Recap from Michigan
This trip had started off as a God thing when we were first introduced to the creator of the event just a few months prior. A lady by the name of Annie Garret quickly became a friend as she shared with us her mission and we shared with her our mission at Stop Suffering in Silence. We aren’t a political mission like Annie has, but as we shared our heart for opening blind eyes to trafficking in America, Annie Garret put us on the schedule to speak at her upcoming event in Michigan believing it needed to be shared.
We weren’t sure what we were getting into, but it seemed like a lot of good people coming together to share their mission, their passions, and their truth. I felt honored to be a part of that.
Anytime Denise and I get asked to go somewhere and speak we often like to fill the time up with meaningful appointments and events if possible. We found friends who let us stay with them for the weekend and they were gracious to also host a house event at their place the first night we were there.
The group of women and men that came to hear my story left speechless and were often moved to tears. They definitely had their eyes opened that night. Following my time to speak I then was able to visit with the people who came. This is my favorite part of sharing my extremely difficult story. I get to hear how my story impacted those who came, and they then share a piece of their story with me.
The amount of people who have experienced abuse, assaults, and abandonment is horrendous. Each time I am saddened to hear story after story of “me too.” However, the point of our mission is not to open blind eyes and then leave someone there to suffer in silence. We want to partner alongside them in their healing journey. We desire to love them and encourage them as they begin to reawaken wounds inside of themselves that need acknowledged and healed.
Yes, it’s heartbreaking and sometimes uncomfortable to hear such difficult stories, but there’s a healing that begins right in that moment that is life changing. A feeling of truth for what they experienced but also hope that it no longer has to define or control them.
As the night concluded I found myself awake in bed rolling everyone’s personal story around in my head. It’s not uncommon for me to remember in detail their story but also their broken spirit and devastated eyes as I lay in bed. I am so grateful in those moments that I am able to lift them up to God and know that they are in the best hands possible. Praying for them feels like an honor. It feels exciting. I know as soon as I pray that God is sending out His troops (angels) to care for their needs and intervene where needed. I can rest knowing that God will align more people to enter their path to help them as well as possibly lead us to be a hand for them to reach out to as they decide to say “yes” to healing. I will go to bed feeling heavy but fall asleep feeling light.
The next morning, Denise and I had an appointment with a group of nurses at the University of Michigan in Flint. These nurses were working on their certification to become SANE certified nurses. (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners) We arrived at the university early and ran over our time as the conversation with these nurses was incredible. I shared my story with them and spent more time talking about my experiences in hospitals, with doctors, with nurses, and in doctor offices. My personal experience, including some really awful experiences with health professionals, was beneficial for them to hear. They were in tears not only for what I had been through but the added trauma from trying to get help.
We had a fantastic conversation around what they can do to spot trafficking and abuse. How they can handle certain situations and what survivors might be feeling or thinking in the moment. One thing that Denise pointed out to them that I thought was so good was that when you are seeing these victims in the ER you are seeing them at their rock bottom. You are seeing them completely broken and at their lowest low. It is easy to cast judgement based off the behaviors you’re seeing from the victim in the ER, but she pointed out that she wanted the nurses to see me standing in front them. She wanted them to see the strong, capable, mentally competent woman that I am, but that in the ER room after an assault I will likely look more like a patient who battles mental illness. The nurses agreed that it’s easy to get jaded because they are so often lied to that they miss the true individual they are working with and only focus on the exterior.
Needless to say, that conversation and time spent with the nurses was beyond incredible. When it winded down I was able to hear personal stories as women pulled me aside afterwards. And then we were asked if we would consider being a part of the curriculum for the SANE program with the University of Michigan in Flint. We were honored to accept and excited for what is to come with that partnership.
Later that day we headed to the main event that was the whole purpose for my traveling to Michigan. It was called Reunite America. We set up a booth where we sold shirts and books and had a gift basket for anyone who wanted to sign up for our newsletter, we would enter them in to win the gift basket.
When Denise and I get together we always have an incredible time. Despite the heavy topic we share, it’s so nice to have a ministry partner who is confident, loving, and just fun to be with. We laugh as much as we share serious moments.
We had several conversations with people around the topic of trafficking. When people walked up to our booth, we would share that I am a trafficking survivor who was trafficked starting at the age of nine from my teacher and coach. Typically, we would then see shocked faces and either they said that they are sorry to hear that and turn around and walk away, or they will go on to tell us about the issue of trafficking at the border, they brought up their fear of their kid being taken, or now they will mention the new movie Sound of Freedom.
All of that is valid and real, but they can’t seem to wrap their mind around the fact that it’s not just in far off places. It’s right here. What people don’t know they don’t know. And many of them are simply unaware of trafficking existing all around them. In their neighborhoods, schools, churches, teams, etc. They don’t know what to look for, or all the many ways that trafficking can look. Granted, I don’t have all the answers, but I do want people to recognize the severity of it happening right here.
Knowledge is power. Knowledge can protect our kids. Knowledge can lead to change.
As it came time for me to speak and share my story the next day, I isolated a bit to run through in my mind how I wanted to share things. I was only given 15 minutes to speak and squeezing my story into 15 minutes isn’t easy. I prayed and felt so much peace around the scripture found in Psalm 3:5-6 that says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
I meditated on that scripture all weekend long and realized that this scripture could help me in what I was going to share with the crowd. You can watch the video here of my 15 minutes on the stage and see how that scripture became my foundation for everything I said.
I was very thankful for the kind response that I got from the crowd and everyone at this event. I was immediately met by a lady as I walked off the stage who looked me in the eyes and told me that my testimony will make a huge impact on others. That God is going to use me and to remember to keep my eyes on Him.
It’s always so cool to me when you feel in your spirit certain things and then God sends little nudges from people that confirm the things He has been speaking in your spirit. The whole weekend was full of those moments.
We were blessed with the opportunity to talk to two men who a part of Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.) One of the men is considered to be “boots on the ground” and goes into these countries pretending to be a pedophile. He shared several stories with Denise and I and opened my eyes to the procedures they have in rescuing these kids. I am so grateful for what O.U.R. is doing and how they are saving children and getting them the healing they need in aftercare.
At the end of the night, I was also given the chance to share the stage with the two O.U.R. men and another survivor who had been trafficked domestically. We were asked questions by the crowd. It is always interesting to me to hear what questions people have. I’m grateful for questions because I feel like that means they want to learn and know what’s going on. The more people know the stronger our fight will be against this evil world of sex trafficking.
I would love to share with you impactful story after impactful story that we experienced or heard during our time in Michigan, but just know that God is moving. God is putting people in place to fight these battles and He’s equipping and preparing those He wants in the frontlines. God isn’t surprised by the trafficking epidemic and the horrors that are happening to His children. He’s not surprised but I can also tell you based off the God I know, He’s livid about it. He is calling up many to stand against this evil. He isn’t using the people you might expect, but he’s equipping and preparing the specific ones He wants to lead the army.
I am excited to see all that God has planned and in store for the future. I know this for a fact, God is still on His thrown, He is still good, and He isn’t done with us yet. There is so much yet to come and I for one am thankful.
Thank you for reading a few pieces of my weekend events. May God bless you and be with you.
~ Rachel
