Friends, I’m so grateful for you! So many of you have encouraged me this year with your prayers, interest, gifts, and words of encouragement! As we wrap up 2019, I want to share a quick report with you — and make you aware of an incredible opportunity as you are considering your year-end giving. Our Romanian team, faithfully led by Beni and Rodica Lup, has rescued 45 women and children this year. 45! Beni and Rodica have now rescued over 700 trafficking survivors to date. There is a massive need in Romania. In fact, 65 percent of survivors found in Europe are Romanian. So it makes sense that God has us focused on Romania as the site of our first Sanctuary.
God has directed us to the most incredible piece of property in Romania.
It’s 230 acres on a green hilltop, covered in orchards, streams, and ponds. It includes several cozy cottages that will sleep 60 survivors, and large buildings where we can provide trauma-informed programming for hundreds of women and girls at a time. There are even 12 ponies for equine therapy! This facility is move-in ready, and is far bigger and better than anything we could have asked for or imagined. The best news is that it comes at a fraction of the cost we had anticipated for our first Sanctuary.
More good news: A generous family has offered a match gift of $850,000. They will match any donation to Uncaged, dollar-for-dollar, up to $850,000. In other words, every new dollar pledged will be doubled. So, if we raise just $850,000 in new contributions, we can buy the property! That means we can begin bringing trafficking survivors to a place of peace and safety where they can begin the journey to restoration.
The property is waiting (and it’s perfect for our needs). Half of the funds have already been committed. Now, I’m asking if you will help us make the dream of the first Sanctuary a reality. We have no doubt it will happen. There is no doubt that God’s heart is for these women and girls. As I always say, He wants this work done! We are so grateful for what you’ve already done and just want to present this opportunity to you as you plan your year-end giving.
Let’s finish this year with a bang and buy the first Sanctuary for these precious survivors!