Homes for Child Survivors of Sex Trafficking

Many early mornings as I arrive at our shelter and I head through our secure gated entrance, across the side yard towards the back of the property, I’ll spot one of our girls in the outdoor laundry area listening to some tunes while rinsing her clothes in the water coming from our newly dug well. I’ll head towards the house living quarters and, just as I’m entering, another girl will dart out of her room in a hurry, barefoot, all dressed, hair done and fresh makeup, searching for her shoes. She’s already a little late for her vocational training school, or perhaps a family visit. One house mom will be patiently helping her search. Across the room another girl sits on the couch playing the guitar and singing for her personal morning worship time.  I’m almost always greeted by whomever is there. “Hey Ka Becks, good morning.” They like to use the English they’ve been learning and I’m usually just as eager to use my Bahasa, “Pagi, nona! Apa kabarmu?” We’ll chat a moment for fun about absolutely nothing or catch up on what’s been going on. Then I’ll head out the back of the living quarters. 

Immediately I can hear chit-chat and giggles coming from a couple more girls hanging out with a house mom and a case coordinator at the breakfast table on the open-air patio next to the kitchen. One of the girls will still be in her morning tennis workout clothes, obviously needing a shower, while the other is still in her morning pj’s.  Across from the patio one of our teachers will be in an empty classroom preparing for morning lessons which start in about an hour. If I don’t get sucked into the conversation at the breakfast table I’ll head into our office where I’ll usually find a couple other staff members preparing their morning agendas.

Believe it or not, at Sarah’s House most mornings are just like this but obviously not all. They are teenage girls after all working through the emotions of their teen years with the additional challenges that are still being resolved from their past trafficking situations. However, much of their progress and healing comes directly from our ability to provide for them the every day love and basic needs that every kid should have.  A safe home with loving and caring people that come alongside them every day. A stable environment of healthy nurturing every day. An environment of learning and opportunity every day.  Thank you so much for helping us provide some of the most important things these girls need — this home, this place of hope and healing.