News & Stories

A Season for Cinderella’s House

June 25, 2010

The following is an excerpt from Betsy Blanchard’s recent newsletter. Betsy serves with The Alliance in Spain, where she and a small team are establishing Cinderella’s House, a ministry for women exploited by sex trafficking and prostitution.

A pioneer ministry takes time. Preparing for a season of rich harvest can be slow going- sometimes confusing and frustrating-especially at the beginning.

Recently our regional director sent us a reminder that in our efforts to “Push Back the Darkness,” we must not lose sight of the “seasons” involved in the analogies Jesus used of the farmer. His reminder was that before we reap a harvest, we must lay a foundation by preparing the soil, which may be rocky, under-nourished, and unproductive at the beginning.

This is a necessary task that sometimes takes a long time. But once the soil is ready, we sow the seed, fertilize, water, and then WAIT. Eventually, the seed grows into a harvest—in its season because it’s the work of the Holy Spirit, not ours.

This reminder was especially encouraging to me, since God has called me to a new ministry to address, in my context, an unfolding problem of epidemic proportions. Cinderella’s House will be a safe haven for women who have been exploited through sex trafficking-a place where they will learn of their value and worth as well as Jesus’ love for them.

Three Cinderellas

Alsa,* my beautiful new friend, has taught me much as she shared her story with me. God miraculously freed Alsa from prostitution and brought her to Himself some years ago. She told me many things regarding the special needs of women caught in this world of darkness.

While Alsa lived in the world of prostitution, not one person offered her a way out or met her in her desperation. She didn’t know how to get out until God opened the way for her. As a result, she is passionate to Push Back the Darkness—to help other women learn that there is a way to leave this bondage and gain true freedom through the Prince of Peace!

Jesus ministered amazing healing into Alsa’s life, which has given her wonderful opportunities to share the love of Christ with other women. She is a leader in her church and has become a real prayer warrior for the Cinderella’s House project. God has encouraged my heart through Alsa, and I praise Him for bringing her into my life in this season.

Millie* is a young woman in Madrid who has been leading a double life for several years, even attending church quite regularly. She is in a real spiritual battle, trying to free herself from the pain of her past and of her own sinful choices today. One of her biggest struggles with leaving prostitution is the “fast life and fast money,” she says, even while she acknowledges that these are destroying her life.

This is the case with many who “choose” this lifestyle. Pray for Millie to listen to the whispers of the Holy Spirit to her heart and to have the courage to follow through with choices to be free and at peace. Pray also for wisdom, discernment, and timing regarding whether or not she should come and work with us, since it will be vital for her to have a complete change of environment once she takes that final difficult step to leave her current lifestyle. Pray that she will encounter the Prince of Peace!

Elizabeth* is a Romanian woman who was trafficked to Spain for prostitution by a false promise of a good job. But in God’s grace and mercy, she was able to escape her bondage after only a month. At present, she is in a personal crisis; she has no income, a broken relationship, and much desperation. She is lonely and lost.

But ever since Elizabeth’s escape from prostitution, she has been eager to help other girls to break out. She works with the Red Cross, providing translation when the volunteers visit girls in the night clubs, since many in that area of the city use Romanian girls who have also been trafficked.

Please pray for growth in our relationship with Elizabeth. Pray that God will give us real wisdom as we consider how best to help her in this time of crisis. She has agreed to come along to visit one of our services, though twice there has been “interference.” Pray that she will desire to know more deeply the God whom she acknowledges freed her from prostitution!

As we prepare to better understand the various and specific issues related to women caught in sexual exploitation and lay the groundwork for this daunting outreach to introduce them to Christ and to find freedom in Him, we are trusting God to lead. For unless we follow God’s time frame and the seasons He has established, our efforts are in vain!

*Names changed

Read Betsy’s latest update or comment on the topic in MyCMA