Homes for Child Survivors of Sex Trafficking

There is nothing that brings greater joy than doing what you love with the people you love the most! We recently returned from Indonesia for our 2nd annual visit to the beloved girls and staff of Compassion First. Being empty nesters, sharing the role of overseeing the care for Sarah’s House has become an extension of our own family. We anticipated the reunion with the girls and staff for months in advance and were excited to bring our daughter Sophie to meet her newly extended family. Once through the door, it was like we had never been gone.

We had the privilege of travelling with a full clinical team including Lifespan Integration (LI) Instructor Cathy Thorpe, Trauma Therapist Robin and her husband John, and Licensed Clinical Social Worker Tiffany Fieken. Cathy Thorpe, an expert in the field of Lifespan Integration, provided an invaluable training workshop for our clinical staff. LI is a therapy tool used to clear a chosen past trauma, and it has been found to be particularly quick and effective with people experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. During the course of the training, we all had opportunity to be the client, the counselor, and the observer. Even though we were just learning (and stumbling through the steps), there was great healing that happened amongst our group. It was so exciting for us to witness firsthand the benefit this tool will bring to our staff and the residents in our care.

The most impressive result we witnessed in regard to the long-term benefit of LI was with one of our residents. Last year upon our arrival, we met a very anguished, angry, and upset teenager that ended up running away while we were there. Thankfully, she remained in contact with our staff and within two months had voluntarily returned to the shelter. Upon her return, she met our Trauma Therapist Robin. The two launched into their therapy sessions using LI and before too long, this girl had worked through many layers of trauma and was living with great relief. She was no longer experiencing the physical and emotional reactions to the triggers of her trauma. She was able to talk through her experiences without feeling upset and was moving past the pain in her day-to-day life. She dug in, worked hard, and un-covered the layers that were paralyzing her life and is now living full of joy and is well on her way to reintegration. Upon our arrival to Sarah’s House this year, she bounded out to greet us full of life and joy! She is currently in a vocational training program at an upscale Salon Training Institute, working toward becoming an instructor in hair styling, and cosmetology, all the while encouraging those around her at the shelter. This is quite a testament to the positive impact these services can produce in the lives of those in our care.

While it is difficult to separate from family, we departed with a sense of joy, satisfaction, and understanding that God has called us into His amazing work! It is so hard to describe what happens in your heart when you meet family across the world and your lives intertwine. Sometimes the work gets really tough, but you struggle through together. Yet in the midst of the struggle, you realize you are exactly where you should be and all is still right and good. That’s what it is for us right now—just doing life together with those we love and trusting God to lead us every step of the way.

Thanks for being part of the family, and for all you give to make life happen for these beautiful girls; they are worth every penny and more!

For the Girls,

Dean and Sarah Moshofsky

Field Staff Advisors