When I was being tortured, raped, and otherwise brutalized, I often spat with venom, "If you exist, God, where the HELL are you now???” And I meant every word of it. I could not believe that love even existed back then.

I have suffered immeasurably over the past 22 years because of the rare virus I contracted (Tropical Spastic Paraparesis) while I was held captive and sold for three years by traffickers.

But I no longer cry out, “God, where the hell are you now?” My strength to persevere, my ability to smile, and my passion to fight and be more than a voice for survivors and victims of this horrific crime comes from this oft-times confusing Creator.

We all have different names for him/her … some of us don’t believe in a Designer at all. Either way, that is ok. I am not here to preach.

What I have learned is that we are not robots. Evil men and women exist and do evil things. But we have the power to stamp out these spineless pieces of scum and wipe them off the face of the earth. This is either our planet, or it isn’t, our choice.