Parents

Today we drove to Essie's parents' home in a village a few hours from our home.  Essie is the only girl in the home not just with parents, but Christian parents.   From the time she came into the home, we knew we needed to talk to her parents. 

But her father worked abroad, and only recently returned to Moldova.  Last week they called, thinking that maybe Essie should just return home.  They did not feel she needed to stay longer at Freedom Home.  Elena, the director of Freedom Home accompanied Andy & me.  Together we shared our story of Essie. 

We told them how wonderful their daughter is.  We talked about the reality of trafficking. We talked about the reality of Essie's experience.  We talked about God never leaving her.  We talked about grace and forgiveness.  We heard their stories of pain.  We talked about hope for Essie's life and future.   We listened as parents cried and wondered at what happened.  We explained captivity, deception, and betrayal.  We saw the anger they tried to mask.   We cried with them and let them know these things anger us too.

Today we offered hope to hurting parents.  They understand we love their daughter and don't judge her.  They understand we don't judge them either.

You see, they also feel judged.  They feel maybe they did something wrong, maybe God is punishing them. 


Most of the girls that come to our home do not have parents.  There is no one who cares what happened.  But there are times that girls like Essie get trapped into this horrid evil of trafficking and then, we not only have an opportunity to bring healing and hope to Essie, but also to her parents. 

Will you pray for her parents today and this next week?  They too are hurting.  They too feel judged.  They too feel guilt.  They are angry. 

They are walking through the stages of grief, and they need a safe place to talk, to deal with the pain.   Pray as we build this relationship over the next months.  Pray that we can offer them a ray of hope and help them find comfort in the God of all comfort.  Pray that they, too, can see God's hand in their lives at this very hard time.  

After we talked about all the difficult things, they served us a wonderful lunch. They said that when they realized what had happened to Essie, their only prayer was that she return to them alive.  They know God answered that prayer.  We agreed in prayer for Essie's healing and future. 

Today we went to this village to meet with strangers.  We left as brothers and sisters in Christ and friends.  Together we hold on to hope that God will redeem this tragedy in Essie's life. 

Truth

For a bit more than a  week I have been in the states with Andy.  He's spoken at a few churches and we've had dinners with people--sharing about our work in Moldova and the work at Freedom Home.    We are now sitting at the Detroit Airport and will be boarding a flight back to Europe shortly.  Can't wait to get home.

We realize what a spiritual battle the work at Freedom Home remains.   Trafficking is such a great evil and Satan doesn't want restoration of any women.  If he's taken them down, he wants them to stay down.

But God is lifting up so many.

We see Masha excited about schooling and the opportunity of a real job in the future.  She works hard in the home and loves on her daughter.  She wants more of Jesus each day.

Essie is seeing that she has a future.  She doesn't see that her life is undone and without hope for the future.  She realizes that she has amazing abilities to give to others.

Nellie is following Essie's example and told me recently that she is doing as well as she is because Essie constantly challenges her to live right.  Essie lets Nellie know that  she can live her life for Christ.

Yet, in the midst of the rejoicing, Satan is working overtime to destroy.  Ali has left the home and in the process, made accusations and tried to ruin many reputations.  She has left a huge path of destruction in her wake.  It seems that she couldn't just go out peacefully.  It seems she constantly needs to destroy. 

Please pray for Freedom Home this week. 

Pray for the staff. 
The Bible says, "Be strong and courageous, for the Lord your God is with you."  Pray for their strength and courage. 
The Bible says, "God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love and a sound mind."  Pray for power, love and a sound mind for each of them.
The Bible says, "Stand firm."  This is meant as we are putting on the armor of God.  Pray that each staff member can stand firm with the armor of God in place.

Pray for the residents.
The Bible says, "Grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus."  Pray for their growth.  Pray that they understand who Jesus is in their lives.
The Bible says, "Fear not for I am with you."  Pray that they understand Jesus is with them each day.

Pray for the work at Freedom Home.  This is God's work.
The Bible says, "No weapon formed against you will prosper."  There are weapons being wielded against the work this week are destructive and discouraging.  Pray that these weapons will die this week. 
The Bible says, "The truth will set you free."  Pray for the clear truth to be revealed this week.   There were so many lies said this past weekend.  God is the God of truth, and we ask that He brings the truth to light.

Thanks for your prayer for this ministry.  We cannot do it without your prayers.