I Came to Prison

In the spirit of Freedom and Fashion’s anti-human trafficking trade show this Saturday, all this week at WitnessLA.org we’re presenting daily testimonies from human trafficking survivors.  

Story repost from International Justice Mission (IJM)

Manna [pictured above] explained that she wanted others to know her story and was adamant that her identity not be concealed.  She wanted people to realize who she was and hopes by sharing what happened to her that she can help prevent other girls from being exploited.

Manna lived with her brother and was beaten by him on several occasions.  When she was 14, she decided running away was her best option.  Passing through the clutter and scuffle of a train station a young woman noticed Manna crying and offered to help.  She listened to Manna and won her trust, promising a job selling fabric.  The woman led Manna to a place to rest and slept beside her that first night, but when Manna woke the woman was gone and another woman warned that her life was no longer her own.  She would not sell fabric but her body…[click “Read More” below to continue]

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Now I am Free

In the spirit of Freedom and Fashion’s anti-human trafficking trade show this Saturday, all this week at WitnessLA.org we’re presenting daily testimonies from human trafficking survivors. 

Excerpt from Terrify No More by Gary A. Haugen with Gregg Hunter

When she was fourteen, Jyoti left home in Hydrabad, India, to work as a domestic servant in the village of Guntur.  She recently completed two months of work and was returning home with her saved money to visit her family.  As she sat in the railway station alone, she was approached and befriend by four women she had never met before.  As they spoke, the women secretly purchased another ticket for Jyoti, headed not for her hometown, but to Mumbai, which is in the opposite direction. 

Jyoti became suspicious when the train did not arrive at her stop within the normally scheduled time.  She grew angry and began to yell at the women, who tried to assure her the train was just traveling slowly.  They offered her some tea to calm her down.  Unfortunately for Jyoti, the tea was drugged, and she did not awaken for three days…[click “Read More” below to continue]

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Terrify No More

In the spirit of Freedom and Fashion’s anti-human trafficking trade show this Saturday, all this week at WitnessLA.org we’re presenting daily testimonies from human trafficking survivors. 

Repost from: http://www.ijmuk.org/defining_gods_heart

 “You hear, O Lord, the desire of the affected; You encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.”  Psalm 10:17-18

Elizabeth was a 13 year old girl brought up in a devoted Christian family.  As a custom in South East Asia, many teenagers work during the summer break from school to earn money for the family.  A relative had arranged for Elizabeth to work in a bakery some two days train ride away in another country, assuring her mother that there would be good accommodation and wages.

En route Elizabeth saw the person taking charge of her changed at certain points and she noticed money being given. Eventually, she arrived in the city where she expected to work at a bakery, only to discover she was trafficked into a brothel.  At first she refused, but the brothel owner said until she paid back the equivalent of £150 she would not be free to go. She was starved for 3 months until she agreed to service between 8 and 15 customers every day…[click “Read More” below to continue]

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Rebuild and Restore Mexico City

One of our WitnessLA members is in Mexico City right now visiting NEO, a Newsong Mexico church plant, as well as helping remodel “El Pozo” (a shelter for former sex trafficked girls).

The air is very thin here. We are 7000 feet above sea level and altitude sickness seems to be an initiation ritual for every foreigner. I woke up almost every night from a nightmare or some stomach pain. Most of the team members had their share of physical ailments. But despite the physical annoyances, we knew that we were supposed to be here.

It was a few months ago when Daniel, our LOL small group leader from Newsong LA, felt that he needed to form a short term mission team to Mexico. Pastor Benny Yu had started a church in Newsong Mexico City 3 years ago, when God has led him and his wife to also begin the plans for “El Pozo,” the shelter that would house girls who have once been sexually trafficked. Currently, there are only 2 other shelters in this whole region. It is incredibly difficult to get through all the red tape in Mexico City. However, God has been gracious to El Pozo. They have received their tax exemption status TODAY!

For the past 3 days, our short team missions team has been working very hard to remodel the “El Pozo” site. In a few weeks, this shelter will be filled with 6-8 girls ranging from several months in age - 18 years old. Our team went in and took an inventory check to see what items needed to be purchased as well as cleaned up.

We used paint thinner and cleaned up all the marks on the windows. Using nails and hammers, the strong men built furniture, as well as fixed light fixtures. The rest of the team went to purchase womens’ basic products such as shampoo, combs and such. It was an interesting experience to say the least. It reminds me of the abundant life that I live, and how even a simple item like shampoo can be taken for granted.

God is so amazing. He wanted to take our team to show us what His heart aches for. After speaking with Pastor Benny, I realized how much more need there is for the shelter. They are in need of even more basic necessities (i.e. mattresses, new bedsheets, etc.). I felt my heart sank at how much the need was. I know that God will provide, but at this time I’m just waiting to see how He will move. Please keep us in prayer.

Follow us on our journey: www.missionlmol2010.wordpress.com

-Bonnie