One Month, One Dress

I am wearing one dress for the entire month of April.  One of my friends introduced One Month, One Dress to me over spring break (what I previously blogged about).  The One Month, One Dress campaign’s purpose is to raise awareness for sex trafficking.  People who are enslaved in trafficking cannot change their situations (because it is a vicious cycle, especially when exploitation is the only thing you know), so not changing your dress for a month represents this.  Pretty bold, right? 

So, she told me she was going to do it, beginning April 1st all the way to the 30th.  Being hesitant, I didn’t even think about participating myself.  However, throughout a week filled with traveling, praying, meditating, learning, and discerning, I could feel the Lord tugging on my heart.  While in Chicago, we went to the Gap-my absolute favorite store.  Surprisingly, as I searched the racks, I couldn’t find a single piece of clothing that caught my eye.  Instead, I kept thinking about One Dress, One Month.  After walking about twenty laps through the store, I finally picked up the long, black maxi dress that suddenly stood out.  I laughed to myself because, since I’m so short, long dresses have never quite fit- always too long.  So, I grabbed the smallest size and said, “Lord, if this fits, I’ll know that you want me to do One Dress, One Month.”  Sure enough, it fit perfectly, and I let go of my pride and fear of what the next month would hold.

By the end of the trip, we had all agreed to do One Month, One Dress.  By wearing a single dress for a month, we would be given such great opportunities to spread awareness about sex trafficking and to advocate for the Hope House, a local trafficking shelter.  Inside, I knew this would be such a challenge for me.  I have always struggled with self-image and worrying what others think I look like.  Wearing a dress for a whole month- now that generates some questioning looks- but it’s something I’d have to overcome.

Since deciding to take part in this movement, my God’s favor has fallen like rain all over my life.  I am drowning in His goodness- and I’m loving it.  I went home the next weekend, and I met with my pastor’s wife to catch up and tell her about all of the exciting things happening with The Hundred Movement and how God has been working in my life.  When I told her about One Dress, One Month, she was blown away.  She even volunteered to make pins for our movement for us all to wear for the month, and she donated 46 of them to me.  Such a blessing.  They say: “One Dress/shirt-One Month-One Life”. 

It’s day six (24 to go!), and I am loving this dress.  The first few days were hard to get used to, but I am now so excited to answer the questions that people have for me.  Either they see my pin, or they notice that I’ve worn a black dress for six days in a row now.  Regardless, I get to tell them about how sex trafficking exists in the United States, how I represent someone enslaved by sexual exploitation, how to support our local shelter- The Hope House, and how Jesus is working hard in our hearts to bring justice to the oppressed.

I have given away all 46 pins- to both girls and guys- who have taken the challenge to either wear a single dress or purple t-shirt for the month of April.  Walking on campus yesterday, I passed three girls wearing the “One Dress” pins and dresses that I didn’t even know.  So cool.  Thank you Jesus!

This is the year of God’s favor.  He is so evident in all of these dresses and purple t-shirts.  We are free people working to free people!