A Tale of Two Children

Two girls grew up only a village apart, in the Golden Triangle region of Asia, but how differently their life-stories turned out. Their story, though fictitious, is based on millions of repeated accounts, just like those depicted in this heartrending tale.

Hun La was sold by her own mother to men from Hong Kong, for $2000.00. The men assured the woman that her daughter would be given a nice place to live, and would soon enjoy a prosperous life working in a brand new restaurant. Everything the men said, of course, was a complete lie. And it didn’t take long for the truth to be revealed to Hun La. By then, of course, it was too late to make a difference for her. Hun La was taken to Hong Kong, but instead of being employed as a waitress in a trendy restaurant, she was drugged heavily, and chained to a bed in a sleazy brothel, where she was turned into something lower than a prostitute – a sex slave. Hun La soon contracted hepatitis from unprotected, constant sexual activity, and died less than three years later at the age of 15.

Hun La is not alone. Many girls and boys suffer unthinkable agony and pain in the exploitation industry, and often fail to live to see adulthood. If only someone had been able to stop the exploitation’s cycle before it began, for Hun La, how differently her life-story would have turned out.

Naw Mi grew up less than 10 miles from Hun La, in the Golden Triangle. Though two years younger than Hun La, Naw Mi was spared a life of living hell, because someone intervened just in time to save her. Fortunately for Naw Mi, an uncle overheard her mother discussing plans to sell her, and decided to do something very brave, that would forever alter his niece’s life.

That night, while the family slept, the uncle snuck into his sister’s house and kidnapped his own niece. He then led her through the jungle, to a safe place he’d been told about. It was one of seven rescue houses in the Golden Triangle region, operated by a Christian ministry that seeks to save children from a future of exploitation.

The uncle and niece were joyfully received at the rescue house, were fed a good meal, and given overnight accommodations. The next day, the house parents informed him about the program, and told him that if he chose to admit his niece, that she would be given excellent care at the safe haven until she reached adulthood, at which time she would no longer need to fear abduction.

The uncle learned that besides a nice, clean room, Naw Mi would also be given clothes, medical attention, three good meals every day, and an excellent education. He was also assured that it would not cost him anything, because the funding for Naw Mi’s care and education would be provided by the safe haven’s ministry partners around the world.

After seeing how clean the home was, and how lovingly the other girls were treated, the uncle enrolled Naw Mi into the rescue house, and went back home with a light heart, knowing he had done the right thing.

What became of Naw Mi? Though it was awkward at first, she soon fell in love with her new family, and was extremely appreciative to be spared a life of exploitation. She became a very good student, and excelled at her schoolwork. During the course of the first year, Naw Mi became convinced by lifestyle and teachings of her house parents, that she wanted to become a Christian. Everyone rejoiced as they prayed with Naw Mi to accept Christ.

That’s only one example of how a child can be salvaged from the evils of exploitation, to see their future redeemed from certain destruction, and grow up happy and free. But we hope you understand the importance of intervention. We call it salvaging a life, because the rescue houses provide hope for children whose lives would otherwise be destroyed.

Did you know, Hun La’s appalling story is repeated over 100,000 times every year, in this region of the world alone? If we don’t do something to help break the cycle, what hope do these children have? God has supernaturally opened doors for Salvaged Child to rescue children at the very root of the worst region for child exploitation in the world. We must act NOW, to stop children from being sold into sexual slavery, and exploited globally. Will you partner with Salvaged Child, to rescue more lives before its too late?

What happens when children like Naw Mi become adults? They have a decision to make. They can either return home to their villages, or they can enter the School of Ministry for two years, and then become ministers (evangelists or pastors), and help impact the Golden Triangle region for Christ. Thankfully, hundreds of children, like Naw Mi have already chosen to commit to ministry, because they felt a call of God upon their lives, and knew that nothing in the world could give them greater joy or happiness than guiding people of their generation to the Lord.

Throughout the hills and valleys of Asia, there are thousands of rescued children, working hard to save others. That is the only way the broken culture will be transformed in that region. Thanks to their tireless efforts, many more children will grow up free.

To help rescue children from exploitation, please join us in saving many children through Salvaged Child. Your donation will make it possible to expand the rescue houses, and save more children from a *short life, and bitter end.

To make donations, please send check or money order to: Destiny Ministry, PO Box 1155, Jonesborough, TN  37659. (Destiny is the parent organization for Salvaged Child). Thank you for your prayers, and donations. Thanks to you, we are making a difference.

Note: While this story is repeated thousands of times every year, in the Golden Triangle region of Asia, the names I used to tell this story are entirely fictitious.