I believe that anybody can give something to help others and this does not always mean money....you can give your time or service. We can always give according to our abilities...so there is no excuse for not helping others.

I think we should only give within our convictions and morals. If it's against our convictions and beliefs then giving will be detrimental to us.

Once I received a call offering me a decent sum to turn for a pianist for a chamber music concert. I was pleased to finally get paid for something I'd been doing pro bono for years. I got there early and met with the pianist. He seemed high-strung but some people are before a concert. I clarified repeat issues with him and he assured me he was a clear nodder.The concert began and I soon saw why he was so high-strung; his mediocre technique and limited musicality made him a bad choice to play the well-known Beethoven and Brahms trios he was tackling (almost literally, football player style). We got towards the end of the first page and he did not nod. I figured, Maybe he likes memorize the beginning of the next page and have late turns. Nope as we reached the last two beats he abruptly turned his heard toward me and, in a low, gruff voice barked, Turn! This disagreeable ritual was repeated for most of the performance. I thought it might have been less disruptive for him and the audience to nod as he said. No such luck. I made it through and didn't mess it up, but he really unnerved me and I dare say I was very deserving of my pay that evening.

The coommn factor with the vast majority of internal trafficking is that the predators are mainly males, and can come from all backgrounds and cultures. In England, it is mainly done by white males, but also males who are from most ethic groups. It is about having power and control over vulnerable girls and young women and mainly about making easy money. There is little or no real justice for this violence only a very few men are arrested, and of those who are sentenced it is usually a too low sentence. Most of these predators remain invisible, and keep their power. It is usually the men low on the pecking order of the sex trade that are arrested for the men with the real power keep their hands clean by calling themselves businessmen.

I think what we have to give up in order to help others is the comfort we get in not having to make decisions. To help others, we have to decide what to do and when to do it because other people are depending on us. There is comfort in just being lazy and never making a clear decision about what to do, and this is what we have to give up in order to help others. But you can't give up everything, because you do need to keep yourself healthy, strong and content.

"you will only be as good of an activist to the extent that you take care of yourself" ^this saying changed my view on life and i love it! i'm from toronto, canada and i totally support this organisation, and what you're doing, rachel! love it! keep strong! :)

I'm wondering if anyone on this thread feels that they give more to others than they receive and what is it you do for yourself when you're not giving to others?

Thank you Rachel for taking on an important calling as well as an important topic. I can't tell you how many people I've witnessed struggling to find a balance between helping others and self-preservation. Often, the helper burns out or becomes the one who needs help. Thanks for presenting this!

Thank you for introducing me to the category of "self-discovery". I think I often think of the resourcing I do outside of ministry as self-work, and "discovery" helps me put it in a new light.

Well, said, Rachel! I know physical exertion/exercise/hard work can nurture the soul, but boxing??? Just goes to show all new experiences, approached with an open mind, nourish us. I'm glad your dad shared this with me. Mary

Very inspirational, keep up the wonderful work Rachel!

Wow, what a beautiful reflection. Rachel's comments are right on and a great reminder to me!

Her dedication is so inspiring and offers incite on how you have to strike a balance between your passions and yourself.