Beginning of Life, Moldova
Ingrid is an orphan, raised in one of the orphanages in Moldova. After graduating from school, she was recommended a job as shop assistant for a market in Moscow. Upon her arrival in Moscow, she realized she was a victim of human trafficking. Tragically, the person who suggested she go to Moscow was her mentor from the orphanage. The woman provided children from the orphanage to traffickers. Irina worked in Moscow as a prostitute for three months. During the three months, she came across a client who was kind to her, and she asked him to help her escape from slavery. He did, and now she is with our restoration home, Beginning of Life. She is continuing in the process of healing, and still faces emotional difficulties. She has little enthusiasm for school, or to earn money for a living, but rather hopes to find a husband who will provide all her needs. We are encouraging her in her studies and job search, and working to help her have motivation to be self-sufficient.
Beginning of Life Moldova
Natasha is from a socially vulnerable family. When she was a teenager, her mother left Moldova to find a job abroad, and left Natasha with her stepfather. Natasha was a student at the Medical University, and had good prospects. While her mother was gone, her stepfather attempted to rape her. Natasha fled from her home, and stayed with friends for a few days. When her mother came home to Moldova for vacation, Natasha shared the situation with her. Her mother didn’t believe her, and turned Natasha from her home. Natasha lost both her financial support for school, and her home. Because of this, she accepted an offer to work abroad as a dancer. In the airport in Chisinau, she discovered they recruited the girls to work as prostitutes. She shared this information with a police officer, and the trafficker was arrested. She has been with us since March. During that time, friends of her trafficker kidnapped her. They kept her for 24 hours, beat her, and forced her to recant her statement against the trafficker. We went to the police and lawyers, and now she is okay. She graduated from trade school, with what would be the equivalent of a cosmetology degree. This September, she returned to college, and is taking classes again.
Grace House Ohio, USA
M.’s childhood seemed to be ideal. Her father was an upstanding citizen with an income that made him wealthy and powerful. He was a prominent figure in the community, with strong influence in the police and judicial departments. She attended the local high school and her father would often dote on his daughters with presents and vacations. What the neighbors couldn’t, or wouldn’t, see were that these favors were really his way to keep her mum about his sexual abuse that began when she was 3. When she turned 15, her father grew tired of her and began to sell her to his business clients. When M. went to the authorities, they were honest in telling her that, although they believed her, there was very little chance in getting a conviction, given his standing in the community, and it would be pointless to press charges.
She eventually left the state to be free from her father.
She met and fell under the influence of a very controlling pimp, who, when she came to Columbus to escape him, followed and stalked her, sending threatening messages.
Not having an open shelter of our own, we provided her with what safety we could, and eventually were able to connect her to a shelter out of state that could provide the level of security and counseling needed to start her healing process. We rejoice that she recommitted her life to Christ during the time she was with us.
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