A Mom’s Redemption

A Mom’s Redemption

“I thought no one would believe me. But they didn’t just believe me—they stood with me.” – Maria

For years, Maria had no name—at least not one she felt belonged to her. To the man who trafficked her, she was “the help.” A live-in domestic worker, a sex object, a tool. She wasn’t allowed to speak to neighbors. She didn’t have a phone. Her documents had been taken from her long ago.

Her trafficker was also the father of her children. He used their safety as leverage—manipulating her with threats and violence, ensuring she stayed silent and obedient. The outside world saw them as a struggling family. But behind closed doors, Maria was being trafficked for both sex and labor. For nearly a decade, she was invisible.

Until one day, she wasn’t.

It was a school flyer that changed everything. Slipped into her daughter’s backpack was a simple brochure on recognizing the signs of human trafficking, distributed during a Rahab’s Daughters school training. Something clicked. Maria had never thought of herself as trafficked—just trapped, just unlucky, just surviving. But the language described her life with chilling accuracy. The fear. The control. The isolation.

And then, a number: 1-833-4NEWDAY

When the violence escalated again one night, Maria did the unthinkable. While her trafficker slept, she gathered her children, a small backpack, and slipped out through the back door. She walked nearly two miles to a gas station off the interstate. With the trembling fingers of a woman who hadn’t made her own decisions in years, she borrowed a stranger’s phone and called the number.

“We believe you. We’re coming to get you. You’re not alone.”

Within 90 minutes, a Rahab’s Daughters mobile outreach team met her at a rest stop just outside the city. A trained crisis advocate gave her a warm blanket, snacks for her children, and asked if she felt safe getting into the van. It was the first time in years anyone had asked for her consent.

Maria and her kids were taken to one of our emergency shelters, where a trauma-informed case manager helped them start the intake process. That night, they slept in clean beds with the door locked from the inside—for their safety, not their confinement.

Over the next few months, Maria began to heal. It wasn’t easy. She had moments of doubt, guilt, and fear. But in our safe housing program, she was surrounded by survivor mentors, child advocates, and staff who understood her story without judgment. Her children were enrolled in school. She attended therapy and parenting classes. For the first time in years, she began dreaming again.

Today, Maria works in early childhood education, helping kids who remind her of her own—bright, brave, and resilient. Her daughter wants to be a nurse. Her son loves science and Lego robotics.

“I used to think freedom was just about escape,” Maria says. “Now I know it’s about becoming. And I’m becoming the mom my kids always needed me to be.”

You Made This Possible

To our incredible community of donors, partners, volunteers, prayer warriors, and friends—thank you.

Because of your unwavering support, the past ten years have been more than a timeline—they’ve been a lifeline. Together, we’ve rescued daughters from danger, helped moms rebuild their lives, and empowered survivors to rise as leaders, mentors, and advocates.

You didn’t just believe in our mission. You made it move.

But our work isn’t finished. Trafficking evolves. So must we. And as we look to the next decade—with new chapters, new technologies, and new lives waiting to be restored—we can’t do it without you.

Will you keep walking with us into the next ten years of freedom?

🟣 Give to the 10-Year Fund

Your gift powers frontline rescues, survivor-led healing, safe housing, and long-term reintegration. Every dollar brings hope where it’s been stolen.

👉 Donate now via GiveLively

🟣 Share Why You Stand With Us

Your voice matters. Whether you’re a survivor, a donor, or someone who simply said yes to this mission, your story can light the way for someone else.

📧 Email us at [email protected]

🟣 Host a Training in Your Community

From boardrooms to Sunday schools, trafficking hides in plain sight. Let’s shine a light. Our team will come to you—ready to educate, equip, and empower.

📅 Book a session: [email protected]

You are part of every rescue. Every second chance. Every story of redemption.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you—for walking this road with us, and for helping write the next chapter of freedom.

With deep gratitude and renewed purpose,

Sharmila “Sam” Wijeyakumar

Founder & COO

Rahab’s Daughters

Add events etc below