March 30th, 2010 by Kristi Stephens

Don’t miss out on the Pearls of Hope pendant/chain giveaway from Women at Risk!

Gillian Ferwerda of Women at Risk, International will be sharing amazing posts with us during the Redeemed series– I pray you will join us and be changed through it!

Naam’s Story

Naam escaped from sexual slavery and came to the safe house—but she could not escape her past. She hated herself and her life.

She believed she was not pretty and that she did not have a pretty life—nothing about her was pretty. Consequently, she cut herself. Yet, she remained at the safe house, holding on to what hope there was for a better life,  employed at the safe house, sewing purses and iPod cases.

Image property of WAR, Int'l

Her shame followed her here as well: she was adamant she was not pretty and could not make pretty things. Yet, her embroidered bags are truly a cut above the rest—she has a knack for making beautiful things and an eye for beauty. Naam is slowly realizing that she is beautiful; making “pretty things” has been therapeutic for her, and she is blossoming.

Escape is just the first step—these women have an incredible journey ahead of them. Many struggle with nightmares, post-traumatic stress disorder, identity disorders, dissociative disorders, or physical wounds.

Many times, they are in need of social healing, having learned to be conniving, manipulative, self-protective, and selfish—they have learned it is a dog-eat-dog world and may never have received true love.

At the safe houses, these women find the holistic care that they need. Once treated as only objects, they find that they are people. More than that, while no one is forced to go to chapel or worship services, they are invited to do so and hear the message that they are brides of Christ and princesses, daughters of the King of Kings.

But care is very tangible as well—they receive medical care, health care, child care if necessary, counseling, and shelter. They receive education, job training, and employment. These are necessary—the woman must have a way to make a living and to care for herself and her family. However, above and beyond the economic necessity, it shows her she can make a living with dignity, she can make pretty things, and she is worth more than her body.

For you

Christ is making our life into something new—it is only he that can make these girls pretty, and it is only he who can make us pretty! He is giving us a new heart (Ezekiel 36:27), making us into new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17), and putting into us His mind and His life (1 Corinthians 2:16; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3-4). We are no longer the same, but are changed into his precious daughters, loved by the King of kings! (1 John 3:1-2)

What you can do!

Host a jewelry party! Using your home to host a party turns it into a safe haven that literally reaches across the neighborhood or ocean to lift women and children to dignity. The product is essential to rescue these women, allowing the women to work with dignity and earn an income.  Each home party is essential to create circles of protection as each purchase literally lifts a woman or child to safety! Email Jen Colby at jc (at) warinternational.org or by calling 616-855-0796.

From Kristi: Want to know more about how to find freedom through Jesus Christ? Please email me – I would love to talk with you.