All through her childhood she experienced many horrendous abuses and sexual exploitation, and she hasnever been nurtured or loved as children need to be. As you can imagine, life has always been difficult for her. She has struggled to hold down a job, make enough money to support herself, pay her rent, and to make ends meet. She has had mental health issues and has made several suicide attempts.
Kathryn, as a thirty-something young woman desperately began searching for real help when she found the Redeem and Restore Center (RRC) Home.
Let me tell you a bit more about Kathryn’s life so far.
The life she grew up in was filled with incomprehensible dangers. Her mom, and other adults in her life, sexually exploited her. As a child she was sold as a sex toy to anyone who would pay her mom. This home was very unstable. She was never able to trust what would happen to her next or how her mom would treat her. She was robbed of a “normal” childhood. At a very young age she learned she could not trust adults. No child should be a sex toy. No mom should ever allow her child to be violated in this horrifying way. The psychological confusion was deeply embedded because of many days filled with crazy crap like this and then mixed with a few loving moments where her mom would do something nice for her; like making a favorite food to enjoy after school. Those actions have had lifelong consequences for Kathryn.
Gratefully, a school counselor helped her get out of that situation. She went to a foster home, but unfortunately, she did not get the help necessary for her to work through the trauma she had endured.
Kathryn survived foster care and even managed to graduate high school, but the damage was already done. She coped and attempted to live a better life, but the wounds of the past made that truly impossible. She was alone, had a shattered identity, and was unable to have regular or healthy relationships. She was completely vulnerable and everyone seemed unsafe. She would be continually consumed with a desperation to just end it all and disappear by suicide. After multiple failed attempts, while healing in a hospital, a therapist explained to her that she had been trafficked and that there were some programs that might be able to help her better.
When Kathryn came to RRC, she knew that we were a Christian centered program, and, even though she was angry at God, she felt RRC was her last chance at the possibility for a different life. At first, Kathryn was skeptical and mocked all things related to God, yet by God’s grace she was willing to engage in all we offered: Celebrate Recovery, Biblical Foundations, Boundaries, Mindfulness, and other trauma focused classes. Our Care Coaches and mentors are patient, gentle, and kind to her while also sharing the truth-allowing her to explore without condemnation.
Now, months later, she actually looks forward to church each week, and continues to ask tough questions and explore a relationship with the Lord.
Kathryn has become a solid helpmate to the other residents. She encourages them. She cares for them. It is a beautiful thing to watch!
She originally wanted no hugs and would not let her emotions be revealed. Still somewhat guarded, Kathryn is allowing herself to become more vulnerable to be authentic and let the pain and tears flow more regularly as she heals. Another beautiful thing to see!
The RRC programs requires funding so that this vital mission work can continue. Your contribution of any amount will make a difference in Kathryn’s life and in the lives of ALL the women our programs touch. When considering what to donate, please remember that the operating expenses to keep the RRC home staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (168 hours) is extremely costly. This home is not funded by a foundation or through government assistance. There is no guarantee that the RRC home will continue to support Kathryn or more women. The doors of the RRC home are open ONLY because of continual support from people like you that choose to partner with financial support.
TOGETHER – with God’s power and grace – we each can love, restore, and support women broken by sex trafficking and exploitation. Supporting them as the whole person: physically, mentally, relationally, emotionally, and spiritually.
God invites us to be a part of the restoration He has planned for the broken and shattered so that you too can experience the blessings from seeing lives redeemed and restored! HE will bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61:3)
Yes, it is people just like you giving $40, $50, $100 each month that make these HUGE impacts on women’s lives. This is an opportunity for you to help women that will continue to come and stay at the RRC home that are looking for real support to continue healing and begin a new life. You will provide her with love, safety, and healing! YOU CAN help save her life (and more) with your financial support!
With your monthly support a woman gets to be free and become who God created her to be!
Please consider partnering with us in redeeming women’s lives!
Chaplain Krista Hull
