A Story of Hope: Laura's Journey

Many of the women we meet who are trapped in a life of sex work were first deceived by promises of a good job and a better future. Today’s story is one such story — a story of heartbreak, courage, and hope.

A typical day at one of our women’s centers includes a Bible teaching followed by a time of prayer. We often pray individually for the women in our programs. One day, while visiting one of our partner aftercare homes, I sat with one of the ladies who makes some of our bracelets. After the teaching, she asked me to pray for her sick father and mentioned that she was hoping to return home later in the month. I wanted to learn more about her journey, so I asked her to share her story. We’ll call her Laura.

When Laura was seven months pregnant, her husband left her. She worked a low-paying job and struggled to provide for herself and her baby daughter. One day, someone offered her a job in another city with promises of good pay. Desperate to provide for her child, Laura accepted the offer and left her baby in the care of her mother. But the job offer was a lie. Upon arrival, Laura was trapped and forced into prostitution. Her daughter was just two years old at the time.

Now, more than a decade later, Laura’s daughter is thirteen. Laura was rescued about a year ago and has been walking through a long process of healing, court proceedings, and aftercare. Our partner aftercare home has been in touch with her family, and plans have been made for her to return home later this month. As we talked, Laura smiled with pride as she told me that her daughter is in school and has just passed 7th grade.

Please pray for Laura — for her continued healing, her reunion with her family, and her transition back home. And pray, too, for the many other women who share stories like hers.

Thank you for your support, which allows us to continue serving women and children and helping restore hope to their lives.