer in such a mighty way.  “For to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us!” Ephesians 3:20

Open Doors...

Recently Tiffne was asked to serve on the European Baptist Federation’s Anti-Trafficking working group.  This opportunity is opening many doors for networking and building a prayer network across Europe in hopes of overcoming human trafficking.  Through this and other networks we are able to connect people working in this area for prayer and to help the victims of human trafficking.  For example, we are working with groups in Romania and Bulgaria so that each time a lady-in-waiting expresses the desire to return home, we can give her the contact information of people in her own country who will encourage her and help her.  We are building a network across many countries and nationalities including, Germany, France, Switzerland, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United States.

The European Baptist Federation’s Anti-Trafficking working group met in Bucharest Romania the first week of April, 2018 to visit with pastors, students, churches, and NGO’s.   God did amazing things during our visit.  He opened doors for us to visit the Romanian parliament, have great discussions with pastors and social work students, and visit a church and school ministry.  God also opened doors for us to visit in two secure homes for victims of human trafficking.  What a privilege it was to be invited into these homes to meet the directors, volunteers, and ladies who reside there.  As a team we learned many things from these visits.  The directors, volunteers, and especially the ladies touched our hearts with their stories of courage, hope, and faith in an overcoming God.  It was such an encouragement to meet these people who are working together to overcome human trafficking.

Please pray that God will continue to open doors so that victims of human trafficking might be set free to live a new life in Christ.

“Lynda’s” story…

The first time we met “Lynda” she asked if we would be willing to come and do a Bible study with her.  So every other week we brought our camping chairs and Bible studies in Bulgarian, French, and English to share some time with her.  During these times together she asked about eternal life.  She also talked about starting a new life now, by returning home and finding a different job.  We were able to connect her with a Christian friend of ours in her home country who is looking forward to welcoming her next month when she returns home.  Please pray for her as she returns home to start a new life in every way.

A Taste of Home!

Being away from home can be difficult.  Being away from home due to war, famine, or just the search of a better life for the next generation can be devastating.  In Strasbourg, France, there are hundreds of individuals who are away from home because they have been tricked, trapped, or trafficked into circumstances where they find themselves being sexually exploited. 
Generally understanding the circumstances of those we meet on the streets is just the first step in combating the exploitation of these individuals.  Knowing them personally, where they come from, and their story is critical to developing lasting relationships of trust that foster the healing process.  As part of our missional journey to develop resources, networks, and ministries to effectively minister to the Ladies-in-Waiting of Strasbourg, we attended a conference focused on the holistic approach to trauma care in Bulgaria.  While there, we were able to more fully understand the Bulgarian culture and mindset that helps shape the reasoning process of women trapped in jobs that are exploiting them sexually. 

One of the little ministries that are commonplace for the Ladies-in-Waiting outreach teams is to offer small gifts when talking to the women on the street.  Often times it is simply a cup of hot coffee or cold drink, some chocolate, or even some simple fragrant lotions.  While in Bulgaria, we had the opportunity to learn of little things that are unique to that country.  Rose oil and a specific type of Bulgarian chocolate were two small items we were able to purchase while walking through the street markets.  What a privilege it was to offer these remembrances of home to the women from Bulgaria we know on the streets of Strasbourg.  It is not often that someone considers them a friend or takes the time and effort to go out of their way to make them feel special.  The small gifts that reminded the ladies of “home” did just that.  Building beloved community does not always take large amounts of resources; sometimes it just takes time, a willing heart, and something special from home!

Let Freedom Ring!

Today is July 4^th.  A regular Wednesday in most of the world, but in America it is a day symbolizing independence: freedom.   I am celebrating today in Strasbourg, France.  A country that does not see this day as a holiday, but today I am celebrating freedom!  I am celebrating freedom for victims of human trafficking; for our “ladies-in-waiting” who have been working on the streets of Strasbourg, but are today beginning to see a road to freedom.  Just a few weeks ago, while visiting our friends

on the street we learned about a fight that four of them were involved in and we heard that the police were called.  We also saw some of our ladies talking with what we believed were their controllers on the street.   At that point we began praying and asking others to pray that God would use this negative situation to bring about freedom for these ladies.  Just yesterday we learned that God is answering our prayers.  The police are continuing to be involved, trying to stop the trafficking and to help the ladies get home.  Some of our friends are leaving this job and going home to find a new life.  Please pray that they will also find new life in Christ.  “If the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed!”  John 8:6  Let Freedom Ring!

                Happy 4th of July from the Whitley Family

Things are not always as they seem

Things are not always as they seem…

               In the rain, in the snow…snow?

               Our outreach teams were out visiting one day when it began to snow.  We laughed with our ladies-in-waiting friends at the wonderful cold white flakes falling.  Then we began to look closer and realized that it was tiny balls of pollution that falls from the sky here in France after it has risen and accumulated in the clouds.  So what we first thought was snow, was pollution instead.  Another evening we went out to visit; we drove by one of the largest mosques in France to reach the road by the river where the ladies were waiting.  As we offered them hot tea, coffee, and chocolate, it began to rain.  The ladies would offer to let us stand under their umbrellas as we visited with them.

               The Ladies-in-waiting outreach teams go out during the day and in the evenings to visit ladies on the street.  The world sees these ladies as prostitutes.  Many people don’t understand that many of these ladies have no choice in this “profession.”  They have been coerced, forced, and/or trafficked into this life.  They are ladies who want a friend; ladies who will gladly share their umbrella.  They are people like you and me.  People who need to know of Jesus’ love.  Things are not always as they seem.

Please pray for the authorities in France and Bulgaria as they seek to break up the Bulgarian human trafficking ring in Strasbourg.

Merry Christmas - the Whitley family, 2017

Our favorite thing about serving as field personnel of CBF is watching God work through the prayers of his people.  Before we came back to Texas from France, we had a couple of goals that we were not sure how, or if, it was going to be possible to accomplish.  One was to learn more about how to help truck drivers identify victims of human trafficking.  The other was to learn more about a secure home for victims of human trafficking.  In one of the first churches that we spoke in, towards the end of our time sharing, a man stood up and said that he worked with a company in the states that trained its drivers to identify victims of human trafficking.  We were so amazed that God lead us right to the person who would help us begin this new ministry!  Later, as Tiffne was attending a women’s event at our host church, she heard about a secure home for victims of human trafficking that was very close to where we would be staying – We thought we would have to travel to learn more about this ministry.  God opened the doors for the necessary training and background check so that Tiffne was able to train, volunteer, and minister with this ministry.  It was her joy to lead an Advent Bible study for the ladies.  During the Christmas season, one of the ladies became a Christian and the “window of joy” that we wanted to provide for this lady became a whole new world of joy. 

Prayer Requests…

-Please pray for the Whitley family as they return to France on Jan 3^rd. 

-Pray as they reconnect with ministry partners in France. 

-Pray for the Unique youth event on Jan. 6^th

-Pray for Action Quartier on Jan. 13^th

-Pray for the Whitley children as they transition back to school and extracurricular activities in France.

-Please continue to pray for Joel as he recovers from shoulder surgery.

-Pray for the Ladies-in-waiting ministry as they visit in Strasbourg.       

-Please pray for the secure home for victims of human trafficking; pray for the staff as well as for the residents and their families.

-Please continue to pray for Mary, as she continues treatment for cancer and has a surgery this month.

Merry Christmas
And
Happy New Year!
Love,

Joel, Tiffne, Megan, Cade, and Dylan

Banana Boat Update

May 2017

Tiffne and Joel Whitley              Strasbourg, France

On June 10^th our Action Quartier group is inviting the children from the immigrant neighborhood to the grounds of the French Baptist Church for a “block party.”  Please be praying as we continue to build relationships with our neighborhood friends.

______________________________________________________

Molly’s Story

The first time we met “Molly” she told us how the police often stop by to ask to see her papers to make sure that she is old enough to be working on the streets.  It is legal for ladies to work on the streets in France, but they must be at least 18 years old.  Molly is 18, but she looks much younger.  We have been visiting with Molly for many months now.  She has told us how she has had to call the police when clients are dangerous.  One has threatened to kill her on several occasions.  We have also assisted her with contacting the police for her protection. 

Molly keeps her passport in her boot to protect it from men who have tried to take it from her.  Many traffickers take the passports or identity documents of their victims in order to keep them under their control.

Molly has also told us that she would like to return to her country and find different work.  Just before she was scheduled to make a visit back to her home country, Molly told us that she is planning to apply for law school and the police academy in her country.  We encouraged her that she would then be able to help women just like herself who had been working on the streets and needed help.  Before Molly left France we were able to give her a letter from a Christian lady from the capital city of her country who is a friend to ladies who have worked on the streets.  This friend works to help these women find a new life.  Please pray for Molly as she returns to her country; for her friendship with this mutual friend, and for her application to law school and/or the police academy.