Have you ever prayed the most dangerous prayer? The one that leads you to the land of the unknown, where so much of God’s goodness awaits? I can’t remember the first time I prayed it or how many times I’ve repeated it, but I’m so glad I did!
"Lord, use me where I am needed.”
In my work with HOPE61, God was so gracious throughout 2025, providing opportunities for me to grow and connect through the ministry. It’s been clear to me how God is using this season to bring human trafficking even more into the light. Just last year, he enabled me to share on human trafficking prevention in my homeland of New Zealand, as well as in Thailand, the Philippines, and, most recently, South Korea.
My main purpose in South Korea was to work with Korean missionary candidates who were completing seven months of training as they prepared to move to their respective mission fields. I was with them for their final couple of weeks, helping with their English classes and leading them through a HOPE61 workshop.
My workshop started in a bit of a flurry because it was moved up a week earlier than scheduled, with only an hour and a half’s notice! But praise the Lord, he gave me the peace I needed, and I was quickly ready to go. In the short 1.5 hours I had to present the workshop, I was grateful that God helped me present well and that my students were eager to learn more.
This was my first HOPE61 presentation where my trainees were still learning English, but I was blessed to have some men in the class who could converse and translate when needed.
Given their English levels, I began the workshop with a matching activity. The students worked in pairs and small groups to match a concept (such as "sweatshop" or "prostitute") to its corresponding picture. This helped them learn these new words before we put them into context later in the training. I was proud of them all for working hard to understand and for asking questions along the way.
My absolute favourite part of any HOPE61 training is learning about the students’ assets. Hearing about their strengths, gifts, talents, and skills is a wonderful experience that encourages them and helps them understand they are equipped to reach their community. Thinking about the mission fields these students would soon be moving to, we had rich conversations about what they’d be doing and how their plans on the mission field would work together to reach the vulnerable and prevent human trafficking.
I felt God capture their hearts through this training, and it was an honor to witness. The following morning, I led the intermediate English class, continuing the conversation about human trafficking. They asked more questions about what to do if they see trafficking, and I reminded and encouraged them to keep their eyes fixed on Jesus. I shared that in the chaos and darkness of the world we are working in, our minds must be trained to always look to our Saviour, the giver of light.
When I arrived in Korea, this workshop was the only one scheduled, but God opened another door! At the training school, they organised another HOPE61 workshop for me to lead, this time including the school's directors, their daughter, the school’s administrator, and other missionaries who were currently home on furlough. This, too, was a wonderful experience, helping raise awareness among more people, despite their English level. The director’s daughter helped translate some of their questions.
Throughout my month-long stay in South Korea, God continued to create divine opportunities for conversations with people I met in churches and at events. As time went on, I came to understand more clearly how little people knew about trafficking there. For me, it was special to be able to raise awareness, even in these small encounters.
I’m confident that God has even more planned for HOPE61 in the Asia region. I am excited to be a part of it … wherever I am needed.
