Trafficking in People, especially young girls for sex is a growing problem in the Philippines. Cebu has become a major destination for in country recruitment of young children, mostly girls. It is estimated that at any time there are as many as 1000 girls locked up as “commercial sex workers” a euphemism for “sex slaves”. Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch began a ministry to these girls four years ago and is now a leading aftercare ministry for girls rescued from these “casas”. With our partnership with International Justice Mission and Mission of Mercy, we have contributed to the rescue of over 150 girls from sex slavery. Currently we have dozens of girls that are now living full time at the Ranch pursuing training, counselling and learning to live a transformed life in Christ.
HHCR continues to be a safe haven for other girls that are the victims of incest, rape and molestation. HHCR also invites siblings of these girls which includes girls and boys. We have over 70 kids living full time at the Ranch. These children go to our private Christian school, Happy Horizons Academy which receives much of its funding from BGMC. Upon completion of their programs at HHCR the kids are placed in our transitional home in Cebu City for further educational training, currently we have 10 girls in college and others in vocational training schools and others just learning to integrate back into the general population. For many who have no families to go back to it is a time of getting involved in one of our local AG churches and developing new family ties. Of course they continue to be a HHCR kid.
HHCR also works with local churches in special children sponsorship programs with our partnership with Mission of Mercy. Currently we have 8 churches that together have over 1300 children in sponsorship. This is an amazing evangelism effort that puts in the hands of the Pastors a wonderful harvesting tool to care for children in their communities. The impact grows exponentially as the churches demonstrate a loving ministry directed to the community’s most needy kids.
From Pig Pen to Park Avenue
In her ten plus years of living at HHCR, I had never seen Mary Hazel smile so big or her body be so animated. She was being reunited with her long lost family of uncles, aunties, and cousins.
She came to us after being sexually assaulted and put to care for and live with the pigs. Her mother died, her father abandoned her and moved to Manila and died there.
Mary Hazel never spoke of her family. Now, ten years later, our social worker was updating her file for graduation from our program, seeing the name of an unverifiable relative she traced it.
Within a week, we found the family of teachers, seamen and politicians living in a beautiful home. Years ago they themselves were poverty stricken and lost all contact with the family. Thru the years they worked together, educated their children and their wealth began to grow. Now, they were easy to find.
Hazel was now the member of a wealthy family who lived in a home so beautiful she couldn’t believe it was real! They decorated a room just for her, bought her new clothes and welcomed her with eager and open arms.
A long way from the pig pen!
Oh, Sony Boy!
Sony came to HHCR at 5 years old with his “big” brother who was seven. Their mother dead, their father distraught, left them on the pier in Cebu and told them he would return for them-but never did!
They struggled with their relationship with the father as he would appear and disappear many times throughout their lives. In the end, he died in prison for selling drugs. The two boys were always heads above the other children at HHCR, always cheerful, excelling in school and growing in stature, becoming fine young men.
One of my fondest and most enduring memories of Sony was his first year with us. We visited a church and put Sony on the stage in his hand-me-down cowboy boots. He began singing and dancing bringing much delight to the audience.
The brother went to Bible College to become a pastor and Sony, too, just left our home. He’s waiting to start college, but is working in a designer clothing outlet store. His current activities include dancing in a local church’s dance troupe. Sony is still charming them! God has truly done a great work in him!
Thanks so much,
Glenn & Nancy
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