The Greatest Thing You Could Ever Buy

One thing I absolutely love is supporting a great cause! I tend to be that person who buys random things if it means money spent towards helping others. I was always the sucker for magazine subscriptions because I wanted to support the working college student who talked me into it.

My team and I have the amazing opportunity to help raise money for Rahab's Rope, the organization we are working with in India. The women and girls rescued by Rahab's Rope learn how to build a business based off their skills and talents. Some of the businesses these women and girls start are making Jewelry and Scarves. Our team is selling hand-made, authentic, Indian Jewelry and items made by these women! How much greater can a purchase get? Amazing and beautiful Jewelry, made by courageous women. And the best part, every single penny goes back to their pockets, helping them to overcome their adversities. To me, this is an impulse buy so worth making!

As I sat in my living room with this huge box of items I started to think of all the wonderful opportunities for these handmade items. For those who just want a keepsake to remind them of this amazing cause there are inexpensive, hand-made, bracelets. For people looking for gifts for birthdays, Christmas, mothers day, that have a little extra meaning, there are beautiful freshwater pearl and stone jewelry sets. There is something great and unique for every person's needs and desires.

For Christmas last year I got the following things: e-reader, clothes, crock-pot, bath pillow, and other random items. When I think about gifts we give one another I wonder what the true meaning and significance is behind them. These gifts are not only beautiful, but they are intended to give hope, prosperity and success to women who have worked hard to overcome the worst situations. These items have a meaning so profound that the creator behind these masterpieces is the true gift.

For me, I want to make sure that in my life, my giving of gifts have significance. And while a nice piece of Jewelry or beautiful scarf for my mother might make her smile, the money I spend will change a woman or girl's life.

I encourage you to look through the amazing inventory we have and consider spending your money on a   wonderful cause. I promise, this will be the best thing you've ever purchased!

All the items shown below are things we are selling. All were hand-made by women of Rahab's Rope. If you want to inquire about any particular item you can email me at amiee.winchester@gmail.com and I will be happy to send you specific pictures of what we have.

I can't wait to see how many lives God changes through something so common to Americans, buying stuff. Except, this "stuff" is so much more precious than anything one could find anywhere else.

    This beautiful and colorful bracelet comes with many
    different charms that say "believe," "life," "love,"
    and are a wonderful gift for girlfriends or young girls.
    PRICE: $15.00

     This hinged cuff bracelet is made of broken glass and screams
    "teenage-girl in need of a unique piece of Jewelry!"
      Each bracelet is an 8 inch cuff.
      PRICE: $18.00

     This is the "hope" necklace that brings with it an amazing story.
     It is made with a black leather chord and the pendant is a hope affirmation      
     ring and scroll. It is 22 inches long.
     PRICE: $15.00

       These freshwater pearl earrings are a great gift! They are simply
       stated and very affordable.
       PRICE: $15.00

    These fun and inexpensive bracelets are perfect for
    young girls! Each bead bracelet has a cross or peace
    pendant, and are really fun to wear!
    PRICE: $9.00

       An elegant gift for any woman! This 8-inch stretch, freshwater

       pearl bracelet is timeless. 

       PRICE: $26.00

Who has trouble keeping their Jewelry in one organized place?

        These Jewelry pouches are great for travel and keeping your

        important pieces safe! They come in small, medium and large,

        and in assorted colors. 

        PRICE: $19.00 (L), $14.00 (M), $9.00 (S)

Other items available:

- Pearl and Natural Stone jewelry sets (includes earrings and necklace) 

- Broken glass Jewelry boxes

- Scarves (a variety of colors and designs)

All pictures were provided by Rahab's Rope Online Catalog, www.rahabsrope.com.

Am I Worthy?

I am a very insecure person. I often times catch myself wondering why God would trust me with important parts of His kingdom or plan. To me, I am not worth enough to be considered for such special privileges. This insecurity has always been a battle of mine. I know these insecurities come from a place of rejection. Being rejected by people I deemed, "important" in my life has caused me to question if I am really worth it.

Why did he leave? Was she really my friend for the right reasons? I put so much of myself into certain relationships, that when I was rejected I crumbled. I know all of us face rejection in our life. And to some degree that rejection comes from people we love and invest a lot in.

So, when I felt called to put this missions team together, I was completely dumbfounded. Why would God give me such an awesome and important task? I am a mediocre teacher, with a simple life. I always wanted to be the popular kid. The one chosen first during sports games. But, I always felt invisible. Even when I put myself out there, I was still "not good enough." Why then, would God chose me? Why would he give me such a great task to lead and be apart of?

As this team has progressed I realized one very important thing, my popularity with God has nothing to do with this earth. To God, I am His most precious possession. With my faith I have never been picked last in the eyes of Him. He knows my heart and my needs and fulfills them everyday. So, then why do I allow this earth to dictate my worth and confidence?

This journey has reminded me that my worth comes from the Lord. He chose me to lead this experience because I WAS his first choice. He didn't ask others before me, He asked me.

Human relationships seem to have more clout than the one we have with God. Our human experiences shape who we are. I want to challenge myself to look to God when shaping who I am. If I looked to God and His relationship with me, to find confidence and worth, than I would feel capable of accomplishing anything.

I know why God picked me for this journey, because I was his best choice. When we delight in the Lord our confidence on this earth multiples. Our worth in ourselves flourishes. God loves us unconditionally. There is no rejection in this relationship, just eternal love.

I need to remind myself that who I am comes from God and not from experiences on this earth. Human error should not determine how I feel about myself. If it did then I would be completely paralyzed by the mistakes made by me and to me.

At the end of this trip my prayer would be that I can overcome my insecurities, let go of past rejections and hurt, and delight in the Lord's love for me. All that matters is that God loves me completely. No matter the hurt I feel by others I need to remember that God is my forever. If He's the one I am spending eternity with, shouldn't I be more focused on what He thinks?

An Itch

I have an itch. I can't seem to find where its exact location is, or relieve the annoying, restless feeling it gives me. This is not a regular, under the arm, sort of itch. Instead it's a God itch. I know many know what I am talking about. That feeling that God wants you to do something, make a change, endure a transition, but you aren't quite sure what that "something" is.

I have been feeling this God itch for a year now. Soon after I started actively researching this missions trip the itch became very noticeable. Every time I sit still and have quiet time this itch becomes so uncontrollable I end up banging my head against the wall (okay, not really). The problem for me is that I want to know all the details right now. I don't want to wait for clues or piece a puzzle together, I want clean lines and absolutes. Of course as a Christian, whose been hanging with God for a while, I realize my life is going to be about puzzles and clues, and I just have to embrace it.

One of my fears about going to India is that this itch will grow exponentially. What if God wants me to leave my world in America and become a missionary in India? It scares me more now than it did two years ago because I have a family to think about now. Moving to India before was a matter of my own transition and change. Now, I need to consider how it affects my husband. What if he doesn't share the same passions as I do? Or worse, what if I use him as an excuse to ignore my passions and God itches?

I know that God won't do anything that will divide my marriage, but what scares me is this itch is growing each day and I still can't determine where it's coming from. I know going to India is the beginning and from there God will continue to reveal next steps of this journey.

I need to place my fears and anxieties at the cross and remember that He has planned this experience. He has planned my life with such detail that I don't have to do anything more. This itch is God's way of reminding me that I am not in control He is. I don't know what will happen tomorrow, but He will. This itch exists to remind me that He is working upstream in my life and He has plans for my life.

This God itch is bringing me peace in knowing He hasn't forgotten about me. He has something great for me to do for His kingdom. He is going to use me as His vessel in some wonderful way. This itch is merely His way of igniting my desire to follow in whatever he places before me next.

The Injustice

God knows right where to hit me to make it count. He shows me truths in this world in such a way I can't help but feel compelled to act. One of the easiest ways to make me empowered is to provide statistics. For me, statistics is a way to see the truth. Numbers don't lie. They can be interpreted and twisted in various ways, but they never lie.

According to the IJM stats, India forces more children into sexual slavery than any other country. Everyday, 200 women and girls enter into the sex-trade in India (United Nations Center for Development and Population Activities). When I try to put this into terms that hit closer to home, I think of it this way...

There are 700 students in my school. Let's assume that of those 700, half are girls. That means, 350 students at my school are girls. If I take the information from the UN's report and apply it to my school's population, that means it takes only 2 days for my entire female population to be forced into the sex industry. Thank God the girls in my school don't face the harsh reality that those in India do. 200 girls a day. That means in a week 1,400 girls enter into the sex trade. In one month more than 42,000 girls and women are sex trade victims. Every year a staggering 50,000 women fall victim to the sex-trade in India alone. This means that every year we lose well over 50,000 promising women to an industry that perpetuates sexual exploitation.


Before now, how much did you know about the sex-trade in our world? Do you know what exactly it means or is? Do you know who is affected by this industry, or how much money it makes each year?

Human trafficking refers to any modern day human slavery. This could mean labor trafficking, where young children are forced into labor. It might mean organ cultivation, where children are used for their vital organs, which are then sold on the black market. It also means sexual slavery, a person being forced into prostitution. Trafficking refers to any transfer of a human, forcefully, to fulfill a specific job or service.

Sex-trafficking is the fastest growing industry on the planet. What does this mean? Well...more and more "customers" are searching for labored sex around the world, making it the most sought after product on our globe. Not even drugs or illegal arms trumps it. (US Dept. of Human Services)

To fuel this quickly growing industry, nearly 200 million children work in the commerical sex trade (UNICEF). That doesn't count the women above the age of 18 who are also providing services in this industry.

Seeing how much the sex-trade profits each year is not information readily available. Because this is an illegal industry that involves trafficking peoples against their will, the numbers are not very clear or accessible. Some statistics suggest that billions of dollars are generated, globally, from this "product."

The sex-trade has become a very popular industry in places like Rome, Taiwan, India, and Greece. Most sex-trade victims are young women trafficked from Nepal, Moldova, and Laos. Often times these women are "sold" by their parents or family members for money. Some are promised a job then forced into prostitution.

Obviously, these statistics churn your insides. As an American woman, from an upper-middle-class family I never have to worry about being sold or forced into sexual slavery. However, each year this industry grows and the demand for women continues to increase. If we don't start focusing on this global epidemic the numbers will keep rising and more women and children will be lost.

 I encourage you to visit www.ijm.org and learn more about human trafficking and the sex trade. Those of us who have a voice and the power to make change need to step up and help our brothers and sisters who aren't being given a choice. Jesus expresses many times in the bible the sacredness of women. We, as His disciples, need to work to make sure that all women are treated as the beautiful gift they were created to be.

We need to act now before too many children lose their futures and our culture accepts the reality of this injustice. I am reminded of Romans 12:2. God tells us not to conform to the world. We need to reject its truths and trust in His. We can't accept this injustice as "just apart of our world." We need to use God's greatness to move and change this reality. I invite you to join me and others in the fight against modern day slavery. Together we can help women and children around the world gain the lives God intended for them to have. Praise our heavenly father for in the end His Will is going to Reign.

Fear of Rejection

I have always dealt with the fear of rejection. When I was in elementary school I had very few friends. I usually spent recess by myself playing next to the big oak tree on the playground. People talked to me, and I wasn't anti-social, I just feared being rejected by my peers. This feeling became magnified when I began this journey to India. I had gotten all the basic details of the trip, researched information and set up a Facebook event page. Everything was turning out great!

Yet, my biggest fear, rejection, came to the forefront when I began inviting others to join the team. I had somehow come up with the idea that if people weren't interested it reflected on how much they liked me as a person. Where that direct and absurd correlation came from, I don't know, but my worth was being measured each minute by the people who clicked "attending"

In my mind I was thinking, "Amiee if so-and-so does not attend then that means they don't like you." Through this part of the journey I was feeling like people/friends where making their decisions based off how they felt about me. In some weird way, I was gaining self-worth from the amount of people who wanted to join me on this adventure. 

Well...God doesn't think like a self-absorbed girl like me. He doesn't care about any of the surface fears I had about my worth and personal self-image. God wasn't thinking about success through the number of people attending. To Him, success was when the right women stepped up to join this journey, all 5 of us. 


Through prayer I felt God whispering the number 5 in my heart. I felt very strongly that if I was to take a group of women overseas into an unknown place, I had to have at least 5 people. Through my own selfish desire, I extended that expectation with a dash, between 5-10. I really wanted more women to join, solely because the more people who committed the more worthy I felt. 


God provided exactly as he promised, 5 women. And God created a group that was exactly what was needed. The women He built this team with are spiritual women of God. They all have different qualities that make them special and important to this team. I look back on my fear of rejection and realize that this team is perfect the way it is. Perfect size, perfect blend, perfect everything. Had more women come, ones God did not call to this adventure our team would have suffered. 


I am reminded of the scripture from Philippians 4:19 where it says, "And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus." I have to remember that God will take care of me. He would not have placed this trip on my heart if there wasn't a team already in place to go. Because of what Jesus did I can walk confidently and know that I will not be forgotten or rejected. 


Now that our team is built and we are growing in our Lord, I realize that God's plan for this journey was done. I heard someone once say that when God calls you to something all the planning and details are done. So why worry about the process if I know God has already set up all the details? I was worried people wouldn't want to join me and be apart of this, but what I forgot was that God had already called those women to serve. It had nothing to do with how much I was liked, or how many friends I had. It was about God doing the work He had desired, not my worthiness.


I want to stop assuming that outcomes are based upon my popularity. The truth is, outcomes are based off the Lord's plan and the desire of His followers to listen and commit. God planned for this trip far before I got involved. So to think I would be the reason others would join is selfish and takes away God's glory. Now I know that nothing is about me, it's all about Him. Thank goodness! 

Hearing the Call

I haven't been a very good listener in my lifetime. I constantly act too quickly without sitting still enough to digest what's being said. So, the fact that I heard the calling to plan a missions trip to India was definitely a surprise. I should also admit, it took me a while to really hear and understand what was being said.

It all began with a documentary. It seems to me that documentaries tend to ruffle feathers. I can remember my freshman year of college and the life changing "Super Size Me." I did not eat fast food for a year after I saw that. Truly, I think there is something about the truth (depending on ones perception) that comes from these types of movies. God seems to speak to me through documentaries, showing me realities I refuse to recognize.

Imagine children raised in complete poverty. The only income their parents make are from what women make from working in brothels or in prostitution. Because of this child's "heritage" they are unable to attend the local schools. Imagine that. Children reliving the same cycle their parents and grandparents did, all because of a label. All because of a family heritage they had no choice in.

Needless to say, after I saw the documentary "Born into Brothels" I wanted to fly to India, start a school, and only allow kids who were outcasts to attend. This I would say was the seed God planted in me.

For a couple years after, I kept feeling a special connection to India and the issue of sex-trafficking, but I didn't do much. During these years I spent studying to be a teacher. I also spent time teaching in an urban school where a lot of issues arose due to poverty and lack of opportunities. Even though I didn't act on that itch to help the kids in the Brothels of India have educational opportunities, I never forgot about it.

Let's skip to 2010. I started seeing more news about sex trafficking around the world. I began to wonder if I could find any mission trips that focused specifically on helping sex-trade victims in India. To my dismay there was nothing. No one seemed to care about this global issue, and if they did then these trips were extremely selective and secretive. As I prayed I began to search for christian organizations that worked with women and girls in India who were victims of the sex-trade. I found one. Of all the websites and organizations, only one popped up into my search engine.

I wrote an email, asking about missions opportunities this organization had, yet nothing... Months passed and I waited. I thought this was God's way of closing the door on this desire. Maybe I wasn't hearing Him right. Maybe I was fighting a cause solely based off zeal and passion for people less fortunate than me. Maybe I was being too specific. Maybe I was creating my own calling. All these questions and doubts flooded my mind and I gave up.

Then... a couple months later I emailed again. This time I got a response. One that excitedly invited me and anyone else to join their mission in India. I had heard the call, and God was beginning to put this journey into motion.

What lay ahead I could not have known. Being team leader, finding a team, raising money, getting there. All of these steps provided giant piles of obstacles and God just keeps blowing them down, letting me walk effortlessly through.

It took me three years to truly hear and act on the calling God had put on my heart. And even though I saw Him working and moving I still doubted and wondered if it was real.

How did I know it was God's voice whispering into my heart? Simple, all the obstacles created by the world disappeared the moment I chose to follow.

I invite you to join me as I answer God's call on my life and take this journey to India. It will be full of doubt, frustrations, fears, joy, miracles, and God's great glory. But one thing will be constant, God's constant work and devotion to make this a remarkable adventure!