I think he will be an active participant in our efforts to stop sex trafficking,” Love said. O.U.R. Learn more at ourrescue.org. O.U.R. Timothy "Tim" Ballard is the founder and CEO of Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R. He started the organization after some traumatic experiences he faced while working for the CIA. “This is the very beginning of the relationship between Haiti and Operation Underground Railroad, and I was pleased that I could make that connection.”, Ballard added, “Haiti is the only country in the history of the world that gained its independence through a slave rebellion. Jim Caviezel, before the shooting of the film, spent several days shadowing Tim Ballard and learning about Operation Underground Railroad 's operations. has for all those who are rescued,” Mass explains. Operation Underground railroad (O.U.R.) 3 lessons one young mother was reminded of while watching the Friend to Friend event, This national comic strip recently featured timeless advice from Elder Holland, See photos of progress made on the Salt Lake Temple renovation in February, Latter-day Saint composer Rob Gardner reflects on inspiration behind Easter oratorio ‘Lamb of God’, Tom Christofferson answers, ‘Do you think the Lord loves you as much as He does your brother?’, 9 temples to begin or resume Phase 2 in latest temple reopening update, In case you missed it: Top LDS Living articles from this week, Rescue,Operation Underground Railroad,Mormons And Politics,Makes You Think, ©2021 LDS Living, A Division of Deseret Book Company. Harriet Tubman: What to know about the Underground Railroad icon The leading abolitionist was known for her strong sense of family, community and religious faith “It is important that rescued children have a safe stable home with caring adults watching over them, have the opportunity to get an education, and receive job skill training, therapy, and life skills training,” Marisa Johnson says. We collaborate with another NGOs to get the kids up to grade-level reading and enrolled in school.”. Find messages of Christ to uplift your soul and invite the Spirit. “It’s a huge victory in these children’s lives when they get to start dreaming again and enjoy daily life.”. RAISED $1,350.00. “There is no experience to this date that has impacted our family greater than the last six months [when we moved to South America]. ), CEO of The Nazarene Fund and the author of several books. In addition to aftercare, the Johnsons collaborate with other organizations to prevent human trafficking. GOAL $0.00. Operation Underground Railroad Curlies for Kids. “We have to assume that once we extract a child from a trafficking situation, there is no home for that child,” he says. This weekend, members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will have the opportunity to learn from Church leaders at the 186th Semiannual General Conference. Maddy Reay Lisa's Help Our Children. He visited an orphanage where several rescued boys live. Click here to find out more about OPTO (One-Person Train Operation). Not every situation is perfect, but they are continually finding additional ways to follow up with survivors. In December 2013, Operation Underground Railroad was founded by Tim Ballard, a former government agent, with the mission of freeing children all over the world from sex slavery. He found his answer in the temple when he had a distinct impression to move his family from California to Utah and “find the lost children.” In addition to seeking out aftercare homes that provide counseling, medical care, education, and vocational training, Mass seeks facilities that provide a transparency that allows O.U.R. donations are used. “I have fundamentally changed,” Beck said of the experience. GOAL $10,000.00. Jessica Mass, Director of Aftercare for O.U.R., travels the world interviewing care providers and finding loving, qualified rehabilitation options for survivors who are rescued by Operation Underground Rescue. Once the suitcase is filled and ready to go, it will be taken by the O.U.R. He organizes activities on the national and international level to stop child trafficking. volunteers in South America, help to identify the best aftercare centers available and then develop relationships with them. For over a year, LDS … When Hurricane Sandy hit New York City, on the night of Monday, October 29, 2012, the first man to realize that the underground was flooding—and calamitously so—was an … We go into that neighborhood seeking out kids who are not enrolled in school due to poverty or because of lack of documentation. You can also ride in the first car with the train operator. Operation Underground Railroad, an organization founded by Latter-day Saint and former Homeland Security agent Timothy Ballard, is well known for its dramatic undercover rescues of children trapped in sex slavery or slave labor. Broadcast for Children and Parents. RAISED $0.00. RAISED $741.20. Founded by Latter-day Saint author and former CIA operative Timothy Ballard, Operation Underground Railroad has currently rescued 529 victims and arrested 182 traffickers. A large room serves as a nursery because several of the survivors have babies as a result of being trafficked. Thankfully, O.U.R. “The president had a lot to tell us about his plan to grow the country economically, which is perfect because that’s one of our goals as well. These are themed suitcases filled with supplies for trafficking victims. after leaving the Government in order to combat the problem of sex slavery. Examples of the themed suitcases are: Sport Suitcases, Craft Suitcases, Kitchen Suitcases, or Health and Beauty Suitcases. Operation Underground Railroad was founded when former CIA agent and Latter-day Saint Tim Ballard left his government job after receiving a prompting that he “was to do something more” in his field of work. Operation Underground Railroad: Mormon Tim Ballard’s Mission to End Child Sex Slavery In December 2013, Operation Underground Railroad was founded by Tim Ballard, a former government agent, with the mission of freeing children all … and its aftercare partners.”, “The beautiful part is that each of [the victims] have the ability to overcome their horrific pasts, and they are! Maddy Reay Lisa's Help Our Children. During certain times, trains are operated by one person. He was able to go to Latin America and witness an operation led by Ballard himself. Operation Underground Railroad (OUR) is a powerful movement founded by LDS member Tim Ballard dedicated to ending the global child sex slave trade. Operation Underground Railroad, currently fighting child trafficking in 22 countries, rescued its 2,000th survivor last March and its 3,000th in October of 2019, according to OURrescue.org. Tim Ballard, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is a former CIA agent and the founder of the nonprofit organization Operation Underground Railroad (OUR) Rescue. He also pledged to ensure that traffickers who are arrested in Haiti are prosecuted appropriately. A donation receipt will be sent to you at the email address you provide on this form. The girls greet the gringos with cheek kisses and totter in stilettos into an airy living room next to … Lisa Wehring Protect Lucy - Little Rock, Arkansas. “That is something we have considered," Mass says. “We didn’t know what to expect, but it played out exactly as we hoped it would,” he said. “This young woman represents the hope O.U.R. “There really is no rescue unless and until the child is healed. Operation Underground Railroad was founded when former CIA agent and Latter-day Saint Tim Ballard left his government job after receiving a prompting that he “was to do something more” in his field of work. At different times throughout the year, you can also support aftercare by creating a Suitcase with a Mission. Friend to Friend. has valuable partnerships with aftercare homes as well as law enforcement in the country. Operation Underground Railroad: Mormon Tim Ballard’s Mission to End Child Sex Slavery. As a result of the meeting, President Moïse has authorized Operation Underground Railroad to be involved in coordinating and taking down trafficking operations in Haiti and to advise his existing officers in the border regions. But that is just the beginning of their rescue efforts. ), CEO of The Nazarene Fund and the author of several books. Thousands of trafficking victims have been rescued by Tim Ballard and Operation Underground Railroad. GOAL $0.00. GOAL $10,000.00. We then talked about Operation Underground Railroad, and I asked if he was aware that there are privately funded people here who help support the orphanages and safe homes in Haiti. Operation Underground Railroad Rescue Run. The heart of O.U.R. The conductor's car is usually in the middle of the train. He was aware and seemed incredibly receptive to working with us.”. “I saw eight files before I said, ‘I can’t take this anymore.’”. Proceeds from the presale of his new album We Came to Play were donated to Operation Underground Railroad, an organization dedicated to rescuing child victims of human trafficking, all other proceeds following the release of his album will go toward the LDS Church Missionary Fund. One 12-year-old victim gave birth just days after being rescued. One survivor from Africa, now in her early 20s, returned to help younger girls who are going through the same healing process that she went through after being a victim of sex trafficking. Aftercare group on their next humanitarian trip. Operation Underground Railroad 138 E 12300 S Suite C-149 Draper, UT 84020. A beautiful 5-year-old girl with dark eyes and braided hair lives with the rescued girls, but she is not one of their children—she is also a victim. Nik Day and Kendra Lowe teamed up to write and perform a theme song for Operation Underground Railroad, an organization that rescues children from modern-day slavery. Be sure to pick up your copy of Tim Ballard's latest book, Slave Stealers. doesn't create their own aftercare homes. 3 lessons one young mother was reminded of while watching the Friend to Friend event, This national comic strip recently featured timeless advice from Elder Holland, See photos of progress made on the Salt Lake Temple renovation in February, Latter-day Saint composer Rob Gardner reflects on inspiration behind Easter oratorio ‘Lamb of God’, Tom Christofferson answers, ‘Do you think the Lord loves you as much as He does your brother?’, 9 temples to begin or resume Phase 2 in latest temple reopening update, In case you missed it: Top LDS Living articles from this week, Operation Underground Railroad,Timothy Ballard,Makes You Think, ©2021 LDS Living, A Division of Deseret Book Company. Our job is to provide what they need and remove obstacles so that they can achieve that.”, ► You'll also like: Rescuing Children from Sex Slavery: One Latter-day Saint's Inspired Mission. Timothy “Tim” Ballard is the founder and CEO of Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R. Lisa Wehring Protect Lucy - Little Rock, Arkansas. “It can be a long and difficult road, but it is possible with the help of O.U.R. Donors provide the suitcase, which can either be used or new. is to help and serve as many children as we come in contact with.”. Operation Underground railroad (O.U.R.) While on an Operation Underground Railroad mission to save children from human traffickers, Tim Ballard found himself surrounded by armed, hostile men ready to attack… This scripture gave him confidence in the Lord's assurance that he would be protected: Posted by LDS Living on Thursday, August 30, 2018 Infiltrating the dangerous world of human trafficking, Timothy Ballard—Latter-day Saint and founder of Operation Underground Railroad—has become a … U.S. Representative Love, who is the first Haitian-American to serve in Congress, also serves on the Terrorism and Illicit Financing Subcommittee and is focusing her efforts on fighting human trafficking. “Some facilities might have all the standard areas of care, but we have to find partners with the mindset of ‘Once you’re here, then you’re family for life’ because trafficking survivors require years of aftercare support.”. Operation Underground Railroad Rescue Run. He organizes activities on the national and international level to stop child trafficking. "But at this time, we have chosen to form partnerships, collaborate, and be a force multiplier,” Mass says. GOAL $500.00. Seven years later, the child rescue organization Operation Underground Railroad continues the search for Gardy, and according to the O.U.R. February 20, 2021 18:00 55. Recovery planning. is a non-profit founded by Tim Ballard and Mark Stott which assists governments around the world in the rescue of human trafficking and sex trafficking victims, with a special focus on children. "Four days ago we laid to rest a giant of a man, a prophet of God, Thomas S. Monson," President Russell M. Nelson began his first address as the 17th prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.) Days Hours Minutes Seconds When you ride during non-rush hours, we suggest you ride in the car with the conductor. “I was shown 111 case files,” Beck told his audience. In an undisclosed location in the mountains of Central America, 20 young girls who were rescued from sex-trafficking live in a safe house. Healing happens when the survivor is in a place where he or she can become anything they want—when they have the confidence and tools to choose for themselves the course they want to take. Timothy Ballard is founder and CEO of Operation Underground Railroad and has made it his life’s work to go undercover as a sex trafficker in order to rescue those children enslaved in the trade. “We work on making high-risk kids and their parents aware of what trafficking is, the warning signs to look for, and how to protect themselves against it. O.U.R. Daily news, articles & videos right to your inbox. RAISED $0.00. GOAL $1,350.00. But Ballard says they never perform rescue missions unless there is an appropriate aftercare solution already in place, such as the safe house in Central America. Daily news, articles & videos right to your inbox. She is now studying to become a social worker and is anxious to give back. With such an inspiring history, we are calling upon Haiti to again join the fight to help us end the sex slavery that plagues our world today.". ), CEO of The Nazarene Fund and the author of several books. to continually check on the victims they have rescued. Watch: First look at Rob Gardner’s breathtaking ‘Lamb of God’ concert film LDS Living - Rob Gardner’s Lamb of God oratorio portraying the final days of the Savior’s life has been a beloved part of many people’s Easter celebration for a decade. They rose up and created an independent nation and became one of the first countries to eradicate slavery. Operation Underground Railroad. He found his answer in the temple when he had a distinct impression to move his family from California to Utah and “find … Timothy "Tim" Ballard is the founder and CEO of Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R. Operation Underground Railroad is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. 2021-02-05 A Divorce From Hell: doTerra & Operation Underground Railroad 2021-01-27 VICE News Exposes Tim Ballard’s O.U.R. Operation Underground Railroad Curlies for Kids. “Aftercare is the most important part of our mission,” says Timothy Ballard, founder of Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.). Timothy Ballard was also pleased with the meeting and is optimistic about the growing relationship with the Haitian government. GOAL $500.00. There are several ways to help Operation Underground Railroad rescue and heal human trafficking victims. “These children have been through some of the worst things you can possibly imagine, and yet at these aftercare homes they are healing and they are growing,” Mass says. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.. Ballard began his career at the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency where he worked on cases dealing with terrorism and Latin America. However, all items put inside the suitcase need to be new. We have to be prepared to be the family.”. Over the years, Mass has seen trafficking victims transform into strong, confident survivors. Barbu shared her story with Operation Underground Railroad and Ballard took an interest. Operation Underground Railroad: Mormon Tim Ballard’s Mission to End Child Sex Slavery In December 2013, Operation Underground Railroad was founded by Tim Ballard, a former government agent, with the mission of freeing children all over the world from sex slavery. We go into schools, summer camp programs, and impoverished neighborhoods teaching and raising awareness. by Jamie Armstrong | Nov. 16, 2016. RAISED $0.00. 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