Updates From Jo Anne Lyon

An Old Hymn Speaks in the 21st Century

While singing O Holy Night during our staff Christmas party I became overwhelmed to tears with the words - "Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother (sister -- child) and in His Name all oppression shall cease."

A few days before the party, I received the following email from our Director of the World Hope International Anti-Trafficking Assessment Center in Cambodia:

One challenge we have working at the WHI Assessment Center is that we usually do not get to see each child progress in her recovery after she leaves our center. Most of the children we care for will leave after about two months and go on to receive continued care in a partner center. This can last for another two months or up to a couple of years depending on the age of the child, her family situation, and many other issues. On occasion we get feedback that a girl is doing well, gone home, grown up and gotten married, or unfortunately is back in a brothel. Today I heard that a 12 year old child that came to our center last year is doing very well. She had been rescued from a foreign pedophile who had kept her and three other girls bound up with ropes and drugged. He had repeatedly beaten, tortured, and raped the girls. The neighbors had heard the children screaming, but had done nothing since it is not Cambodian culture to intervene in the neighbors business. Today I heard that this child, who had been so terribly brutalized, has forgiven those who hurt her. She even wrote a letter to her mother who is serving a prison term for selling her to the pedophile. In the letter, she told her mother that she forgave her for what she did to her and she wanted her mother to know about the forgiveness found in Jesus Christ. God is good.  

We presently have 24 girls in the AC. They range in age from 11 to 18 years old. One child witnessed the murder of her boyfriend and then was raped by the murderer. Another was raped by her uncle. Nine of the girls were abused by foreign pedophiles. Five girls were working on the street in front of a night club when police moved in, arrested, then released them into our care.  

These are examples of the over 240 children we have served in the past 2 1/2 years. In addition, we are seeing these pedophiles arrested and prosecuted for their heinous crimes.

Yes, oppression is present in its worst form. But I believe we can also say with the writer of this wonderful hymn ... "A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn."  

Thank you for making the "new and glorious morn" possible for the millions yet suffering in this modern-day slavery. Your giving brings, shelter, education, psychosocial services, and spiritual healing and hope.

Blessings,
.

Jo Anne Lyon
Founder & CEO

P.S. Thank you for making "room in the inn" for the enslaved of the 21st century. To learn more about World Hope International's anti-trafficking efforts, visit our website.