In May I wrote about 18 year old Olicia, who had run away from a professional trafficking ring only to end up at the immigration detention center.  Olicia, a victim of trafficking had become a prisoner behind bars in a room crammed with illegal immigrants. Her bed was a mat on the floor, the air was hot and humid and the conditions were depressing. Olicia was relieved when we went to visit and regretted that she had not been patient enough for us to help her. We passed some food items, toiletries, paper and pens through the bars to her as well as a phone card so she could request a phone call to her family. IOM (International Organization of Migration) was working on her case to return her home as soon as her consulate could issue her a new passport. Many girls from Uzbekistan had already been in there over a year, so Olicia was quite discouraged.  We reached through the bars to hold her hands and we prayed with her.

  On our last visit with Olicia, she clung to us and said she didn't know what she would have done without us. She said that even though she had only known us such a short time we had done more for her than anyone else had her entire life. She said she could sense God's presence and knew God had helped her. I hated seeing her in those horrible conditions but God answered our prayers and used that time to increase her faith and draw her towards God.

One precious memory I have was soon after Olicia's escape and rescue. We were on our way to Rahab Ministry and I was reading the scripture for the day. As I read Psalm 18, I was amazed at how it spoke to Olicia's situation. I showed it to her and watched her smile and light up as she read these words aloud:

 

  "I will call upon the Lord,

and so shall I be saved from my enemies.

The breakers of death rolled over me,

And the torrents of oblivion made me afraid.

The cords of hell entangled me,

And the snares of death were set for me.

I called upon the Lord in my distress

And cried out to my God for help.

He heard my voice from his heavenly dwelling;

My cry of anguish came to his ears. . .

He reached down from on high and grasped me;

He drew me out of great waters.

            He delivered me from my strong enemies

And from those who hated me. . .

He rescued me because he delighted in me." 

     Olicia was freed to go home in July. Some NGO's had been contacted to meet her and to escort her home safely. I have not heard anything since and I ask you to pray with me that God will connect Olicia to a body of believers who can continue to surround her with God's love and grace. Please pray for her protection as well as emotional and psychological healing. Pray for her future as job options for young women in her country are very limited. God rescued Olicia from her enemies. God brought her to us and allowed her to experience his love and grace and then God returned her to her home. What a testimony this story is of God's great love!

            Thank you for your generous support of the World Mission Offering and for your faithful prayers which enable young women like Olicia to be rescued from evil and to discover the love and grace of Jesus Christ!