The following shorts of information are from Operation Liberate's July Newsletter.
Download by clicking here.
Destination Costa Rica: The Big Decision Is Made
Sex trafficking and child sex tourism in Costa Rica? I thought it was a nice, safe country. That is the first response of someone who hears that we are beginning our work of rescuing and protecting victims of sexual abuse, and bringing justice to exploiters, in Costa Rica. Our recent trip to Costa Rica appeared at first to affirm this notion. Life there looked normal, with people caring about basic things, family, education for their kids, jobs to keep food on the table, a roof overhead. We found that even the bars in front of many homes are normal, a substitute for our electronic home security systems. Yet, we soon learned that it was the need to maintain this peaceful image and the flourishing tourist industry that it sustains, that gave rise to a threat those security bars could not keep out, foreign sex tourists. In fact, it is the need to grow the economically pivotal tourist industry that fuels a denial of a serious, growing problem that is becoming more sophisticated by the day. People we met there painted the real picture. Missionaries told us, “When we ask men,who we meet regularly when we go to the airport, about their travel to Costa Rica, they nearly all respond, 'You don't want to know why I'm here.'” Government and NGO officials lamented the growing problem and the lack of understanding and relevant support from the U.S., where many of these sex tourists originate. Yet there is potentially a different Costa Rica and a desire by many we spoke to for an earlier time when there was a different attitude. In 2003, a Christian group played a major role in the apprehension of a group of U.S. sex tourists. The aftermath of that arrest brought an attitude of shock and response from the government and people. Task forces emerged and a remnant of the Christian group continues its work, but with limited resources. In this context, our offer of help was enthusiastically received by all. So after much research on the evil of sex exploitation globally, regionally and in specific countries, intense prayer and evaluation by the Board of Directors, we are going to Costa Rica. The Christian group we mentioned has over 85 open cases for us to investigate and would love for us to begin immediately, so pray for us!
Whooooo Are You? Search for Investigators Begins
Now that we have developed our
expertise, formed relationships
with those already working on this
problem and decided where to
begin our work, it is time to build
our team. We cannot do this
work alone. Now we are looking
for gifted people to complement
his excellent work. Investigators
for our team must be servantleaders and mature, growing Christians
with 10+ years working in intelligence or
law enforcement , 3 years in a team or
supervisory or team context. Substantial
experience in undercover operations or
intelligence gathering is necessary. They
must be professional, systemic thinkers
who are flexible and can work well
building new relationships in a crosscultural
setting and who have passion for
seeking justice for the oppressed.
Money MATTERS: Funds Needed to Rescue the Perishing
Operation Liberate has been very
blessed by our generous donors
during the first year of our work.
Our present resources will allow us
to continue to maintain our work
at its present level through the
next year. At this point, however,
we must do more than maintain
our work, we must grow it. Now
that we are poised to begin the
actual work of rescuing the victims
of this horrible crime, we need to
recruit, equip and maintain full
and part time teams of rescueworkers who can do the work required
of us in Costa Rica. While we are very
fortunate to have about a third of the
resources and pledges that we need for
our next year of work, we need much
more to be truly effective. We are
called to this work and will do it
effectively with whatever resources we
are blessed to have, but more funding
means that we can rescue more of
these victims, do more to prosecute
criminals who enslave them and give
those rescued a better chance for a
new life after their captivity. At the
left are several ways you can help.
What Would You Have Done At Great Moments In History? In the American Revolution, would you have been a patriot...
or a Tory? In the Civil War, would
you have joined the North or the
South? Or like so many people did
during those times in history,
would you have simply sat on the
sidelines and let others make the
sacrifice that was necessary? Now
is the time to transform your
speculation into action. History is
still being written and you can be
part of it. Our Revolutionary War
did not win freedom for everyone
and our Civil War did not end the
evil of slavery. Over 27 million
people awake each day in bondage
and millions of them are womenand children trapped in sex slavery.
You can become part of the effort
to free them, right now, today. You
can begin like many great people of
history did, by praying for those who
are already fighting for these slaves.
You can volunteer to become a part
of teams that we are building across
the U.S. who will advocate for these
victims and for our work where you
live, monitor the activities of the
perpetrators on the internet, or join
our short-term rescue teams who
will eventually deploy to assist our
core team in rescues and protection
and care of the victims. Find your
place in history as we write it.