Spring 2021 Newsletter
Giving a Voice to Survivors of Trafficking and Exploitation
Dear Friends,
Galatians 6:9 reads: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up.” This scripture reminds me of the importance of the work we are doing at Terebinth Refuge, that if we persevere and be steadfast, God will bring the “harvest”. And at Terebinth it is the harvest of transformed lives; victims becoming survivors! I am so pleased to share with you all the amazing things God is continuing to do as we persevere at Terebinth Refuge! Here we are fast approaching the end of our 5th year as a non-profit (August 2016) and 3 years of operating our shelter and transition home. In the past 6 months God has added to our many blessings! He has provided us with further opportunity to bring holistic transformative healing to the women we serve.
We are on the cusp of opening our second home which will bring a separation to our shelter and transition programming. This is a vital change to support further success to both programs as the needs are different in these separate phases. Along with this home comes the space and an opportunity to expand our Employment Readiness program with a social enterprise, The Hope & Healing Store! Both opportunities will bring avenues of growth and success for the women we serve.
I would like to share with you another exciting development that is currently in progress—the development of a Survivor Advisory Board. This board will be facilitated by past residents of Terebinth Refuge and will include current residents who apply for this important position. The purpose of this board is to advise staff, and the Terebinth Refuge board members on best trauma informed practices and ways Terebinth Refuge can improve in our services. This board will also be responsible to develop a viable aftercare program for women we have served. We believe that survivor’s knowledge & voices are vital in the work we do to provide the best care possible to the residents of Terebinth Refuge. I am beyond grateful to God for His goodness to us! I am also beyond grateful to all of you who have supported Terebinth Refuge in SO many ways to allow this growth to happen. Thank you, dear ones, for persevering with us, to be a catalyst of lifesaving change in the women we serve!
With Love & Thankfulness,
Cynthia (CeCe) Terlouw
Founder and Executive Director