Some information on slavery in China and Africa

I was taking my own advice today and reading up on some of the things about which I feel strongly. I read about the slavery in China. WOW! I always learn more and more...even though I don't want to, I know it is important to. I found a website with interesting statistics, some of which I would like to share with you! This excerpt came from humanevents.com. It was an older article. Unfortunately, I think the situation is the same or worse. "...millions of Chinese work for meager wages under constantly abusive work conditions. Today China makes approximately 75 percent of the world’s toys. As noted by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), U.S. companies such as Disney, Mattel (maker of the Barbie doll), Hasbro, McDonald’s (Happy Meal toys), and Warner Brothers utilize factories in China to produce toys for virtually all major U.S. retailers, including Toys-R-Us, Wal-Mart, and Target, as well as for direct marketing. Still, the AHRC documents that working conditions in the Chinese toy manufacturing industry are abysmal, just one notch above 21st century slave trade standards. Consider this AHRC description of a Chinese toy worker’s story: Average age of a worker in a typical Chinese toy factory: between 12- and 15-years-old. Typical wage of workers in Asian toy factories: from as little as 6 cents an hour up to 40 cents an hour (in U.S. dollar terms). Typical number of hours worked in a day during busy periods: up to 19. Typical number of days worked per week: 6. Young workers work all day in 104-degree temperature, handling toxic glues, paints, and solvents. Workers weakened by illness and pregnant workers, who are supposed to have legal protection, are forced to quit. The typical profile of workers in these factories involves single young women migrants from rural areas to the cities in search of jobs. " Also, over the holiday I talked to my brother, who takes a very active part in speaking out against slave labor in China and other parts of the world. He refuses to purchase products made outside of the US, or from companies who sell ANY product made outside of the US. He is a kind person, who is well educated and well informed. He watched a news report about the slaves in China who make the Marti Gras beads. He related the entire program to me. It was heart wrenching. I don't want to say to go make yourself cry, but IF you WANT to learn more, I am pretty sure you can find the program on youtube.com. Tonight, I did a little research also on blood diamond slaves. I found the website realdiamondfacts.org. It was informative, to the point and easy to navigate. The site also provided links of where to learn more about this topic.

Introduction! First entry!!

I am so glad you found my blog! I started this blog to post about the work my son and I will be doing in Ghana, Africa, and, later, in JingMen, China. I wanted to write all about Small Stones in my profile but, needless to say, there just wasn't room! So, thank you for reading this post so you can know all about Small Stones. I am currently working towards gaining status as a "Non-Profit Organization." This summer, my son and I will be moving to Ghana, Africa to volunteer at the school and orphan home, Luckyhill. PLEASE visit their website at luckyhillorphanage.org. In the future, my son and I plan to open an orphanage in JingMen, China, where I lived for a year. The name Sixteen Small Stones comes from a book of scripture read and followed by those of the Latter Day Saint faith...MY RELIGION! The book is called The Book of Mormon. In this book, there is a story of a man who is commanded by God to bring a group of people across a great sea. God tells the man how to build vessels that will be water tight. However, once they are built, the man realizes the vessels are also void of light. The man climbs to the top of a mountain and, “…did molten out of a rock sixteen small stones…” The man brings these stones before God. He tells God that he knows that if God would touch the stones they would, “…shine forth in darkness…”, and the man could put them in the boats to light them. God touches the stones and they produce light. I would recommend this story to EVERYONE! It is a testament of the power of God, and the power of humility and faith. When I first felt called to build an orphan home in China, I didn't know how I would do it! It seemed so impossible. However, I remembered this story, and that the man had followed God's command and had come to God with nothing more than sixteen stones and all of his faith. God touched the stones and they produced light. I bring all I have and all of my faith to God. I know if it is God's will, I will build an orphan home in China. In the meantime, through much prayer, I have felt called to serve at Lucky Hill in Ghana, Africa. I don't know why, but I don't need to know. God has asked me to go, so I will go. I hope that you will check back and follow the progress of Small Stones! If you want to leave any suggestions or comments, please do! I would love to hear them! THANKS AGAIN!