Rescued and Healing

When Brooke was 8 years old, her three sisters were placed at Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch, a Christian nonprofit rescue home in the Philippines, after somebody they trusted and loved sexually exploited them online. It was a devastating experience for Brooke to witness her family break apart.

And as Brooke went on to live in this unimaginable pain of a broken family for years, she was also sexually abused, then rescued, and placed at Happy Horizons, too.

A Place to Heal

Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch, a OneChild partner, has been a home to rescued kids since 1994. Children as young as 3 who live in poverty come to the home to live until they are adults. Most girls who live here have gone through abuse that few could fathom.

Only deep and committed love can bring healing. Child Champions in HHCR live this out by caring for more than 50 vulnerable children.

At Happy Horizons, they can heal and have a safe place to sleep, health care, nutritious food to eat, a quality Christian education, and loving Child Champions. They also find new hope for their lives. Apart from these, the Child Champions’ most important work is introducing them to Jesus Christ.

“The things we can provide will one day pass away. But the life that Jesus gives will be for eternity,” says Pastor John Williford, director of Happy Horizons.

“Our hope is that each child will come to know who Jesus is, and when they leave our care, they will have a firm foundation of faith to build a life on.”

Children at Happy Horizons receive a quality education from teachers who use faith-based curriculum customized for each child’s individual academic level so that all kids can learn at their own pace.

Since Brooke came to Happy Horizons, she has been experiencing peace and order in her life by following routines for schooling, meals and bedtime, and even recreation time. She also received new clothes, including school uniforms. Most important, she receives counseling and guidance from her social worker.

Children help in the kitchen as one of their chores at the ranch.

All these things are giving Brooke a fresh start and positive experiences, which are vital for her healing from a painful past. Recently, Brooke started to talk about how thankful she is that she is learning to tend a garden, to cook, and do chores with the help of loving and caring house parents and staff at Happy Horizons.

Children receive a quality education from teachers who use faith-based curriculum that is customized for each child’s individual academic level so that all kids can learn at their own pace.

Reunited at Last

Brooke was also able to reacquaint with her sisters after six years and relate to their stories about how God has changed their lives.

Brooke is encouraged to see them happy, peaceful, and hopeful now. With that, as she starts her journey to healing and freedom, she is happy that she is not alone.

John says he prays that “they would have the courage to face their past. That they would allow Jesus to heal them and turn their difficult past into a strong foundation for a hopeful future!”

Your generous gift to Happy Horizons Ranch will help give survivors a new beginning!