Retreat

We survived the retreat! More than survived, actually; it was a great success! Let's back up for a second: Marissa, a former intern, and her husband as well as my parents donated a significant amount of money so that we could hold a spiritual retreat for a group of our clients. PTL for their generosity!

The night of the retreat, we had a campfire during which we gave the girls the chance to write on a slip of paper the name of someone who hurt them and to then throw it into the fire as a symbolic act of forgiveness. I was sitting back, observing, and I just couldn't stop thinking about how absurd it is that every single one of them has suffered sexual abuse. And that for each one of them, there are so many more girls and boys who will likely never see justice served or be given the chance to heal.

It was special to see these girls in a different environment and to give them the chance to learn about the Lord and His love for them as well as to just allow them to have fun and be kids. We had a total of 29 girls attend, aged 11 to 19, along with 6 babies. I believe that all but one of the babies were a result of the abuse that the mother suffered. (I don't think I'll ever get over seeing a 12 year-old with a baby.)

I had some awesome moments when I was able to connect with a few girls one-on-one. I am grateful, as always, for the privilege of getting to know these brave young women. No one should ever have to suffer what they have; but their courage and recovery are proof that with adequate, consistent help that restoration is possible.

I don't say this to be prideful, but our work here is important. It is messy and not usually very streamlined: sometimes parents don't cooperate; the judicial process moves at a glacial pace; these families live in poverty that brings with it many challenges; the clients themselves are not always angelic. But despite these obstacles and challenges, these kids deserve to be safe. My time here is coming to a close, and it has been an immense privilege to be a part of this work and to play a small part in securing justice for those who would otherwise have no defender.

May there truly be Justice For All.