It’s Not As Easy As It Looks
“It’s not as easy as it looks.” That phrase is so overused that it’s become cliché’. But it’s so often true.
When we stop to notice someone who’s being sold for sex, is homeless, part of a criminal gang, or living with an abusive family, we automatically want to yell at the top of our lungs “RUN!!” Out of fear, compassionate concern, and sometimes even anger aimed at them or their circumstances, we want hurting people to get themselves out of harms’ way. We want them to MOVE or FIGHT or at least TRY HARDER to escape or make a change. Do you ever feel that way?
What we often fail to fully appreciate is what it feels like to be trapped, paralyzed with fear, discouraged to the point of despair, or so beaten down and demoralized that you don’t have any energy left…not for fighting…not even for running. Leaving a bad situation is “not as easy as it looks”.
Ladies that come to Engedi Refuge are usually using their last breath of energy to escape and find help. This is the last role of the dice for them. Engedi is their final life-line, and if this doesn’t work they have no plan “B”. They don’t have any more ‘good ideas’ and they feel like they are at the end of their rope.
How we respond to them is critical, not just for their comfort, but often for their very survival. Empathy is absolutely key. All that we do to serve them must communicate things like: “We’ve got you. You are safe now. Your feelings are normal. You are going to be okay. And…We’re not going anywhere. You can rest now.”
It would be so great to tell a prostitution survivor that getting away from the ‘bad guys’ is the whole fight, and that everything will be smooth and easy from that point on. But that’s unfortunately not true. Getting free from harmful people and into a safe environment is the first critical step, clearing your head and getting sober is the next one. But enduring the feelings of having suffered years of having your worth degraded, your soul tortured and your body ravaged and discarded, and all your pain dismissed is the really hard part. For that, you are going to need a community of people that are kind, patient, loving, wise, committed and focused on your safety and healing.
Survivors need Engedi Refuge.
You can be a part of providing true kindness for trafficking survivors by supporting Engedi Refuge today. Click on the Donate Here button at the top of this page to get started.