|
Dear Jeff,
It’s always a blessing when I get to share my heart with you. I could do what many other organizations and leaders do and write every week or so, but I’ve always felt it would mean so much more if I wrote when I felt I had something important to share with you, literally from the depths of my heart. Fortunately, God has truly blessed me and the ministry of JOY International with an incredible team who can share many of the details of the life-changing work we do in the fight against child trafficking.
Today, I want to share something that’s been on my heart and mind for quite some time. It’s about The Barefoot Mile. We started these events in my 3rd year of living barefoot as a way to raise funds for JOY International. I can still remember the first one in Coshocton, Ohio on September 6th, 2014… nearly 10 years ago! Since that time, volunteers around the world have hosted 75 Barefoot Miles raising over one million dollars for not only JOY International, but many of our partner organizations fighting human trafficking in the U.S. and globally. The Barefoot Miles have helped us fund rescue operations, crucial trainings to partners in the field, and vital support to safe homes caring for survivors. As I look back on the past ten years, I see how important these walks have been in allowing JOY International to grow as an organization.
As I have been reflecting on the many Barefoot Mile walks we’ve had all across America, as well as in Cambodia, where my barefoot journey began, I came to realize there was too much emphasis on my barefoot journey when the emphasis should be on the global work of JOY International and what we fight for every day, 365 days a year. These walks exist not to recognize me and my barefoot journey, but to lift up the work of JOY International. Truly, these walks exist for the millions of vulnerable and trafficked children in the world who need our support.
So, after much discussion and prayer among our team at JOY International, we have made the important decision I am sharing today. Next Saturday, April 20th, JOY International will host our final Barefoot Mile in partnership with The Rock Church in Arizona.
Moving forward, JOY International will begin hosting JOY of Freedom Walks. The JOY of Freedom Walks will be hope-filled celebrations of freedom and JOY, recognizing all that God has done through JOY International, and most of all, honoring the lives of the children who have been forever changed through our work.
As we step into this new season, JOY International's walks to raise funds for our mission are more important than ever. It's my hope you'll join a JOY of Freedom Walk near you this year. Together, we have so much to celebrate and so much to look forward to.
With sincere gratitude for your love and support,
| 
