Child Freedom Journal | Spring Edition | Grit

Spring 2024 | Volume 19 | Grit

childfreedom JOURNAL

THE GOODNESS OF

There is nothing more satisfying than getting to go to work every day, get my hands dirty, and learn from my mentor.

When I got rescued, I did not even know what kabaddi was. Now I’m the one who chalks the court. It makes me feel so proud.

I love taking care of the plants in the garden. One day I want to go to school to study agriculture so I can go back to my village and help my parents farm.

*AllJOURNAL children's names and identities 1 | CHILD FREEDOM | Spring 2024have been altered to protect their privacy*

a note from the team The winter season's shorter days and barren trees are preparation. They cause us to dig our roots down deep and see through the leafless trees of our lives to discover what normally hides behind the blooms.

By the first glimmers of green, the world springs to life, and we're bursting at the seams with renewed excitement for all the possibilities winter has revealed. Nature explodes with fresh f ragrance and color, and in response, we fold up our well-worn blankets and unfurl our raincoats. We trade 5:00 PM sunsets for brighter days, brilliant hues, and crisp air, all begging us to fling open the windows and leap back into the rhythms of life.

Our theme this season is grit. Now, if you're wondering if that's too weighty of a theme, don't worry, we did, too. You've given the rescued kids fullness of life, vibrant childhoods, and bright futures, so we love highlighting that incredible impact. But amidst that joy, we never want to forget or diminish the whole story. Slavery is no longer a part of the kid's lives, but it is a big piece of their stories and plays a role in framing their present and future.

For the rescued kids, grit was forged through profound courage in the most extreme situations. Grit kept them alive through abuse, forced labor, longing for family, starvation, and fear and then gave them the fortitude it took to learn how to be f ree.

Now, their grit fills them with the determination to try new things, give their all in school, make friends, get counseling, belly laugh, try out for sports, and discover who they are and what makes their hearts come alive.

Let's take a look at the grit that keeps these kids going and the grit it takes from you to fill their lives with joy and possibility.

2 | CHILD FREEDOM JOURNAL | Spring 2024

EEDS

c a S ree

r

DS EE S E CAR We don't enter this world as an end product.

No, discovering who we are is a lifelong journey. It takes time to become, and most often, that becoming starts with a seed. Or a few.

For you, it might have been a seed of love planted by your parents, a seed of learning

coach. All of them nourished and tended until they took root in the soil of your heart and grew strong, becoming intertwined with your story until you became you.

Then, out of a deep well of compassion, you began planting seeds, too. Likely in many hearts, but around 1,200, we know for sure.

From thousands of miles away, you planted and cultivated seeds of nearly every variety.

Here's what you've grown.

3 | CHILD FREEDOM JOURNAL 3 | CHILD | Spring FREEDOM 2024 JOURNAL | Spring 2024

JOY

determination planted by your high school

SEEDS

planted by a favorite teacher, or a seed of

DS

CHILDHOO D SEE

DS

CE N E D I F N O C SEEDS

HIP SEE

EDUCA BLEND TIONAL

Y BB HO D

BLEN

FRIENDS

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Rachel, James, Bella (9), Lily (5) and Charlie (14 mo.)

the

to give We learned about CFC through a friend's post on Facebook about child sponsorship. I started looking at the kids who were waiting for a sponsor and immediately connected to a sweet little girl named Grace because that is my oldest daughter's middle name, and they were the same age. We started sponsoring Grace, put her picture on the fridge, and prayed for her often. It was a beautiful way to teach my daughter and bring awareness to a global issue that she was unaware of.

The residual strength of this organization is shown when these children grow up and leave The Children's Home. Most give back to the program that served them. I cannot imagine not wanting to be a part of this.

I feel that the money I make in my business is a tool that comes from God, and I've always found that the more I give, the more my business is blessed. As we learned more about CFC's growth and impact, we felt led to give in a bigger way, and chose to donate a portion of each closing transaction to the rescued kids through the More Than A Home initiative. This allows us to share our heart for this organization with our incredible clients.

Many of them may also choose to come in alignment with this cause which furthers the reach and impact for these amazing kids!

We desire to do things uniquely better. To be lifelong learners, innovating where possible while also holding fast to time-honored traditions. To not be held back by fear of failure, and instead set our goals realistically high, adjusting when needed.

To view feedback as a gift that is key in helping us serve the rescued kids better. To communicate every story, email, social media post, financial decision, impact update, and booklet to the very best of our ability, showing you just how significant your support is. So we can end human trafficking forever.

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E

A

R E NC E W FFE IT H DI

I'd noticed how the real estate industry leaders I knew always gave their clients a thoughtful gift after working together, and it sparked an idea. What if they could give their clients the gift of making a difference for the rescued kids in India?

It was a simple thought that would take time, nurturing, and a whole lot of elbow grease to build, but eventually, we began helping real estate industry leaders and their clients experience the absolute joy that grows from making a difference.

We've seen improved client satisfaction and better referrals, but most importantly, we've seen these individuals give in a way that transforms the lives of the rescued kids.

YO U

R

BU SINE

SS

SCAN T OM AK

Donor Engagement More Than A Home Founder Marcy@ChildFreedom.org

It was once the feeling of sand between toes amid a day of hauling rocks in the quarry.

The sight of smears and stains appearing on everything the supervisors touched.

The beige patchwork of brick-making mud marring the knees of threadbare pants.

The roughness of callouses earned working barefoot on jagged rock.

Grit was their determination to survive.

And once survived, they became determined to live.

And as they lived, the meaning of grit received redemption.

It became the feeling of sand between toes amid a wrestle for victory in Kabbadi.

The sight of smears and stains appearing on everything throughout a lesson in mechanics.

The beige patchwork of rich garden soil marking the knees of favorite pants.

The roughness of callouses earned from practicing stitch patterns.

Grit became good.