Fall 2025
Our Director Gik had a short lay-over in Hong Kong on the way to the US. She met with our donor church there. Gik also was able to build the relationship with another non-profit there in Hong Kong called Sons & Daughters. They are doing incredible things and Gik was able to go on outreach with them to an area where Thai transgendered are working in Hong Kong's red light areas.
When Gik landed in Texas on Oct. 29th, it had been 30 years since she's been in the US (and had never been to Oklahoma or Texas). So, it was such a treat to have Gik in person to fundraise with Celeste and meet several of our partners. There was a beautiful Gala event in Midwest City, at the church Celeste grew up in. Other churches, like Norman and Grace Place brought people and it was a lovely night to catch up and reconnect with many. THANK YOU to everyone that helped with this night and gave so generously. We raised a little over $5,000 that night!
We also spoke in Woodward, Fort Worth, Mary-Hardin Baylor and had private meetings with a few donors and Board Members. It was amazing to have Gik here and of course, Celeste had to let her have a cowboy experience, with a trip to the stockyards and Gik's first horseback ride ever.
Gik and Celeste also attended the ICAP Global conference in Wisconsin and it was powerful! We both were so inspired, refreshed and strengthened by being in a room with 170+ phenomenal leaders from all over the world.
We are incredibly grateful to each one of YOU!!
You encourage, pray, and give and help our small team keep going:
- We've helped over 11 students this year so far...
- Our team has been in red light areas building relationships and trust more than 32 nights
- Partnered with other groups through med clinics, prayer walks, trainings, and holiday parties for those working in sex work.
- A student overcame horrible and life-threatening TB and HIV, and is getting stronger daily
- We've assisted with two trafficking cases from Africa
- We were able to hire Kwan, our cafe manager and Bae, the Recovery Team Leader both in May and they've become VITAL to our team.
- Medically and emotional support given to already launched/previous students, current students and a few outreach cases too. One was able to enter a drug rehab. Another was in the hospital for a week after a serious accident.
- Two students were able to stop living on the streets
- Our summer intern Sara was amazing and such a beautiful help
- We've had two unexpected large gifts to help us keep going. (One from Australia and another from Arkansas)
- Several of our current students have given their heart/life to Jesus and pray with and for each other before opening the cafe each morning.
There's so much more but again- THANK YOU!
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