NOY’S POWERFUL STORY OF RESCUE: Told in her own words
DESTINY RESCUE – Age at rescue: 16 | Type of rescue: Covert
Growing up my family was very poor. My father died, and mother remarried a man that did not like me. In fact I often felt like he hated me. We were farmers; we grew rice and vegetables, but my parents were very old, and could not work much.
When we would in the fields, my step father would always push me to work harder than
he pushed his biological kids, if I didn’t work fast enough or hard enough, he would verbally abuse me. My mother and step-father always fought, and my family was never happy, I would often be very sad and cry myself to sleep because I felt so alone.
I went looking for a job in the city to help get more money for my family, I was very afraid. It was my first time out of my small village, and I didn’t know where to stay or where to find work. Someone told me where to find work, and that I would be working at a restaurant, but that was not the case. It was a brothel. I had to work there to help send money home to my family.
While I worked in the bar I was very scared. I never had any idea what the customers would do to me that day. When I would go with the customers, they would rape me. I never wanted to go with them, but the mamsan, brothel manager, would always make me. If didn’t go, she would beat me up or not feed me as a warning. I was forced to have sex with customers every day.
The men who came to the brothel were very violent, if I did not do what they wanted they
would hit me or beat me up. Often we would not get paid what we were promised.
I always felt scared, and like no one loved me. Some days I would cry alone in my room all
day until the evening when it was time to go to work, and have sex with more customers. I
felt like I would never have friends and that no one would ever love me again. I felt that I would never be able to get married and have a family… I felt so ashamed, like people will only ever look at me and think “prostitute”.
MEETING THE RESCUE AGENTS FOR THE FIRST TIME
I often wanted to leave the brothel, but I had nowhere to go. I didn’t think I would ever be
able to find another job. But, then I met the rescue agents from Destiny Rescue. They came to the bar and the mamasan made us sit with them. They talked with us and said they could help us. They asked if we would be interested in coming to their program and do study and find a good job. They said they were helping girls like me. At first I didn’t believe them, but he gave me his number. He would often call me to see how I was doing and to see what I was up to. I had never met anyone like this at the brothel. He talked of a better future and a better job. He wanted to help me change my life for the better. The more we talked the more I trusted him. The more I believed he was a good man who would help me.
On the night of the rescue, they told me they could get me out of the brothel that night. I
was scared, but we left and didn’t look back. I thought how nice it would be to not be raped every night, how good it would feel for people to look at me and not think “prostitute”. I wanted to change my life for the better.
A NEW LIFE
My life is completely different now. I want to learn cosmetology. It is something I really like and enjoy. I love to look clean, beautiful and dress nice, I want to help other people do the same. I would like to open a small salon, to work and save money to open up a bigger salon, and one day save enough money to build my own house to live in.
In the past, I had no hope, but now I have hope. When I worked at the brothel, no one would teach me or give me life advice, but my house parents love me and they give me good advice. They have taught me to know what is good and what is bad. They have helped me so much. I am still learning about Jesus and God, who they are what they have done for me, and while I am not fully ready to accept Jesus into my life, I feel that God is doing something in me. I know that He is bigger than any problem I will ever face. I have
experienced many bad things in my life, but since I have met God I feel happy. I thank God
and Jesus for leading the rescue agents to me. While telling my story is difficult, I am happy to do it, knowing that I can help other people, and other girls like me. I feel very happy and thankful to stay with Destiny Rescue, I am so thankful to those who have given so that I can be here. Thank you for everything you have done, I will never forget this kindness, and mercy, I will remember it for the rest of my life. I am so thankful for my house parents, the staff, and everyone who donates to Destiny Rescue. In this world it is not easy to find someone who will help, but they have given me new life and a better plan.
* Name has been changed to protect her identity.