“I have never been able to read a Bible for myself before,” Thuto told one of the house mothers. Thuto is a teenage girl who was referred to the Beautiful Dream Society shelter after surviving human trafficking. As a result of the trauma she experienced, she was understandably often moody, withdrawn, anxious, and hopeless about her future. These are common and expected feelings among human trafficking victims.
She was enrolled in a psychotherapy program through Beautiful Dream Society. The U.S. Department of State, through a grant from the International Organization of Migration, provided funds to pay for psychosocial support for the women and girls who are served by Beautiful Dream Society Crisis Care Shelter for Victims of Human Trafficking and Minor Sexual Assault.
Thuto has improved in how she is feeling and coping after working with her counseling psychologist. The outcomes for Thuto are inspiring, and she can now begin healing from her traumatic experience. She has regained some excitement in her life and is looking forward to starting fresh.
Thuto’s life has indeed made a complete turnaround for the better. When she first came to the shelter, she knew very little about God, and she struggled to read and write. Thuto has a beautiful way with words, and as she began to experience healing, she started opening up to the other girls and house mothers in the shelter. She often told beautiful stories of her community, where most people live in absolute poverty.
The girls in her community are forced to prepare for marriage as soon as they become teenagers. Since Thuto came to the BDS shelter, she became excited about the possibility of doing something different with her life—learning to take care of herself and maybe even her family—before thinking about marriage.
All of the survivors who come into the BDS shelter have an opportunity to attend church at Victory Church Maseru, BDS’ sister organization. They also have a chance to participate in Bible studies and daily devotionals at the shelter. Of course, they are never coerced or forced.
During the Bible studies and daily devotionals in the shelter, Thuto was introduced to a life with God, and she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. The BDS home-school program for disadvantaged children helped revive her reading skills, which she now uses to read the Bible independently. She hardly ever puts the Bible away; she calls it her favorite book. She is now able to lead devotionals and share the word of God with other residents. Thuto is very grateful to have crossed paths with BDS and claims her life will never be the same again.
When she eventually leaves the shelter, she plans to use the message of the gospel and the skills she has gained to impact many lives in her community.