Victims of Trafficking Share How God's Love Gave Them Hope

Operation Underground Railroad : Jan 31, 2018
Faithwire.com

"When I was a little girl I was introduced to God and I went to church. I haven't been in a long time but I know that there is a God who loves me and I love Him..." -Trafficking survivor

[Faithwire.com] Four girls were rescued in a recent Operation Underground Railroad undercover operation in Haiti. (Photo credit: Operation Underground Railroad/via Faithwire.com)

The first 72 hours after rescue is extremely important for survivors to start to feel safe and not be traumatized even further, according to O.U.R. Aftercare Director Jessica Mass.

The Aftercare team is always present during operations to provide immediate victim advocacy to care for the children rescued.

One of the key factors, when we are talking with victims that have experienced extreme trauma, is to be fully present with people in their pain. These are times when you can't feel the pain someone is feeling inside, but you can help them to not feel alone.

After a couple of hours as Jessica was sitting with the girls, she asked what their dreams are.

"What would you do if you could do anything?" she asked.

With tears swelling in her eyes, one of the girls held her hand out to Jessica. She showed Jessica her carefully painted and decorated nails and said, "If I could do anything, I would help other girls feel beautiful. I want to do people's nails and eyebrows so they can feel the beauty that is in the inside of them."

This hopeful young survivor had been through a lot of extreme trauma. People often ask how girls begin being trafficked and exploited. The answer is that they are often vulnerable due to poverty, lack of education, and the breakdown of the family. This particular girl was vulnerable due to all three of these categories...

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