Nuria

HER FATHER THREW HER OUT ONTO THE STREETS WHEN SHE WAS JUST 15 YEARS OLD. 

This left her to rely on others for every simple need just to survive. From an early age, she could never get her feet under her as every person she came to rely upon had ill intentions for her and her safety. She has gone back and forth between bad and violent relationships. She was exploited by almost every man she met. Now, at 21 years old, Nuria has faced so much heartache and several abortions. 

All of the hurt had led Nuria to fall further. She turned to drugs and alcohol in hopes of ridding herself of the pain she had endured and the hurt she couldn’t escape. As she struggled with substance abuse, her sense of hopelessness led her to attempt to take her own life. Though her attempt failed, Nuria continued to feel more and more alone. 

Nuria was out on the street when Project Rescue's team met her. Her current boyfriend told her that one more year of prostitution would earn them enough money to move away. She had heard it before and didn’t believe him. But the hopelessness had taken hold of her so that she barely felt angry at him for making her do this. 

She shared this with our team and opened up to tell us her story. She was timid but sweet despite having faced many unjust experiences where she had been taken advantage of and abused. It was so apparent that she felt so alone and desperately needed someone good to talk with. 

Nuria had no support, no healthy community, and no one who invested in her life and offered her hope. 

But Project Rescue was willing to be that support, community, and investment. Our team shared about the hope she had that could only be found in God. They told her how loved she was and how God didn’t want this life of hurt to be the only life she knew. 

“There is more,” they promised. “So much more.”

They continued encouraging and checking in on Nuria, and after a few weeks, she accepted our help. She is now in one of our safe homes, receiving all the love and care she needs to restore her life and have a new beginning.

She has been going through counseling, and the stories she tells are full of hurt, but through God’s love, that hurt hasn’t left Nuria feeling alone anymore. She shares her stories with other girls in the home so they can hear how much God’s love can do for someone. 

“We were never alone,” she says. “Never.”

You can spread the hope of God’s love and power by sharing Nuria’s story. Help us build a network of support for survivors all over the world. Nuria’s testimony is one of hope for any woman or child still enslaved in sexual slavery.