But when her mom and dad contracted COVID-19 last fall, everything changed.
They got really sick and had to go to the hospital. After several days, a nurse told Leena the heartbreaking news – her mother had died. And shortly thereafter, her father also passed away.
Leena was devastated, and didn’t know what to do. She stayed at the hospital for two more nights until a man said he had food, and put her in a truck with other men.
Leena had no idea where she was being taken. She was only given a few handfuls of rice to eat, and sadly, the men sexually abused her.
Finally, they arrived at their destination – a factory. Leena was forced to work day and night sewing buttons and cleaning rooms. She says, “I barely got any food. I was so tired and got beaten if I didn’t do enough work. I missed my mom and dad and cried a lot.”
But thankfully, LFTI was able to take Leena in. When I met her, she did something no other child has ever done before.
She grabbed my hand and said, “Thank you.” My heart melted. I asked her why she said that.
She replied, “I would be beaten, I got no food. So because you people helped me not get beat up anymore and I am safe now, I just want to say thank you.”
That message is for YOU. Thank you for praying for and caring about kids like Leena.
Today, Leena is at a transition home. She sees a trauma counselor and has been matched with adoptive parents. Your support ensures children like Leena receive this life-changing care.
She still has close memories of her birth mom and dad, so she calls her adoptive parents “Aunt” and “Uncle”. They are going to make her birth mom’s recipe for vegetable korma for Christmas dinner at the home.
I think that’s a special way to honor her birth mom, and is a beautiful picture of God’s ongoing redemption in Leena’s life.
Currently, 2,312 boys and girls are in LFTI transition homes across South Asia. 600 of these children, including Leena, were orphaned due to COVID and subsequently trafficked.
We can help more kids like Leena, but need additional funding. Specifically, LFTI needs $303,000 by December 31 to cover rising costs for food, counseling, and medical care.
Praise God, our supporters have already given over $200,000! Will you join in and donate a special Christmas gift toward this critical goal?
Your generosity will allow Life for the Innocent to be a safe harbor for children like Leena.
Thank you for reading her story. God is GOOD and he is doing amazing things for LFTI kids. I see it everyday as they step into new lives of freedom through your support and prayers.
Sincerely,
LFTI South Asia Director
