brandyglows

I am excited to share that I have signed on to be a regular guest blogger for Made By Survivors! I volunteered over a month ago (has it really been that long?) and journeyed to Kolkata, West Bengal in India to help out in a couple of the shelters that MBS sponsors. I was six weeks pregnant at the time, and unfortunately, morning sickness decided to make it’s first appearance while I was there. As it turns out, the baby growing inside of me is not a fan of Indian food. I ended up having to come home a week early. It was an amazing trip (I blogged about it here, here and here) but I was very glad to be home. I thought I’d take this first post to talk about what I’ve been doing since returning home – in life and in the abolition world.

At the mall with volunteers and staff one of our first nights in India.

First, I’m now 14 weeks along! Actually, I thought I was 13 weeks, and at my first doctor’s appointment yesterday, they informed me that I was one week off. This means I’m officially in the 2nd trimester. I’m feeling a lot better than I did in India, but I still have some ugly nauseous bouts. I’m hopeful that they’ll be coming to an end soon. I’ve also been very tired – which is part of what made my trip so difficult. I’m generally a fairly high-energy person, so it’s been a bit like becoming someone else. I don’t like being tired all the time. And I don’t like not being able to get all the stuff done that I’m used to accomplishing. But I’m learning how to be gentle with myself and trying to enjoy growing this precious baby inside of me.

Paul with Bernadette and the beautiful quilt she made from the handprints of the girls at one of the shelters.

It’s a been a challenge to work through how I can actively and effectively fight human trafficking in my newly pregnant state. But, I love a good challenge. And I’m excited to share how I’ve been working to accomplish it. I hope you read this post and feel inspired to go out and be an abolitionist wherever you are in life. Because if I can do it, anyone can!

Me and Soma, a MBS staff member, at one of the shelters.

Some projects underway:

• Well, guest blogging is the most obvious, I assume. It’s a simple way I can share my expertise with others. And since I’m making it a weekly task, it will keep me up-to-date on all human trafficking news and, in the midst of nausea, homeschool and exhaustion, it will serve as a reminder of this amazing cause that’s much bigger than my little sphere.
• We are just getting started in the season of Lent in my church community, and we are beginning a series called Becoming Agents of Love, Peace and Hope. One of my pastors asked me to be on a panel one Sunday later in Lent. We’ll all be sharing ways that we as individuals have been serving our community and the world – and I’ll get to share all about human trafficking and my adventures in India!
• I am honored to report that Sarah, co-founder of MBS, has offered to make me the Made By Survivors representative of the DC Metro Area. Get excited. Made By Survivors will now have a voice at all of the many anti-human trafficking efforts around the city. If you are reading this, and you have an event coming up in the city that you would like us attend, or if you would like to have me come and speak at your church or organization, you can contact me at brandyglows (at) gmail (dot) com.