Dear Family,

What would you do if you suddenly found yourself thousands of miles from home in a foreign country, with no identification, no money, and no one to turn to for help?

That was the frightening situation in which Dov found himself. To make matters worse, he was held as a captive in a heavily-guarded compound, and he was beaten if he did not do what his captors demanded.

How did Dov end up in such a predicament? His story is a difficult one to read, but one we cannot ignore, because it is all too common.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Uganda, it crushed an already fragile economy, leaving many hard-working men with no jobs and no means to support themselves or their families. Dov was one such man who found himself out of work and with no good options.

He hoped the economy would recover. But as weeks turned into months and his savings ran out, he became desperate. He knew he could expect no financial assistance from the government or from family. He was running out of time.

Just when Dov thought all hope was lost, he learned of a job opportunity as an English teacher in Asia. Although the job would take him 5,000 miles from home to a completely new continent, anything seemed better than facing the reality of hunger and homelessness.

After a virtual interview in which his English skills were assessed, Dov was hired. The job appeared promising. Although nervous, Dov hoped his future would be brighter.

He flew to Laos and was met by his new employer at the airport. They welcomed him to the country and asked him to turn over his passport and other necessary papers. They then escorted him to a car that would take him through customs and to his new job as a teacher. Or so he thought.

To Dov's surprise, the car took him to an abandoned lot where he was met by armed guards. What had seemed like a great job opportunity was now looking like something else. It was futile to resist the guards.

Dov was taken to a small motorboat operated by a soldier. The boat trip took hours, and Dov eventually realized he was leaving Laos for the neighboring country of Myanmar.

Dov's heart began to race as he tried to process what was happening. His passport and papers had been confiscated, and he was now headed for a different country, illegally. If he resisted his guards, he could be shot. If he succeeded to escape once in Myanmar, he could be arrested for illegal entry. Dov was at the mercy of his captors.

When the boat landed, Dov was taken to a heavily-guarded compound. Barbed wires surrounded ominous buildings.

At that point, Dov could only comply. He had no idea where he was in Myanmar, but he was now an illegal immigrant. He didn't know anyone in the country, and he had nowhere to go for help. He was trapped.

Dov did not know it at the time, but he had been sold on the slave market. His captors had assessed his skills and then placed a price on his head. Once they delivered him, their work was done. They walked away with their payment and left him at the mercy of his new masters.

Dov soon discovered that he had been purchased by a scam organization. His new "job" was to deceive English-speaking people in the US and Europe to fall for complex scams involving Twitter, Bitcoin, and online gambling. It was all new to Dov, but he had no choice but to learn quickly. He was forced to work 18-hour days at a computer, with no days off and no pay. If he refused, he was handcuffed, tased, and severely beaten.

Dov was internally conflicted. The evil work he was forced to do filled him with guilt. But to resist would only result in torture and the risk of death.

One day while handcuffed to his bed for refusing to work, Dov resolved in his heart that he would find a way to be free. He knew that unless he escaped, he probably would not leave the compound alive.

One day, Dov's fate took a turn for the better. Our ministry partner in Myanmar is working to help trafficking victims escape several scam-organization compounds through a covert network. Through means we cannot disclose for security reasons, another victim in the compound shared our partner's hotline with Dov. He succeeded in making a phone call to tell his story and ask for help.

The gospel is central in everything our partner does. Once Dov was connected with them, they began to pray earnestly for his release and shared scripture with him. He confessed that he had wandered from God. As a result of their communication, he rededicated his life to the Lord Jesus Christ.

With our partner's assistance, Dov carefully planned the moment he would escape. He knew he would have to time everything perfectly or risk being caught and possibly killed.

One night, his opportunity arrived. When the guards were distracted, he climbed the barbed wire fence and made it to the other side. Although his skin had been lacerated by the barbed wire, he was free.

Our partners were waiting, and they relocated Dov to a safe place. Although the daring rescue was behind him, now the long legal process of proving his innocence and seeking his release from Myanmar to return to Uganda had begun.

After his escape, Dov received a Bible from our partner. While his innocence was being proven, he spent time in police custody. As he waited for his release, he committed himself to prayer and even started a daily Bible study with fellow prisoners. Once he was finally released, he asked our partner to baptize him. He now gives glory to God for his rescue.

Dov has begun his journey of healing, but he still struggles with guilt from the months of defrauding people through the scamming he was forced to do. He is also tormented with survivor's guilt as he recalls those who are still trapped and suffering inhumane treatment.

Tragically and incredibly, there are an estimated 120,000 or more people in Myanmar like Dov being held like prisoners inside scam-organization compounds. They are in a living hell. They are beaten and worked to the point of physical and emotional exhaustion. They are threatened that their organs will be harvested and sold on the black market if they do not earn their captors enough money.

The need is staggering. But we have the opportunity to help individuals like Dov escape and find freedom today.

Our partner in Myanmar is laboring to help every victim who contacts them through their hotline. This year so far, 172 trafficking victims have been rescued and assisted to be returned home.

Family, can you help fight back against the traffickers and rescue more victims like Dov?

Although every case is different, it can cost up to $500 to help one trafficked individual. This support provides food, clothing, and shoes for the rescued victims, as well as medical care when necessary. It also provides the documentation, legal defense, and transportation they need to return home. We hope to raise $86,000 to help rescue another 172 victims.

The issue of human trafficking is difficult to even comprehend. But we don't have to watch helplessly from the sidelines. We have a unique opportunity right now to be a light in the darkness and help more victims of trafficking find their freedom again.

Thank you for considering what our Lord would have you do!

David Servant,
Founder and President, Heaven's Family

Dear Family,

What would you do if you suddenly found yourself thousands of miles from home in a foreign country, with no identification, no money, and no one to turn to for help?

That was the frightening situation in which Dov found himself. To make matters worse, he was held as a captive in a heavily-guarded compound, and he was beaten if he did not do what his captors demanded.

How did Dov end up in such a predicament? His story is a difficult one to read, but one we cannot ignore, because it is all too common.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Uganda, it crushed an already fragile economy, leaving many hard-working men with no jobs and no means to support themselves or their families. Dov was one such man who found himself out of work and with no good options.

He hoped the economy would recover. But as weeks turned into months and his savings ran out, he became desperate. He knew he could expect no financial assistance from the government or from family. He was running out of time.

Just when Dov thought all hope was lost, he learned of a job opportunity as an English teacher in Asia. Although the job would take him 5,000 miles from home to a completely new continent, anything seemed better than facing the reality of hunger and homelessness.

After a virtual interview in which his English skills were assessed, Dov was hired. The job appeared promising. Although nervous, Dov hoped his future would be brighter.

He flew to Laos and was met by his new employer at the airport. They welcomed him to the country and asked him to turn over his passport and other necessary papers. They then escorted him to a car that would take him through customs and to his new job as a teacher. Or so he thought.

To Dov's surprise, the car took him to an abandoned lot where he was met by armed guards. What had seemed like a great job opportunity was now looking like something else. It was futile to resist the guards.

Dov was taken to a small motorboat operated by a soldier. The boat trip took hours, and Dov eventually realized he was leaving Laos for the neighboring country of Myanmar.

Dov's heart began to race as he tried to process what was happening. His passport and papers had been confiscated, and he was now headed for a different country, illegally. If he resisted his guards, he could be shot. If he succeeded to escape once in Myanmar, he could be arrested for illegal entry. Dov was at the mercy of his captors.

When the boat landed, Dov was taken to a heavily-guarded compound. Barbed wires surrounded ominous buildings.

At that point, Dov could only comply. He had no idea where he was in Myanmar, but he was now an illegal immigrant. He didn't know anyone in the country, and he had nowhere to go for help. He was trapped.

Dov did not know it at the time, but he had been sold on the slave market. His captors had assessed his skills and then placed a price on his head. Once they delivered him, their work was done. They walked away with their payment and left him at the mercy of his new masters.

Dov soon discovered that he had been purchased by a scam organization. His new "job" was to deceive English-speaking people in the US and Europe to fall for complex scams involving Twitter, Bitcoin, and online gambling. It was all new to Dov, but he had no choice but to learn quickly. He was forced to work 18-hour days at a computer, with no days off and no pay. If he refused, he was handcuffed, tased, and severely beaten.

Dov was internally conflicted. The evil work he was forced to do filled him with guilt. But to resist would only result in torture and the risk of death.

One day while handcuffed to his bed for refusing to work, Dov resolved in his heart that he would find a way to be free. He knew that unless he escaped, he probably would not leave the compound alive.

One day, Dov's fate took a turn for the better. Our ministry partner in Myanmar is working to help trafficking victims escape several scam-organization compounds through a covert network. Through means we cannot disclose for security reasons, another victim in the compound shared our partner's hotline with Dov. He succeeded in making a phone call to tell his story and ask for help.

The gospel is central in everything our partner does. Once Dov was connected with them, they began to pray earnestly for his release and shared scripture with him. He confessed that he had wandered from God. As a result of their communication, he rededicated his life to the Lord Jesus Christ.

With our partner's assistance, Dov carefully planned the moment he would escape. He knew he would have to time everything perfectly or risk being caught and possibly killed.

One night, his opportunity arrived. When the guards were distracted, he climbed the barbed wire fence and made it to the other side. Although his skin had been lacerated by the barbed wire, he was free.

Our partners were waiting, and they relocated Dov to a safe place. Although the daring rescue was behind him, now the long legal process of proving his innocence and seeking his release from Myanmar to return to Uganda had begun.

After his escape, Dov received a Bible from our partner. While his innocence was being proven, he spent time in police custody. As he waited for his release, he committed himself to prayer and even started a daily Bible study with fellow prisoners. Once he was finally released, he asked our partner to baptize him. He now gives glory to God for his rescue.

Dov has begun his journey of healing, but he still struggles with guilt from the months of defrauding people through the scamming he was forced to do. He is also tormented with survivor's guilt as he recalls those who are still trapped and suffering inhumane treatment.

Tragically and incredibly, there are an estimated 120,000 or more people in Myanmar like Dov being held like prisoners inside scam-organization compounds. They are in a living hell. They are beaten and worked to the point of physical and emotional exhaustion. They are threatened that their organs will be harvested and sold on the black market if they do not earn their captors enough money.

The need is staggering. But we have the opportunity to help individuals like Dov escape and find freedom today.

Our partner in Myanmar is laboring to help every victim who contacts them through their hotline. This year so far, 172 trafficking victims have been rescued and assisted to be returned home.

{salutation}, can you help fight back against the traffickers and rescue more victims like Dov?

Although every case is different, it can cost up to $500 to help one trafficked individual. This support provides food, clothing, and shoes for the rescued victims, as well as medical care when necessary. It also provides the documentation, legal defense, and transportation they need to return home. We hope to raise $86,000 to help rescue another 172 victims.

The issue of human trafficking is difficult to even comprehend. But we don't have to watch helplessly from the sidelines. We have a unique opportunity right now to be a light in the darkness and help more victims of trafficking find their freedom again.

Thank you for considering what our Lord would have you do!

David Servant,
Founder and President, Heaven's Family

Yes! I want to take a stand for: