TWO LOCATIONS, ONE HEART

(By Dan Turbiak, NightLight Bangkok)

On the surface, NightLight Bangkok and NightLight Missouri look very different. They’re in different countries, with different cultures, on opposite sides of the world. While that may be true, there are striking similarities between the work in both locations.

Both NightLight branches work to assist women who have experienced sexual exploitation and violence — women who have complex trauma and circumstances that affect multiple areas of their lives.

Teams in both locations reach out to women who are currently experiencing exploitation in the sex industry. They use similar styles of relational outreach to meet women where they are in the midst of their situations. They get to know them, seek to build authentic and trusting relationships, and learn where the women are coming from. They get to know who they are as individuals and offer opportunities for assistance. Staff remain available to the women whenever they need help. In both locations, the teams meet women in the midst of their challenges.

In both Bangkok and Missouri, staff are available when women are ready to seek assistance. They schedule a time to meet with them, hear their stories, and assess their full situation. While the types of assistance may be different in Bangkok and Missouri, the teams are still dealing with the same root issues. Many women carry trauma from abuse, and need help regaining dignity in their lives.

Regaining dignity can come in many different forms. For some, it may mean finding a job. For others, it may mean having their own safe apartment. For some, it means being reunited with their children, gaining access to medical care, or receiving services from the government. Staff in both locations work with the women to meet their individual needs. They remain flexible in order to meet women where they are, rather than placing them into rigid boxes. They seek to see the women for who they are as individuals and work to build care plans that meet each woman’s unique needs and circumstances.

NightLight’s teams in both locations also have relationships with law enforcement and government partners. This creates opportunities to receive case referrals from the government, and opportunities when victims want to report their cases to authorities. Both locations work with social welfare departments and maintain relationships with other organizations. They recognize that partnership is important because they are dealing with complex people and complex issues that cannot be solved alone. This work requires collaboration with other organizations, whether governmental or private entities.

In both of NightLight’s locations, the staff are committed for the long haul, persevering through challenges alongside the women. Both offices have rules and policies for the women to follow, but they also strive to remain flexible, working through issues with grace, showing love, and being present for the women.

Yes, there are boundaries, but the goal is to do everything motivated by love — to show the women love, to lovingly come alongside them, and to help them get back on their feet and move forward with their lives, restoring dignity along the way.