January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. This year, we wanted to use this opportunity to amplify the words of the survivors we serve—to invite them to do the educating. We offered the prompt “What I need you to know is…” and invited survivors we’re walking alongside to respond with letters to the general public.
Throughout January, we’ll be publishing these letters in a blog series called “Letters from Survivors”—they are directly from survivors in the REST community—to you.
We did a little spelling/grammar editing to ensure the clarity of the message. We did not edit phrasing or content in order to keep their real, raw words.
This second one is from Hilda, a survivor who wanted you to know her name, and who participates at our Pathways Services Center. Hilda wrote her letter with her own questions and answers—her own call and response.
I wish they all knew God.
What role has God played in your life?
Every role. I don’t understand most of it. It’s still there. I get stronger. I couldn’t commit suicide, but I figured if I walked 100 miles I would just die, but it hasn’t worked yet.
What would you want a normal person to know about the life?
That it’s ok.
Most days I don’t know what’s going on. Some days I don’t like it. People on the street don’t like me because all I talk about is God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. That’s on them.
Is there anything worth sharing?
There is so much God in my life, I love him. I love God more and more every day. I still want to go back to school. I want to be a forklift driver, at least try it. I do not like the snow! I love all those people for their support [here at REST and other agencies]. It really makes a difference in my life and they’re awesome.
Do you have a message for other survivors?
Get out. Stay out. Don’t think it’s cool. It’s not. Get yourself in gear. Don’t go with a man because they’ll get you. Tell the survivors I love them too.