February

As we begin work with our newest residents, God has been reminding me of my real job, which is to love these women as He does. I can't "fix" them or "heal" them - that's the work of the Holy Spirit. And I won't lie - it can be hard work, as the women's anger and fear can make loving them difficult. I praise God that he has placed me in this work that expands my capacity to love. I pray that you, too, will be stretched in your capacity to love others as yourself.

Now grab a cup of coffee and find out what we've been up to!

We are so grateful for the work done by a recent group of volunteers. They cut and burned underbrush, added electric wires to some of the buildings, and - as pictured here - spread gravel on a dry lot for our horses (you can read about the benefits of a dry lot here). 

How our horses mentor

In past issues of this newsletter, we’ve spotlighted some of our human mentors. But our horses are mentors, too, and very effective ones. For example, Coco helps residents learn how to relate to others calmly and assertively. These skills don’t come naturally, especially for women who have been in stressful and intimidating circumstances for a long time. Enter Coco, who lets our residents see immediately how they are appearing to others. If you’re not assertive, Coco will literally push you over. If you are tense or angry, Coco will quickly reflect your emotions and refuse to cooperate. 

She gives you real-time feedback, almost like holding up a mirror to your spirit. Because Coco responds so quickly, our residents learn to take a deep, calming breath before entering a session with her. When working with Coco, they soon realize that she will happily do things with and for them when they can stand their ground firmly and without anger.

One of our former residents had to go to court in a custody battle. As you can imagine, she was angry and frightened to go into what promised to be a confrontational situation. However, Coco had mentored her well, and she was able to take those lessons into the courtroom with her so that she could firmly and calmly present herself before the judge.

We praise God for Coco and how she helps our ladies grow effective skills for navigating the world.

Weekend Mentor Hired!

Thank you so much for your prayers, we were able to hire a weekend mentor who will start soon. The time I've spent filling in has been very difficult on my children; they already have to share so much of David's and my time as it is. We praise God for His provision.

Help us in our mission!

Would you be willing to give up one or more coffees each month to support us? Join our "Freedom Wranglers" by clicking on the Donate button to support the important work we do to restore wholeness to female survivors of human trafficking, and to weaken the sex trade through the power of Christ. Your monthly donation of as little as $10 per month can help a resident begin a new life.

Answered Prayer: Praise God that we were able to hire a weekend mentor! This means that I can be more present as a mother to my children. We also got one group to help with our Camp Run Free! summer camp. Thank you for your prayers!

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