I DON’T RUN. Unless there’s a clown chasing me. With a knife. But even then, it’s questionable. I’m the girl that reposts humorous e-cards on Pinterest that say things like, “I just ran my first marathon this morning! Just kidding, I’m on my third cupcake.” That’s me. I’m that girl. So why, oh why, would […]
In 2013 I made about a dozen New Year’s Resolutions. Like most Americans, by February I was actively achieving 0% of them. So to kick off 2014, I changed my tactic and I only made one resolution. Instead of focusing on a list of things that would make me look or feel outwardly different or […]
At the end of August 2013, we started construction on a new cottage! This cottage, is completed and will become home to six more girls who will be rescued from sex trafficking and exploitation in March 2014! For those of you who missed our updates– here are the construction photos of the cottage, and the […]
People often ask me, “How do those kids get trafficked anyway?” and I typically say something cryptic like “Well, there are various common scenarios.” Unfortunately, that answer does little to explain the realities of how trafficking happens. But I find often find myself resistant to creating stereotypes by explaining a common path, so I give […]
On January 16th, four members of Irving Bible Church came out to our home in Cebu, Philippines to see the new cottage their wonderful congregation built. They got to know our girls, helped decorate the cottage, learned a bit about the Philippines, and then joined us as we prayed a blessing over the new cottage. […]
It’s finished! It’s unfurnished, but it’s beautiful. Check out the pictures of our new home– and the girls we have now enjoying the solitude that it provides. We will be furnishing, decorating, and hiring new staff to open up the home in the new year, but we are so excited about the house, we couldn’t […]
New Years Eve is here! But before the new year comes, take a look at this wonderful photos of our 12 happy girls celebrating Christmas. Our greatest gift this Christmas– seeing 12 girls who have been through terrible tragedies, have the chance the laugh and act like children again. Thank you to everyone who has […]
2013 has been an incredible year for us at My Refuge House. We started off January with the Slavery No More Freedom Walk and along with many other people and organizations advocating for an end to slavery! In February, we redefined love with these great pictures that our girls made and Sheila* told us this […]
Karen*, one of the girls in our home, often asks our staff the question “Why are you so nice to me?” For Karen, when she first arrived at My Refuge House, the kindness of our staff was meet with suspicion. Having come from a family that abused her sexually and physically from the time she […]
Because of your generous response after Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines, the staff and girls who live at My Refuge House have been able to provide care packages of food and other necessary supplies to 100’s of families. These trips have been necessary for those receiving the gifts, but also revolutionary to the teenagers who […]
