CHRISTMAS 2020
A Season of Hope !
When Love Came Down Each year, during this special season, I am humbled by the extravagant love of God in sending us the gift of His Son, Jesus. When Love came down, He taught us by example how we are to love others. The work of Rapha International is compelled by this big love. When Love came down, Love was relentless in pursuit of us. Trafficking and sexual exploitation cause severe trauma to children, and steal away their sense of worth and value. Our staff is trained in trauma-informed care, and I have had countless opportunities to witness their relentlessly loving pursuit. I vividly remember, just a few years after beginning our work in Cambodia, walking through our aftercare campus on a late afternoon with a few staff members. School was out for the day and the sun was starting to set. Several girls were playing games in the yard and chatting in small groups. It was such a happy scene. Then I noticed a lone girl, maybe eleven or twelve years old, sitting alone at the edge of the yard, eyes downcast, and hands digging at the ground. I watched as she brought two handfuls of gravel to her head and began to fiercely rub it into her scalp. She did it again before a housemother could reach her side. I watched as this woman slowly sat down on the ground by the girl. She didn’t grab her wrists and force her to stop. She didn’t raise her voice and ask her what in the world she was doing. She just put her hand on the girl’s back, and sat there quietly with her for a long time. As we observed this scene, another staff member explained how this young girl had been brought through our gates by Cambodian authorities only days earlier. Deeply traumatized, she wouldn’t speak to the other girls and sometimes even growled at them so that they would stay away from her. She refused to shower, wash her matted hair, or put on clean clothes - obvious attempts to repel others from approaching her. The staff member beside me smiled and said, “It will take some time for her to learn to trust us. We must be very patient.” My heart broke for what this precious child had endured and I thought about her often over several months before I made my next visit to Cambodia. When I saw her again, I didn’t even recognize her. As a staff member introduced me to a girl with a beautiful smile and sparkling eyes, I realized that this was the same girl who only months earlier was rubbing dirt and gravel into her scalp. Later, I watched her dance and laugh with her friends, regaining small pieces of lost childhoods. My heart flooded with joy. Everyday, the staff of Rapha International relentlessly pursues the girls in our care. Love compels us to be patient and never give up. The girls we serve are worth it.
When Love came down, Love was personal. With millions of children trapped in global slavery and exploitation, it is easy to become overwhelmed and to feel helpless. At Rapha International, we are on a mission to end the trafficking and sexual exploitation of children - one child at a time. The girls we serve are much more than just another number in a global statistic. They each represent diverse stories with individual hopes and dreams for their futures. They are very personal to us. In 2003, I came face-to-face with the first child slave I ever met. After months of intense research into the issue of child trafficking, I felt overwhelmed and defeated about what could actually be done. But when there was a real, flesh-and-blood child standing in front of me with her hands squeezing my arm, there was no doubt that I could and would fight for her. If you had been there, you would have done the same. We cannot allow the staggering statistics of global child slavery steal our focus and disempower us from changing the life of one child at a time. Let’s together endeavor to always focus on the one. She is worth it. When Love came down, Love was poured out faithfully, generously, and sacrificially. That makes me think of you, our wonderful partners, because that same love pours out of you as you make the work of Rapha International possible. Because of your faithfulness, generosity, and sacrificial giving, we are able to run to the darkest places and shine the light of healing, hope, and freedom - in relentless pursuit of one child at a time. We cannot do it without you. Friends, the work of Rapha International is needed now more than ever before. Child survivors who were trafficked and exploited because of conditions directly related to the Covid-19 pandemic are being referred into Rapha’s care. We have included one of these stories in this newsletter. Will you consider a special year-end gift, which will help us stay fully mobilized in combating child exploitation during this critical time in history? There are so many children who are going to desperately need these services in the weeks, months, and years to come. When Love came down, healing, hope, and freedom were gifted freely. Just as we desire that each of our girls embrace these gifts, we desire that same experience for all of you, our precious partners. On behalf of all of us at Rapha International, we thank you for your big love for the precious children we serve together.
STEPHANIE GARMAN FREED CEO and Co-Founder
Hope for Communities The Christmas season provides an incredible opportunity for Rapha International to encourage the communities where Kids Club facilities are located in both Cambodia and Thailand. Everyone is invited to a Christmas program organized by the Kids Club staff members. For several weeks the staff and kids work really hard practicing Christmas songs so they can perform for their families on Christmas Day. The kids absolutely love showing their families what they’ve learned, and introducing them to their friends at Kids Club who they play with every day. After singing together, the story of Jesus’ birth is read, and all are invited to play games together. It is always a day full of laughter from all ages, and we can never tell if the kids or parents are the ones having the most fun! This will also be the first time when many children and their families hear about Jesus. The staff love this chance to get to know the families of sponsored children and build relationships with the community. This celebration ends with a nice meal that everyone shares together as they continue to observe Christmas and be encouraged by the Kids Club staff.
OUR PLEDGE: RAPHA INTERNATIONAL HELPS YOU COMBAT CHILD SLAVERY AND SEXUAL EXPLOITATION THROUGH HEALING, HOPE AND FREEDOM.
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Hope for Survivors Nan is a junior in high school in Thailand, and the oldest of four siblings. COVID-19 had an incredibly detrimental impact on the small businesses in her community, including her own family’s local restaurant. Her parents faced creditors demanding their only vehicle and anything else they owned in exchange for additional time on their loans. When Nan’s father turned to alcoholism to cope with financial stress, she began consulting with a friend about potential jobs in the area. Her friend shared that she earned income by reviewing products online and persuaded Nan to join her. Out of great desperation to take care of her family, Nan fell for the lies of her friend, who turned out to be a recruiter in an organized gang. Within only a month’s time, Nan became a victim of sexual exploitation, and she found herself trapped in a devastating and traumatic situation. Nan is not alone. Online sexual exploitation is on the rise globally, and has disastrous consequences for survivors - often destroying their privacy throughout their lives. As developing world law enforcement becomes more adept in fighting cybercrime, more underage survivors are being rescued and criminals are being prosecuted. Rapha International works directly with the Royal Thai Police in providing aftercare for children who have been victimized through this heinous form of trafficking. After Nan’s exploitation was discovered, local authorities brought her to Rapha’s Aftercare Campus. Our staff began helping her deal with the deep sadness and depression that resulted from the severe trauma she had endured. At Rapha, Nan’s basic needs were met through security and high-quality nutrition. She received counseling and education. Staff surrounded her with care and Nan began to build new friendships and feel safe. She learned she was not alone. Today, Nan’s favorite activity is cooking class, and she also loves helping the cook prepare food for the other survivors each day. Her dream is “to be a successful chef so that I can help support my parents and my siblings.” Because of your support, Nan is not only able to heal from exploitation but prepare for a future where she can choose to live her life in sustainable freedom!
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Exploited Children Need You Today Partner with us now, and change lives forever. - Provide a generous one-time gift at rapha.org/give - Become a monthly Keys to Freedom aftercare partner at rapha.org/aftercare - Become a Kids Club prevention sponsor at rapha.org/kidsclub - Become a Freedom Forever endowment partner - contact David Peters, General Counsel, at dpeters@rapha.org or 417.621.0373 ext 711 To learn more about other ways to give or to provide funding for a special project need, please visit: rapha.org/specialprojects or contact us at 417.621.0373
Where Your Money Goes DETAILED FINANCIAL INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT: RAPHA.ORG/FINANCIALS
85% PROGRAM SERVICES SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES
15%
Based on average recent Form 990s filed with the IRS
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Rapha Freedom Store These products provide a livelihood for the incredible women we work with. You can be assured that when you shop Rapha International products, all of the profits from your purchase go directly back to helping our programs operate.
SHOP.RAPHA.ORG
RAPHA LONG SLEEVE $24
RAPHA HOODIE $40
RAPHA HAT $20
NONG $25
BIG ELEPHANT $20
SAA PAPER BAGS $4, $6, $8
ELEPHANT ORNAMENT $5
INFINITY SCARF $10
NESTING COSMETIC POUCH
$15
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Merry Christmas !
“When Love came down, Love was relentless in pursuit of us.“