Devi (above, on left) was the first treasure that Ginny, the director of Sak Saum, discovered in Kuala Lumpur. They met during Sak Saum’s first trip to a Malaysian shelter that helps girls trafficked from Cambodia transition back home. For Ginny, it was love at first sight. Devi’s warmth, beaming smile, and go‐get‐it attitude made for an instant connection.

Devi is the oldest of 5 siblings. Over the years her mother had acquired a great deal of debt on a piece of land, and the weight of her financial irresponsibility caused her to put tremendous pressure on Devi to generate income. When the opportunity arose for Devi to work as a domestic laborer in Malaysia, she dutifully accepted. The job was a ruse, and Devi was trafficked.

Tricked, abused, and left to despair, Devi found the shelter in Kuala Lumpur. When Ginny met her, she had already discovered how to use the shelter’s sewing machine to design clothes. Her kindness and maturity made her a tremendous source of encouragement and life to the girls around her. Even though she didn’t know God yet, it was clearly only a matter of time.

Devi returned to Phnom Penh in June and immediately came to Sak Saum with her mother. The spiritual battle over her life was intense from the start. When her mother learned that Sak Saum was a Christian organization, she forbid Devi to be involved. Devi respectfully obeyed. However, through prayer and loving conversation, after many weeks, Devi’s mother softened and allowed her daughter to return.

Within a few weeks, the love of Christ opened Devi’s heart and she became a Christian. She recently shared her testimony at one of Sak Saum’s human trafficking outreaches. The reality of her experiences helped break through the barriers of deception and ignorance to deeply move those who heard her story.

To this day, Devi continues to experience intense pressure from her family. These relationships can be intense and difficult. Please pray that the seeds planted in her life continue to grow and that the Lord will use her life to bring freedom, joy, and hope to many more.