Wonder Woman Wednesday-seven year old saves cousin from kidnapping

When 39-year-old David Moore tried to kidnap 4-year-old Brandon as he played near his Miami home, his cousin wasn’t about to have it. 

“The man started pulling him, and we started pulling him back, and I had to chop and kick him so he could let Brandon go,” 7-year-old A-nari Taylor explained.  The girl reportedly punched, kicked, and screamed, causing Moore to release the boy.

Moore allegedly approached the boy saying, “God told me to take him, God told me he’s coming with me,” then grabbed him, but not before A-nari, in a moment of selflessness and bravery fought for her cousin’s life.

7-year-old A-nari Taylor

Because of her courage, A-nari  is receiving this week’s Wonder Woman Wednesday award.

“I’m very proud of her and she knows that I love her,” her mother said in an interview about the incident, “what she did was very brave.”

Because of A-nari’s strength and courage, Moore was arrested and charged with attempted kidnapping and false imprisonment.  She may never know how many more lives she saved by springing to action in a moment when many others would freeze. 

39-year-old David Moore

If she’s that tough of a cookie now, think about the force she will be when she grows up.

NBC Miami reported that A-nari received a plaque and a SpongeBob SquarePants jacket in a ceremony to reward her for her brave actions.

It’s time to talk to your kids about what can happen to them and what to do if it does. 

Are you or someone you know a survivor?  Submit your story to sunshine@yourdamseldiva.com for consideration for Wonder Woman Wednesday.

New laws provide trafficking victims justice

This week, the U.S. House of Representatives has the opportunity to create even stronger laws to combat human trafficking and protect the victims with the passage of eight anti-trafficking bills. 

Five bills have already passed, including:

1. H.R.4980 - Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act 
2. H.R.2283 - Human Trafficking Prioritization Act
3. H.R.5135 - Human Trafficking Prevention, Intervention, and Recovery Act of 2014 
4. H.R.5076 - Enhancing Services for Runaway and Homeless Victims of Youth Trafficking Act of 2014 
5. H.R.4449 - Human Trafficking Prevention Act 

Three more important pieces of legislation await votes:

1. H.R.5111 - To Improve the Response to Victims of Child Sex Trafficking 
2. H.R.5116 - Human Trafficking Detection Act of 2014 
3. H.R.5081 - Strengthening Child Welfare Response to Trafficking Act of 2014 

Each of these bills contains important provisions to strengthen the overall framework of anti-trafficking laws. Several of the bills recognize the critical role child welfare agencies play in preventing, identifying and responding to trafficking of children in foster care.  Others heighten the scrutiny on the agencies tasked with preventing and fighting trafficking in the U.S. and abroad. Members of Congress from across the nation, from South Dakota to Michigan, Nevada to New Jersey, and states in between are seeing the threat sex trafficking poses to people in their states and are taking action to stop it.

"Together, these eight bills work to provide trafficking victims with the greatest level of restoration and justice possible."-Congresswoman Linda Smith, President and Founder of Shared Hope International

Keep the advocacy strong!  Shared Hope International made great progress but we're not done yet! Please visit our Legislative Action Center for a complete listing of bills that need your support. You can also track pending legislation in your state with our online bill tracking.

Wonder Woman Wednesday-A sex trafficking victim speaks out

Wonder Woman Wednesday

Welcome to the first Wonder Woman Wednesday!  Wednesday blog posts are now going to be featuring women who have beat the odds, raised awareness, and gone out on a limb to make a difference in the lives of others.

They may not have an invisible jet or lasso of truth, but they are true wonder women because they have something more important-they are overcomers who have set aside their own shame, embarrassment, sorrow, and pain to help others.

Some of us were put here to be doctors, some of us were put here to be astronauts, and some of us were put here to build wondrous works of art.  Others of us were put here to lead the broken out of the darkness and into the light.   

Today's story comes from a girl named Alex who was brave enough to share her story and spread awareness about sex trafficking.  Please help me lift her up as you glean as much as you can from her story.

Do you know of an overcomer?  Are YOU an overcomer?  Submit your story to sunshine@yourdamseldiva.com and you may be one of our featured Wonder Woman Wednesday stories.

As a Damsel in Defense Independent Pro, I am dedicated to helping women stay safe, and I'm also dedicated to shining a light in the darkness and helping you be an overcomer.  If you feel like you are ready to get help, I can direct you to resources and safety information.  If you're ready to join the mission of Damsel in Defense, I can show you how to join my team and become part of the light that shines.
Go to  yourdamseldiva.com for more information.

Pimpin made easy-Yes, sadly pimping is way too easy

Post by Ron Jones.

Do you want to be part of something bigger than yourself?

Left to right:  Mindy Lin, me(Sunshine O'Connor), Bethany Hughes
at the Portland Damsel Drop-In

Last Thursday, Mindy Lin and Bethany Hughes, the founders of Damsel in Defense, came to Portland to present the Damsel Mission for everyone who may not have had the amazing opportunity to hear it right from the source.  We packed Hot Lips Pizza on Hawthorne Blvd, and from that moment on, so many things happened.

First, let's rewind a bit to my wonderfully terrible experience at Leadership Retreat in Boise this January.  I worked soooooooo hard to get there only to get so incredibly sick that I had to fly home early and go straight to the hospital.  From getting a phone call the next day from Bob Hipple, our CEO, to the personal message from Mindy Lin on my Facebook page, I knew I was part of something huge.

I say that all the time.  I am part of something amazing.  Something larger than myself.  Something that creates the same sort of emotion in me that I get when my heart wells with pride over one of my children.  I don't say it all the time because I'm trying to sell you something, I say it all the time because it's undeniably true and I feel it from the very depths of my soul.

Back to the co-founders being in Portland.....

At the time they came, I was feeling a little disconnected from my Damsel family.  Our team meeting the month before had to be cancelled due to a freak snow storm, and so it had been a really long time since I was in the same room with my sisters.  I didn't have the best month as far as business growth, so I was really beating myself up for all of the things I didn't do, and I was in sort of a funk, so to speak.

The first thing that happened was a giant hug from my amazing Director, and cheerful hellos from the girls on my team.  It was like a hand reaching into the mire and dragging me out.

Then, Bethany Hughes told me she was so glad I was there and how terrible it was that I had to go home during Leadership Retreat.  That was the hand dusting me off and setting me back down on the ground.

Next, Mindy ran up to me yelling my name and gave me a bear hug.  She told me how upset she was that I had to leave Leadership early and that she was so excited when she saw my name on the list of people who would be there that night.  That was the hand that strapping me into the jet pack.

After that, we heard some stories from Directors that were both beautiful and heart wrenching.  That was the hand checking to make sure my belt was tight.

Then Johnna Johnson, the Vice President of Field Development for Damsel in Defense spoke about the realities of this business, how we have exploded right out of the gate, and where we're heading.  That was the strike of the match.

Finally, Mindy and Bethany gave their story from the very beginning of Damsel in Defense to what the future holds, including every failure and triumph along the way.  They also talked in depth about the mission of Damsel in Defense, the charity work we're doing, and things the future holds.

That was the fuse of the jet pack being lit.

I will succeed at this business.  Failure is not an option.  There is too much of a larger picture that I am part of.  After sharing tears with Mindy and Bethany, who shared tears with girls who had been sold by their families into slavery, I can't look into their eyes without seeing those girls looking back at me for help. Knowing that the more I do, the more girls are saved, the more victims are advocated for, and the more lives will be lifted out of hell and given a chance to soar is the fuel in the jet pack that will keep me moving forward.

Later that night, my aunt, who is actually my "other" mom, shared with me a horrific story of her kidnapping, brutal beating, and near death experience as her attackers were trying to force her into prostitution.  Had I not gone through the life I have gone through, had I not been reborn as a survivor, had I not found Damsel in Defense, had I not had every experience along the way, I may have never known that about one of the people I love most in the world.

Like I said, and I will continue to say, I am part of something amazing.  I'm saving lives and I'm changing lives.

If you want to join a sisterhood dedicated to a better world, let's talk.  For more information visit yourdamseldiva.com or email me at sunshine@yourdamseldiva.com.  Let's talk about your future.

Why sell self defense when everyone wants $200 handbags?

Some people wonder why I do what I do.  Why do I walk around baffled that everyone is happy to spend $200 on a handbag but turn down their nose at a $50 stun gun.  "I don't need it" they say, "I'm fine without it."  "Nothing will happen to me,", "I'm capable of fighting for myself."

I met a man this weekend who teaches dirty self defense.  Not fancy "1-2-3 hi-ya" self defense, but kidnapper-jump-out-of-the-bushes-pull-you-to-the-ground-and-tear-your-clothes-off self defense, and he drops women who have their black belt in less than a minute.  How?  He uses the same tactics as an attacker.  He knows exactly how you're going to react, how to counter your fight, and the element of surprise.  He's ready, has a plan, and knows exactly how to subdue a woman, no matter how strong, no matter how well trained with her hands....unless she has a stun gun in her hand.

Then I watched this video, and it just hit me.  Word after word, slamming into my heart with thunderous meaning.  There are so many slaves because we are slaves to believing that we can get ourselves out of any situation. 

Every day, the meaning of why I do what I do gets deeper, and deeper, and deeper, because of the constant reminder that somewhere tonight, there is a mother that won't make it home.  A sister that someone will never see again.  A daughter who has to endure the horrors of the sex trade. 

Do not watch this video if you want to stay oblivious to what's going on.  Do not watch this video if you want to remain unaware. 

With all of the above off my chest, the other question I get all the time is, "How can you talk about this stuff all the time and not be depressed?"

Because I know that hundreds of women so far are safer because of me alone, and that number grows and grows every day with my team and the women we reach.  I know that for the first time EVER, we have a chance to lower the statistics of violence against women, and that I get to be part of the very core of that group.  That fills me with such joy, such meaning, and such purpose. Instead of trying to pull ahead and be in it only for the money, we are pulling organizations such as RAINN (Rape and Incest National Network) and Wiper Every Tear together and tethering to them so that everything we do can assist them in everything they do.  God gave us this opportunity, and we refuse to squander it with selfishness.

Many of you know from my Damsel in Defense facebook page that I have been working deeply inside the core of why I am so in love with this company, how much of an impact it has made on my life, my family, and my little slice of the world, and aligning it with appropriate goals that will help me realize my full potential.  It feels like before, I was a mine field of millions of teeny tiny little fragments orbiting God.  Broken, shattered, colliding, insignificant fragments of pain, shame, fear, and facades.  The more I work this business, the more I learn about myself.  The more I focus on this opportunity that God provided me, the more I see that I'm not a mine field made up of jagged dangerous fragments of the abuse I used to use to define myself.  I'm a field of precision parts being pulled together by the gravity of Damsel in Defense.  I am no longer scattered around the universe with only God to hold me together, but parts of a Veyron 8.0-litre, quad-turbocharged, W16 cylinder engine fed by four turbochargers that God has been restoring and rebuilding so that when I am whole, I will be a Bugatti Veyron fueled by Him, and when that happens, there is nothing we can't accomplish.

Are you ready to join my 1200 horsepower team?  The start line is at yourdamseldiva.com.  What are you waiting for?

Watch this beautifully created video  by the incredibly talented Megan Depaso and join in the fight against sex trafficking by understanding the brutal reality behind what is really going on.

Bugout Bag 101-Damsel in Defense in your bugout bag

Could be due to a natural disaster making your home unsafe,
or a man-made disaster ranging from natural gas leak
to terrorist or wartime situations.  It's not all about the zombies
folks!

Ladies, we all know that we need a bugout bag.  We’ve heard about them, we’ve seen them advertised, and you can spend an astronomical amount of money buying one that has been put together for you, but what do you really need in a bugout bag? 

1. What is a bugout bag?

A bugout bag is a bag that contains everything your family needs in the event that you need to escape quickly.  This could be due to a natural disaster making your home unsafe or a manmade disaster ranging from natural gas leaks to terrorist or wartime situations.  It's not all about the zombies, folks!

2.    Where should my bugout bag be stored?

Store your bugout bag where you can grab it on a dead run on your way out of the house.  Many people store theirs in the trunk of their car so they don’t have to worry about which direction they have to exit their home.  Things to remember are:

·       Don’t bury it in a closet
·       If you store it in your car, are your keys handy all the time to get it out?
·       If you store it in the front of your home and have to escape out the back, how will you get it?

3.    Who should carry a bugout bag?

Everyone.  If you’re married, you should each have a bugout bag.  If you have children, they should each have a bugout bag, providing they are strong enough to carry a backpack.  Mom and dad can carry the bulk of it, but a child can also carry a pack filled with lightweight things such as freeze dried backpack meals, an emergency blanket, a filter straw, an ultra-light whistle, and a collapsible water bottle for water collection.

4.    What do I put in my bugout bag?

There are three essential things your bugout bag should have:

·       Shelter
·       Water
·       Food
·       Emergency supplies

In that order.  In a survival situation, you have 3 hours to secure shelter, 3 days to secure water, and 3 weeks to secure food for optimal survival.  Let’s break each one down.

·       Shelter-shelter doesn’t have to be a structure.  It can be as simple as making sure you pack an emergency blanket for each person in your family.  Think light.  You may have to carry your bugout bag for a while, so you don’t want to be packing a structure around with you.  Leave that fancy pop-up canopy behind.  Make sure everyone has a pair of hiking boots, a pair of jeans, 2 pairs of socks that are not cotton, 2 shirts, a light weight waterproof jacket, long underwear, a beanie hat, and a bandana.  Ultra light tents are perfect for bugout bags, but if you can’t afford one, pack a tarp large enough for your family to huddle under, but not so large that it is cumbersome and heavy.

·       Water-You need one gallon of water per person per day in optimal conditions, but in a bugout bag, that is not possible due to the weight and space involved.  There should be 1 liter of water per person per day.  Most people pack bugout bags with 3 days worth of supplies.  Waterpouches are great for this.  They are small and light.  Pack a filter straw such as Lifestraw for each person.  You can also pack a small container about the size of a pill bottle with bleach as long as it’s air and water tight to help decontaminate water sources that you find.  It only takes ¼ tsp. of bleach per gallon.  Don’t use color safe bleach or bleach with scents. Bleach will not kill some disease causing organisms commonly found in water.  It is better to boil and cool your water first before treating with bleach, but even then it’s not a guarantee that your water will be safe.  Filter straws are a much safer bet.

·       Food-In an emergency situation where you need a bugout bag to get away, chances are you will be burning a lot of calories, so think high protein.  High protein bars are sold at local gun shows, outdoor shows, and also any store that sells a wide range of camping and outdoor gear.  The higher the protein, the less you have to eat to stay going, the longer your rations will last, and the lighter your pack will weigh.  You should also add freeze dried backpack meals to your pack as well.  DO NOT fill your bugout bag with junk food. 

·       Emergency supplies-This is very important to think ahead about. 

o   Medication-If you, or anyone in your family requires medication, most doctors will give you an extra prescription for your bugout bag.  Fill it and put it in the bag right away.  When it expires, take it to your doctor and ask for another emergency prescription.  If you wait to fill it until an emergency happens, it’s too late.  Also pack enough ibuprophen (Advil), and acetaminophen (Tylenol), and naproxen (Aleve) as well as children’s versions for each person for 3 days. 

o   Medical supplies-You need a first aid kit in your bag.  End of story.  It’s best to build your own.  It should contain:

§  Alcohol pads
§  Band-Aids
§  Multiple pairs of gloves
§  Triple antibiotic ointment
§  Bee sting/insect bite packet
§  Burn gel
§  Benadryl-both child and adult if you have children
§  Sawyer Extractor for snake bites
§  Cpr face masks
§  4x4 bandages
§  Gauze
§  Tape
§  Antibiotics-Fish antibiotics are the same as human antibiotics, they just have different names.
§  Sucher kit
§  Tweezers

o   Fire-Purchase a Wetfire fire-starting kit that contains a striker and wet fire starting cubes.  Practice using it once or twice.  Make some petroleum jelly fire starters.  Learn five different ways to start a fire.

o   Lighter-strikers are better, but sometimes you just need a good ole’ lighter.

o   Cooking-collapsible stoves and pots are great.  Also, backpack can openers for foraging for food.  2000 cans of corn do you no good if you can’t get into them.

o   Hand powered flashlight.  There are several kinds, use your best research to purchase one that is right for your family.  Each bugout bag should contain one.

o   Chemlights-These are great long lasting cheap ways to light up the night. 

o   Weapons-Firearms are best in most situations, however, not everybody has access to them.  Protecting your supplies and family can quickly turn into a scary situation, so don’t go out unprepared.  In the very least, you should have a can of pepper spray (replace every 12 months), a stun gun (at least 6 million volts strong), and a kubaton.

o   Personal alarm-In the event you need to draw attention or use it to wake you up, pressure alarms are small, lightweight, and battery operated.  Place them under the tire of your car, under something that will set it off if stepped on, and it could be the difference between sleeping through your stuff getting stolen or stopping the theft.   

o   Map-learn your area.  Come up with a plan and practice it.  Where does your family meet on your street, 1 block away, 3 blocks away, and 3 miles away?  Do you all know how to get to each place?  Do you know at least three ways to get to each place?  What do you do when you get there?  What if it’s not safe when you do?

o   Compass-Learn what they are and how to use them.  It’s easy to get turned around when your landmarks are destroyed.  Teach your children how to use them and how to use the sun to tell which direction they are going.

o   Pictures-Children need pictures of normalcy in the event of an emergency, especially if they are separated from a loved one.  It’s also a good idea to pack a very small, very light stuffed animal to make night time easier.  You can take your child to purchase something together and talk about how important it is to have it in their bugout bags.

o   Hand powered radio-Electronics won’t always work in every situation.  Learn about what is going on and what you need to do with a hand powered radio.

o   Soap and TP-Mom was right, wash your hands.  Most things that make you sick can be avoided simply by using good hand washing.  You can also pack antibacterial gel, or “hand sanitizer”. Make sure there are a couple of rolls of toilet paper in your bag as well.  You won't regret it.

   

    My advice to you is to gather your supplies before purchasing your bags, that way you know how much space you need.  There are a million other things you can put in your bugout bag, but remember, you may be carrying it for a long time.  Make sure it fits you well and that you can carry it for long periods of time. 

You will need to modify yours for your family.  If you have infants, you will need diapers and formula, women will want tampons and such..  Always check expiration dates, and make sure you replace things as they expire.

Why choose Damsel in Defense over the cheaper stun guns on the market

There's a lot of talk about this knock off cheap $20 stun gun guy showing up at gun shows and underselling products similar to some that Damsel in Defense carries.  I just want to remind everyone that we are more than stun guns.

We are educators

We have an entire line that will only continue to grow that includes roadside kits, pepper spray, personal alarms, martial arts tools, and more.

We sell for a company that gives back to charities that help survivors survive and victims become survivors.

When we are invited into someone's home to give a demonstration, we are giving people knowledge that could save their lives even if they don't purchase something.

Our parties are the funnest in-home party I have ever attended, and I've been to them all.

We are passionate

We are compassionate

We get to sit with other women and listen to their stories of survival as well as share our own.

We teach people how to keep their children safe by teaching them things to talk to their kids about and carrying products specifically designed to protect children.

Our products are durable and Damsel in Defense stands by them.

Ours come in cute and sassy colors that make us feel like warrior princesses.

We make safety our #1 concern, not only for ladies on the go, but with how to handle and care for our products, when to replace things that need to be replaced, and create an inviting environment for women to ask questions.

Our passion empowers other women to be passionate about themselves and others around them.

We have a team.  We can lift up our struggling Damsels, praise our triumphs, share our ideas, and encourage each other to continue to stretch out of our comfort zone.

We are a team unlike any that I have seen with any other network marketing company.

The most important thing that sets us apart from random Zapper guy is that we are for life.  We build relationships with our clients that last forever.  When someone has us in their living room, we create a bond. They will forever come to us for self defense products so long as we nurture that bond.  If they have a problem, they can come to us.  We are not an intimidating man in a booth at a gun show.  We are a strong network of women who, at the end of the day want other women to stay safe.  The money we make doing this is just a side bonus.  The real reward is that we belong to a company that praises God every step of the way with everything they do.

When you are a client of Damsel in Defense, it's a relationship.  When you buy from random guy, it's a stun gun in a box that will likely never come out because of the intimidation factor of what it seems like carrying a few million volts around.

Whether you want to book a party or join my team,  you can find it all at mydamselpro.net/sunshineoconnor/