We always have to smile when some people after three weeks of being involved with our organization ask, "Why haven't we busted a trafficking spot yet?". We don't blame them for the question. We understand their urgency. We get their frustration. We admire their zeal. And, we share in it all. The truth of the matter though is that anti-trafficking work is tough. Criminals aren't stupid and often plans don't work out the way we want them. A case in point:
The other night two of our teams merged for an intricate multi-location investigation. The intelligence of these locations was daunting: men in charge of women, all women extremely young, reports of the women looking "haggard and disconnected" according to a John. Needless to say, Project Exodus leadership was eager to catch these criminals in the act. Our gut said trafficking and we spent hours prepping for the night. Our strategy was flawless; one even General Patton would admire. The time came and we began the operation, hopes high for victory and freedom.
The beginning of the night went off without a hitch. All volunteers got into assigned positions, communication was good, all points were covered. Previous investigations let us know the exact time and place everything would happen. It was all perfect. We would catch the act at the first location and then would move into location at the second location. We just had to wait.
Before we knew it zero hour was upon us. It was only a matter of moments until the car that took the women away arrived and we all waited in anxious anticipation. And waited....and waited...and waited. After thirty minutes of waiting we realized that if we waited any longer, we were going to miss all the activity at our second location. Being that the second location was a high priority, we didn't want to miss our opportunity.
After some deliberation, we decided to pull off half the teams and rush over to second location. If our timing was right, we would all be able to get into position just in time to see everything happen. The call went out, we reorganized all the teams, quickly gave the new strategy, and went on our way. Our volunteers were excellent and responded like well trained troops.
We arrived at the second location with only 5 minutes to spare. After finding parking the teams quickly headed into their positions. It was all in vain though. As we turned the corner to get into final place, our hearts sank as we saw the place closed for the night and the gates all locked up. Our intelligence was bad. The place closed early that night.
Disappointed, we called the other group that we had left at the first location to get an update. The news was sad. Though this location had consistently acted in the same way for weeks on end, this particular night they decided to approach the parlor from a different direction. Had all our teams been there, this would have been no problem. But being that we pulled off half of them, we left a blind spot that the criminals by chance happened to use. In essence we saw nothing and the whole operation was for not. Our groups rendezvoused at the assigned meeting point, we debriefed and prayed, and everyone went home...frustrated and feeling a little defeated.
Even though we meticulously planned the evening, we walked away empty handed. Despite weeks of intel gathering and preparation, unforeseen circumstances threw off the entire night. Two simple time changes on behalf of the locations blew hours of preparation and planning on our behalf. Were we disappointed? Yes. Were we defeated? Not at all.
The lesson from the night was clear: though you might think you have all your bases covered, when in the field things can change in a moment. Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. But win you lose, you pick yourself back up and you try again.
God is good and we have faith that He will reward our determination. We know that He wants us to try again and again and again until we get it. We have faith that He will bring His justice.
Human trafficking is not going to vanish over night. God has called us not only to be active in seeking His justice but also to be determined. With a crime so monstrous as human trafficking, it is only going to be through faithful determination that we will see its end. And determined we are and will be until the end.
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