Last week the Sex+Money crew began to stream into Toano, Virginia from all corners of the US, and even some distant corners of the globe.  On Thursday and Friday we began orientation to go over the details of the vigorous travel and event schedule that is to come.  Even though most of our team members have met before, it was a good time for us to grow together as a family and community, as we sang songs, ate homemade food, drank sweet tea, explored the spacious Virginian outdoors, and tried our best to stay sheltered from the sweltering humidity.  Sunday night we had what the Virginians like to call a pig-pickin’, which is basically a bar-b-q where the attendees work together to consume a slow-roasted pig and other tantalizing potluck dishes and refreshments.  Guests from Williamsburg and the surrounding areas came together to hang out with our team, eat, and pray for us before we headed out on tour.  As we gathered with old friends and new acquaintances in the shade of a giant pecan tree, our team was encouraged to know that we were being sent out with the support of such a warm community.

We’ve also been developing new skills in packing, as we’ve filled the RV with all the “necessary” accouterments for the four-and-a-half month journey that lies ahead.  On Monday, our 15 team members officially set to the road, traveling north on interstate 95 to screen the film at Trinity Church in Lutherfield, Maryland, just outside of Baltimore.  On Tuesday we woke up and traveled into one of the last un-developed areas of Baltimore to see the property of The Samaritan Woman, a ministry that is getting ready to host 16 survivors of sex trafficking, beginning October first of this year.  On a tour around the property, we were inspired by the stories of provision and restoration that have taken place on the once neglected property.  There are still some preparations that need to be made before they open their doors, but as they recover the land and rehabilitate antiquated Victorian-style buildings, the staff of The Samaritan Woman are reminded of the renewal that will take place in the lives of the women that will soon call the property home.

Last night we screened the film at Calvary Assembly of God in Dover, Delaware, and this evening we’re showing the film at Life Center Ministries in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. We plan to travel north through New England for the next few screenings at churches, and we plan to head back down through New England by the time Universities are in session.  Even so early in our trip we’ve been surprised by the hospitality of our contacts and the willingness of people across the US to welcome us into their communities, universities, churches, and homes.  We intend to drive in three giant swaths across the nation: west across the northern states, back east through the central states, and back west again through the southern states.  Putting it simply, we are running from the cold and chasing the sun.  We hear it’s hard to drive large recreational vehicles in snow and ice.

In other news, the Sex+Money store has officially launched!  75 percent of the proceeds from our merchandise will go towards Streetlight Phoenix, a restoration home that can serve up to 48 survivors of domestic minor sex trafficking.  So please, get some hip gear, help support an awesome restoration home, and look good in the process.

All Photos by Samuel Taipale.