I have truly been led in a powerful way to this event.  This is how Sacred Survivor began.

This project started one day when a Cambodian missionary spoke at my church regarding the atrocities suffered by young children through the sex trade.   Children age five and up are forced into the sex trade.  It hit me extra hard that day, and I
knew I needed to be part of the solution.  She showed a picture of young children who had just been saved from going to be
part of a brothel.  The innocence was still in their eyes.  I didn’t know how or when I would be part of this, I just knew God
had touched my heart in an amazing way that day.

From that moment on, things started happening that really sealed the deal.  I shared the missionary experience with my mom.  I could barely speak since I was sobbing.  She told me she knew a woman who had been to Cambodia who actually went to my church as well.  She asked if I wanted to meet her.  I said yes!  We had dinner and discussed what she knew about the issue.  She led me to a book called “Terrify No More.”  In that book, I saw a quote that haunted me,  “All that is necessary for evil to prevail, is that good men do nothing.”  I was doing nothing, and it hit my heart hard - again.

What happened next was a chain of events that really showed me that my thoughts headed in the right direction. Shortly
after I read the book, I saw two articles on the sex trade/prostitution in the newspaper.  In one of those articles,
that very same quote was listed.  That really got my attention.  In the other article, for some reason I remembered the
picture of the women in the article.  Her name is Stephanie, and she and her husband Matt, are the founders of Mission 21,
an organization helping to get young girls out of prostitution.  Then, I saw an article for a free training to learn how to be a Victim Advocate through Victim Services.  I decided to take the course.  Guess who was at the training?  Stephanie Holt the woman I remembered from the article.

By this time I was laughing.  Certainly not due the subject involved, but because it was becoming blatantly clear that this
was to be my focus.  Never in my life had I felt so sure of my course.  I started dreaming about a day where women who have been traumatized could have a day of peace, hope and new beginnings.  I started sharing my idea with everyone I knew, and the response stunned me.  In no time, there were over 40 volunteers willing to help with this special day.

I had the first meeting with an acquaintance of mine.  She immediately came up with the name  “Sacred Survivor,” which
in everyway describes what I wanted the focus to be.  You will meet LuAnn at the retreat.  She is now my friend, and is one
of the many awesome volunteers that have poured their hearts into this event.

If this is what you are looking for but you are hesitating for any reason, please call me.  I want you to know that you truly are sacred, and that we will do everything in our power to make this a meaningful and enriching day for you.  I can be reached at 951-775-4229 or at sonja@sacredsurvivor.com.

We all know someone who has been through hell and back.  We also know that it is hard to talk about – even think about the past.  Together, let us give the past less and less power over our lives.   Please share this day with us, and tell other women about the day as well.  Registration is now open.  We believe it will be a meaningful day.   It is just one day, but it is a new beginning.  Step-by-step, we will rise again!

With love and hope,
Sonja