Did you know that there is no official estimate of sex trafficking victims in the U.S?
Introduction
Hi there, my name is John and I am raising awareness and funds to fight sex trafficking. Freedom 8848 was started as a way to fight sex trafficking in a meaningful way. As the task seems insurmountable, the undertaking was likened to climbing Mount Everest, which is 8848 meters high - and the name Freedom 8848 was born.
Why am I doing this?
Besides what I stated above, I've always found it best to achieve excellence as a team - "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." This journey will be like no other and the team has been preparing for months. There's something in man that can't be extinguished, and that is love and perseverance.
When is the hike?
There will be a group of us hiking a total of 9 beautiful mountains over the course of 3 days starting on August 18, 2022, and ending on August 20, 2022. We will be traveling to a designated campsite on August 17th and will make our return trips on August 21. Food will be supplied and we will be sleeping in tents next to the access points of each mountain.
How am I preparing?
Lots of walking, running, hiking, and prayer. There's more to preparation than just the body. It's my prayer that we can fight sex trafficking, even if it's one person at a time. Raising awareness through discussions, blog posts, and social media goes a long way.
How can you help?
There are three ways you can help me in this endeavor:
1. Educate yourself on sex trafficking through BRAVE Education: https://braveeducation.org/
2. Donate by clicking the Contribute button at the top of the page.
3. Pray for the sex trafficking victims and oppressors.
Specific prayers:
There's a saying in emergency response that a person can only live 3 months without hope. Pray that the victims do not lose hope and continue to persevere through the many trials they continue to face each day. It may seem like an insurmountable task, but all things can be done through the mighty hand of God.
Although it may be difficult, pray for the oppressors to repent of their sins and come to know Christ as their lord and savior. We may not have committed such a deep and heinous act before, but we have all fallen short in one way or another. How does it feel to be forgiven for your wrongdoings? How much more would it be to forgive them for their wrongdoings?
Climbing 3 mountains a day for 3 continuous days will be exhausting. Pray for myself and the team that we will be able and prepared to undertake the journey that lies ahead. Pray for the team as we all prepare mentally, physically, and spiritually for whatever comes our way.
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” — Proverbs 31:8-9
- John Kwisses
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After 6 men sat together in the Bow River basin and discussed the GIANT of
an issue of SEX TRAFFICKING, it was easy to use Mt. EVEREST as a metaphor.
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 | - - "Standing at the base of Everest it seems insurmountable, too big to conquer, but the reality is, it isn't. The first step is to decide to pack a bag and move towards it." - Rem (Founder) |
Why 8848? Because, Mt. Everest is 8848m tall. The idea was born to summit Everest not overseas but, here in the Alberta Rocky Mountains. These men were inspired to create The Freedom 8848 Team Everest Challenge as a justice initiative of 4th Musketeer Canada following a 72 hour wilderness journey called Extreme Character Challenge -XCC.
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The Freedom 8848 Team Everest Challenge was created to raise funds, awareness and most of all empathy for those who have quieted voices. To support and find ways to protect those who are enslaved, on a recovery journey, the frontline organizations, our children, and anyone else who is directly or indirectly involved.
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- - - - - -"I just couldn't sit on my couch and think there was something I could be doing to help someone who was being trafficked"- Freedom 8848 member |
-- - - The event is split into 4 tiers:
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"This mission needs your help!"
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As one of the Freedom8848 supporters put it:
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" I hope... that they don’t only climb the equivalent of Everest:
they move the equivalent of Everest."
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The funds raised are donated to carefully selected organizations.
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Freedom 8848, their partners, and all it's participants sincerely ask for your support as we enter the third of many annual events this August 18-21, 2022.
We believe with your help we can become the
"...GROUNDSWELL of people standing together moving mountains for justice."
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Can you IMAGINE?? We can!!
