Expressing pain, expressing hope
September 10th, 2011 by Kristi Stephens
Many of you know the burden on my heart for the victims of human trafficking. Sometimes with a heavy and heart-breaking issue like this, we just want to be able to do something. Something specific. Something tangible.
Today I’d like to share with you another opportunity to make a direct impact through Women at Risk, International. The needs of victims who have been rescued out of trafficking are complex and difficult – but this is one beautiful and tangible way that we can touch their lives with healing and hope. Below is a letter from Rebecca MacDonald, the president of Women at Risk. If you feel led to participate in this project, please note the contact information listed below the letter. If you have specific questions, don’t ask me – I have no idea. ;) Jennifer Roberts can be contacted via email or you can call the office for WAR in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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I need you….Because my women and children need you.
Imagine that you are a child that has been chained to a wall for 7 years and finally rescued at age 11…sold day after day, night after night. You can hardly express the pain you feel. You are only 11. Imagine the relief if you don’t have to verbalize your pain but can simply color, draw and share your heart through pictures. Imagine that you are a woman, sold by your family against your will into the red light district and broken, forced to support them through the sale of your very soul. Suddenly you find a safe place. You need to share your heart but it is too painful. Drawing is the universal language. No words are necessary.
WAR has the incredible opportunity to take a trained Ph.D. in art therapy with us on the circle tour to train our leaders in how to help our precious wounded women and children recover and reconstruct their lives, hearts, self worth and world. She is donating her time that is usually very expensive. If you wish to be part of this unique opportunity…please pick something on the list to donate or donate financially and we will buy what is not donated. Five safe houses will get the training that Dr. Hudak gives…
The Elohim, the Creator God delights in our creativity which is a reflection of us being made in his image. Indeed one Old Testament verse says he “decorates” our world and us. There is great healing in both making things and using our hands… Women who can not “fix” their lives over night can “make a beautiful piece of jewelry” or “color their pain, sorrow or joy” and conquer something small. …There is healing in the process of creation when words fail.
When sharing with one safe house that we were bringing this new resource to them at our own expense, they excitedly shared with me that one of their “neediest women” is a new person due to art. They gave her a room on the top floor to draw and color when she needed to decompress. It has become the place that the women go to on their break to refresh, regroup and renew. Suddenly this room is one more safe house sanctuary that all the women and their children go to when sad. Through art they have found one more way to work through the pain of their lives and journey toward health and wholeness. Another safe house that will be attending the Circle Tour from Cambodia has a whole room where small children born to the red light district come to “draw and tell their story.” All these leaders are thrilled that we are bringing one more avenue of healing to them.
…Thank you for so faithfully helping me do new, creative, fun and meaningful activities in the lives of our women. It is my privilege and joy to continually be looking for new ways to walk the valley of shadows with women toward dignity and worth.
See below and ask God if there is a way you can purchase, donate or get a local art store to donate toward this goal. The trip is in February, so we have to collect all this before Dec. 31st. What a fun Christmas gift!
Coloring my world in as many ways as possible to reflect the Elohim:
Rebecca McDonald
A – Mail donated items to Women At Risk, ATTN Jennifer Roberts | 2790 44th St SW | Wyoming, MI 49519
B – Financial Gifts may be dontated online or through the mail. (Women At Risk | C/O Healing Color | 2790 44th St SW | Wyoming, MI 49519 or click here and notate in the box Circle Tour: Healing Color
C – Financial donation toward the $2500 it will take to start up this program to help pay for the travel expenses involved may be dontated online or through the mail. (Women At Risk | C/O Healing Program expense | 2790 44th St SW | Wyoming, MI 49519 or click here and notate in the box Circle Tour: Program Expense
Items needed from the states
Papers
- Construction Paper (Various Colors)
- Tissue Paper (Various Colors)
- Brown Bags Small and Large
- Origami Paper
- Preformed Greeting Cards
Glues and Attachments
- Paper Mache Paste
- Paper Brads
- Various Colored Pipe Cleaners
Craft Supplies
- Colored Craft Sticks
- Felt Squares
- Jute
- Plastic Craft String
- Feathers
Items to be purchased in Thailand – need funding for:
Papers
- Drawing Paper 18 x 24(Smaller sized paper will work)
- Newspaper Print
- Brown Poster Paper on Roll
- White Butcher Paper on Roll
- Finger-Paint Paper
- Tag Board/Poster Board
- Paper Plates-White
- Aluminum Foil
- Waxed Paper
- Watercolor, Graphic Design Paper, Drawing Paper
- Corrugated Paper
Painting and Drawing Media
- Tempera Paint (all colors)
- Watercolors
- Fingerpaints
- Crayons
- Colored Chalk
- Colored Markers
- Felt Tip Pens (Variety of colors and sizes)
- Colored Pastel Chalks
- Oil Pastels
- Clay-Air Hardening Type
Glues and Attachments
- School White Glue(Any kind of Glue is fine)
- Staplers
- Staples
- One Hole Paper Punch Tools
- Masking Tape
- Variety of Colored Duct Tapes
Brushes, Tools, and Art Instruments
- Assortment of Brushes
- (Easel Brushes, Watercolor Brushes, and Painting Brushes)
- Drawing Pencils or Assortment of #2 Pencils
- Soft Erasers
- Scissors
Craft Supplies
- Wooden Craft Sticks
- Clear Straws
- Beads
- Fabric Scraps
- Yarn
Other
- Plastic Drop Cloth for covering surfaces
- Paper Towels
- Higher End Art Supplies
Once again, if you have specific questions, don’t ask me – I have no idea. ;) Jennifer Roberts can be contacted via email or you can call the office for WAR in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
A – Mail donated items to Women At Risk, ATTN Jennifer Roberts | 2790 44th St SW | Wyoming, MI 49519
B – Financial Gifts may be dontated online or through the mail. (Women At Risk | C/O Healing Color | 2790 44th St SW | Wyoming, MI 49519 or click here and notate in the box Circle Tour: Healing Color
C – Financial donation toward the $2500 it will take to start up this program to help pay for the travel expenses involved may be dontated online or through the mail. (Women At Risk | C/O Healing Program expense | 2790 44th St SW | Wyoming, MI 49519 or click here and notate in the box Circle Tour: Program Expense

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