sl mag 2018 for web

JOURNALS OF FREEDOM AND RESTORATION • 2018
VOLUME 2

“FOR IT IS ONLY
WHEN WE ARE
SOLELY COMPELLED
BY TRUTH AND LOVE
THAT WE CAN
BE USED TO
CHANGE LIVES.”
KAYLIE HOUSEWRIGHT, CO-FOUNDER
OF FREE RAIN INTERNATIONAL

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CO-FOUNDERS OF FREE RAIN
Alex Avila Barber Mentor
Dianna Bautista Founder of Shear Love
Joshua DuBois Outreach Coordinator
Kaylie Housewright Founder of Injustice
Tina DuBois Outreach/Counselor
Response Training
FREE RAIN BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Joe Vargas Corona, California
Leanne Ellis Rotorua, New Zealand
Brooke Blomberg Riverside, California
Steve Simmons Little Rock, Arkansas
Southeast Asia
Taylor Henry Lead Beauty Educator
Jenna Lewis Vocational Training Director
USA
Kaylie Housewright Volunteer Trainer/Counselor
Acknowledgements
Contents
2
3
Stan Doll La Verne, California
Alex Avila Pattaya, Thailand
Stephanie Henderson Stateside Admin
Jamie Henderson Film Editor
Her Name Was Rain
It Takes a Village
4
6
SHEAR LOVE STAFF
Thailand
Kultiwa Tae Project Manager
Plewthip Maprachum Beauty Translator, Mentor
Thanaporn Budsa Educator
Gideon Prapan Barber Translator, Mentor
AWAKEN MAGAZINE
Kristin Waiting Copy Editor
Sara Wondergem Graphic Design
Dorothea Schulz Lead Still Photography
PJ Accetturo Film, Still Photography
Logan Cole Still Photography
Empowering Men
Forgotten Freedom
Weaving New Life
Section Six
16
18
20
24
SHEAR LOVE VOLUNTEERS
Thailand
Dianna Bautista Director
Apryle Bruce Lead Barber Educator
SHIPPING ADDRESS
1626 Privet, Unit C
Corona, California 92879
U.S.A.
A Long Journey Home
Green Lights
Fostering Hope
26
30
36
Meagan Pitts Lead Beauty Educator
Redeemed
38
C O N T E N T S
shearlove.in | 03

One hot summer night, the air was humid and
dark. Heaviness loomed as men seeking to purchase
women for sex trolled the beaten path. Our
team sat in a brothel in the alley of Section Six,
which is the length of a New York City block, and
is estimated to have 1,800 women and children
as young as 3 available for purchase. There was a
young “working” girl. She was strikingly beautiful,
painfully shy, and ever so gentle. Her name was
Rain.
HER
NAME
WAS
R A I N
She met none of the stereotypes that our world
unfairly proclaims to describe a woman in this line
of work. Sold at a very young age, now a mother,
filled with doubt, diminished self worth, and a
horrid, distorted view of love. Through time, dedication,
and no agenda of our outreach team, a
sincere relationship was formed. After months of
consistent care and love from our team, Rain finally
asked for help to escape. After enrolling into
our educational beauty program, Shear Love International,
and graduating, she now has a career,
dignity, and self-worth.
It is because of her and millions like her, that we
exist. We desire to see Rain be free. We pray that
she, and those like her, know they have purpose.
We long for those who are enslaved to be free
and furthermore, outfitted to lead a nurturing and
healthy life. We hope that no man, woman, or child
ever has to endure the bonds of slavery. We want
to see children receive an education. We wish to
see adults be equipped with skills. We want every
human that is at risk of being exploited, to have
opportunity. We desire to see human trafficking,
exploitation, extreme poverty, and world hunger
be abolished in our lifetime.
shearlove.in | 05

FULFILLED DREAMS
Charlene Accetturo, Guest Educator Thailand
Going to Thailand I really didn’t know what to
expect. I went to partner with an organization
called Shear Love and the plan was to teach students
how to do hair. This has been my dream
since even before I became a hairstylist. The
eight years of dreaming finally became a reality
and all of it was better than I had ever dreamed.
For one month I spent my time working in Pattaya,
Thailand. A statistic that Shear Love shared
with me was according to the TIP Report, the
anti-trafficking police, and task force agencies in
Thailand, is that there are an estimated 150,000
women, men, and children being sold in Pattaya.
Dianna Bautista, the director and founder
of Shear Love, would say, “There could be 20
Shear Loves in Pattaya and it still wouldn’t be
enough…”
As the weeks went by, I was continuously surprised
by the students who were ready to learn
and also ready to love. I assumed that because
of where these students were coming from they
would be closed off towards me. I was happily
wrong. One student told me a bit of her story
about her husband and how he had passed
away. She was so patient with me as I tried to
understand her Thai-English. She didn’t give up
or feel frustrated when I asked her to repeat her
questions. She was so loving and graceful and
her smile and hug at the end of the conversation
filled my soul. She barely knew me, and she had
no reason to be vulnerable with me. Shear Love
has created an environment for the men and
women to learn how to receive and give genuine
love. These students are being healed as they
learn to trust and believe in God.
Even though I was there for just a month, my
heart is full with memories that will remain as
treasures in my heart. God has used this ministry
to impact so many lives. I have witnessed an
organization strive to give these students a life
of education and dignity through cosmetology. I
cannot say thank you enough.
NOT SO LOST IN TRANSLATION
Jenna Lewis, English Instructor Thailand
I might be biased, but English class is kind of
::cough:: the best. Aside from hearing the students
use practical idioms throughout the day
like ‘being hangry’ and ‘killing it,’ watching them
grasp concepts and use correct grammar during
conversation (“I go.. no wait.. I went”) is pretty
tops. They bring energy and jokes and put up
with my occasional soap box, like talking about
why dating jealous people is not okay during a
lesson on emotions.
One particularly sweet day, a student with a
bright, sometimes stubborn smile and a history
of needing assistance with even the simplest of
words and activities caught me off guard. A new
student had just joined the program and was
looking at me blankly after I explained a concept
in English, and our translator happened to be off
for the morning. Before I could respond, a Thai
translation came out of her with easy confidence
and little knowing sass. I almost dribbled my coffee
I was smiling so big.
We spend a lot of time navigating ‘lost in translation’
nuances in the classroom, and while most
make for entertaining stories and bring laughter
to the salon, the moments of complete clarity
are like a breath of fresh air, bringing us all a little
closer and encouraging each of us to keep fighting
to move forward.
Jenna was the English Instructor at Shear Love Thailand for
2 years. She created our entire English curriculum. Jenna is
now the vocational program director with one of our partner
organizations is South East Asia. She oversees Shear Love’s
training program along with the jewelry design, culinary arts,
and apparel manufacturing of our partnering foundation.
10 | Awaken
shearlove.in | 11

EMPOWERING MEN
Story by Dianna Bautista
In today’s social climate there has been
much talk surrounding the empowerment of
women. Equal pay, equal treatment, equal
opportunity, and equal rights. We have all
seen the inequality of women occur in our
world for far too long. Recently, we have
seen countless seminars, conferences, and
organizations arise focusing on women. It is
encouraging to see women be educated, included,
and given a place where their ideas
and opinions are valued.
When we look at oppression we usually see
men oppressing women. We see this in all
types of personal and professional relationships.
The #metoo movement, where the Silence
Breakers made history, was a huge eye
opener for many people as to how severely
men can wield power over women. So we
ask, ‘Why do these men behave this way?’
We believe the answer is simple. Behaviors
are learned. While the answer is simple, the
solution is extremely complicated.
The way we treat others is taught to us. Not
so much through words, but through actions.
Behavior is passed from one generation to
the next. If a son sees his father mistreat his
mother, he will grow up to inherently think he
should treat his one-day wife the same way.
If a daughter sees her mother be mistreated,
she will then innately think that she should
be treated the same way once she becomes
a wife. We are all taught right and wrong
from someone we believe to be wiser than
we are. Someone who has more experience
than we have would obviously know better
then we do. So often we believe what we
are told rather than seeking the answers for
ourselves. We treat others the way we have
been taught to rather than seek a better way.
Then we ask, ‘How do we change cultures
and generations of oppression?’
The number of seminars and conferences for
the empowerment of men pales in comparison
to those for women. The amount of organizations
that have been founded to serve
and protect men is less than 10% of those
that serve women. Women need to be empowered.
They must be empowered, but not
to spite men. If we are doing everything we
can to empower women, but not educating
men in the process, then we will create an
imbalance. We believe the imbalance has already
occurred.
Our solution: Empower Men. If behavior
is learned, then all we have to do is teach
something different. We created our barbering
program to do just that. We are teaching
the women in our programs to know who
they are and who they were created to be.
We are creating independent thinkers and
powerful leaders in their communities. In
the process, we realized that we were doing
women a great disservice by not empowering
and educating men for them to partner with.
What would happen to these independent
powerful women if they only had abusive
oppressive men to partner with? Imbalance.
Our barber program offers a full education in
men’s hair design, financial training, personal
development, mentoring, and discipleship.
In addition to educating women who are
strong and important, we are creating honorable
men in societies where few existed.
One small step in the right direction can
eventually cause a marathon of change. As
long as we fight for the education and empowerment
of both men and women, we
will one day see societies and cultures of
harmony. It will take a lot of patience and
time, but it will be worth it. The same way it
was worth it for our grandmother and great
grandmothers during Women’s Suffrage.
The same way it was worth for Rosa Parks to
take a seat and take a stand. The same way
it was worth it for 150 gymnasts to stand up
against a doctor so not one more girl could
be abused. The same way it will be worth it
for our children, our grandchildren, and generations
to come.
16 | Awaken

W E A V I N G
N E W
L I F E
STORY BY DIANNA BAUTISTA
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LOGAN COLE
20 | Awaken

in the hearts of the Kenyan people
so much that the school needed a
larger building with even more vocational
trainings!
I spent the next few days with Ephantus,
MOHI’s vocational program
director, and Teacher Carol, who
thanked me for providing hope in
the midst of their hopelessness. They
brought me to a huge beauty school
that was filled with more students
than I ever could have dreamed of.
Teacher Carol was overwhelmed by
the impact the school was making
in the community. She gave me the
biggest hug and thanked me for a
school that was changing the lives of
more than 120 women living in poverty.
Shaken to the core… speechless….
#blessed
The school was getting so big that
Teacher Carol had to turn 20+ women
away because she did not have
the space. The goal was to accommodate
as many as possible. They
moved the school hoping to take in
60 students, and they were sure this
was the answer. Until the first day of
school when they were blown away
with 162 men and women lined up at
their doors!
Teacher Carol was astounded that
she now had to turn away 102 men
and women who were all eager to
receive an education. Unlike before,
these men and women refused to
leave because they hungered for
what the school was offering. Ephantus
came up with a plan so that each
person could be in the program
somehow. The community and past
graduates came together to do
whatever it took to give hope to the
hopeless.
MOHI is now able to accomodate 98
men and women every term. We will
soon be sending educators to work
alongside Teacher Carol to support
her in educating these students well.
I left realizing it was a miracle of God
that had the school grow and hearts
prepared to come and learn and be
forever changed.
I truly believe this happened, because
I left. I shared with them the
tools and the courage to accomplish
these things independently. I simply
passed along the knowledge and
wisdom I had been gifted from my
teachers and mentors. I allowed the
locals to step up and take the lead.
They didn’t need me to stay and continue
to tell them what to do. They
need someone to light a fire under
their butts, then walk away, and let
them run!
I’m just thankful that someone was
me.
In June of 2012, I went to Kenya
to help build a beauty school for
women living in the most impoverished
conditions. I had served in
past years with my home church,
Crossroads. In visiting some of the
most impoverished slums in the
world on a short-term missions trip,
I was overwhelmed.
Like most Savior Barbies… I was
“shaken to the core” “broken”
“speechless” “lost, but now am
found” “#blessed” and blah blah
blah… You know, phrases you
would find in most short-term missionary’s
Instagram feeds.
The conditions I encountered these
people living in were devastating.
Conditions that made you question
how anyone could actually survive
living this way. Conditions that convicted
you in the best kind of way
for how you were living back in the
states. I spent time with these women
at Missions of Hope International
(MOHI) and heard their stories
of gang rape, starvation, incurable
diseases, and lost children. My heart
became attached and I longed to
give them hope in the midst of their
hopelessness.
I was ready to take on the world because
of the way their stories stirred
the passion within me. This crazy
American girl who thought she could
change the world because she had
been on a short-term missions trip
or two. Now, the time had come. I
traveled back to Nairobi to build a
full-fledged beauty school for women
in one of the most impoverished
slums in the world. I wanted to bring
change to each one of their lives,
and I was determined to do so.
After facing my fears head on, totally
terrified, through the support of my
church I went and I helped them. The
school was built to accommodate 14
women for a 6-month term, which
means 28 women every year would
learn hair styling, cutting, pressing,
weaving, braiding, and all the other
fabulous things you can do with African
hair! I found myself more alive
than I had been in a long time teaching
these women.
After doing what I was called to do, I
left and went home with a mission, to
pray like I had never prayed before.
Life was busy and God was opening
beauty school doors in Brazil, Mexico,
Cambodia, and then Thailand...
so you could say I kinda had my
hands full!
In March of 2017, I finally went back
to check on my beautiful African sisters,
but when I arrived, the beauty
school was empty. God had given
the school so much favor and stirred
22 | Awaken shearlove.in | 23

Pink and red lights buzz overhead, power lines hang tangled in a maze of web. / Buildings
high like hemlines. Holy streets boast heaven and hell inside. / Painted faces mask tainted
hearts. Bodies marked by hungry eyes, smiles telling sweet lies. / The sun has set to wake up
the night. Her pace quickens, the air thickens. Good fortune beckons. / ‘They told me I could
be a waitress. My family thought it would be a good opportunity.’ / She buckles her heels,
locked into the uniform that imprisons her body. Her heart. / Women buy dinner from carts,
bringing plastic bags back to plastic tables and stools where they’ll spend their nights with
strangers, playing games of fools. / A shell of a city, full of emptiness that looks so pretty. /
Greedy eyes steal lustful looks that can never be taken back. Pieces etched in minds to satisfy
broken desires and hollow heart cracks. / The sun has set to wake up the night. / ‘I remember
feeling safe. But I have not felt safe since I got here.’ / Her walk slows. Hesitation for what
the night holds. / ‘My family will not survive if I don’t do this’ / Sitting at the bar, adjusting
her skirt. Familiar face run across her mind, strength overcomes hurt. / Looking down, looking
around. Red lace burns hot on her skin so brown. / He walks over to sit across. The caress of
an arm, a touch heavy with want, predictions of loss. / ‘But it was not supposed to be this
way’ / Small words are exchanged. Just smile and laugh - they won’t see through the mask.
/ Corridors stretch back for years, floors scuffed up by heels. / Give and get. Currency
of the dead, grasping to survive. / The sun has set to wake up the night. / ‘I keep telling
myself I am doing this for my family. I have to provide for my family.’ / The bed is undressed,
too shallow to hold the loneliness. / Walking down. Zipping up. Ducking out. Closing in. /
The streets are blackened, showing up empty handed. Their glitter is wasted, drunk without
having tasted. / A city that never sleeps. A city that never changes. Rhythms carve paths no
one truly seeks. / The sun has set to wake up the night. / Messages from another world.
Foreign words from a familiar voice offering new life - it’s too much trust. / Her toes feel
freedom where the sand and sea meet. Collapsing like the waves in front, rolling slow with her
heartbeat. / Footsteps break the silence, comfort comes quick. Her soul may be fragile, but
her skin is still thick. Is it too much to trust? / ‘You came. Of course I came. How are you? I’m
good, I’m okay. Just okay? It’s the same thing, you know that.’ / Same streets. Same Lights.
/ The sun has set to wake up the night. New street. New light. / ‘She said it is safe here.’
/ An embrace of knowing, wanting nothing in return. Warm greetings feel like balm, a new
exchange - a uniform. / ‘She said I can get an education. I am a little bit nervous about this.’
/ Her fingers are crooked and her wrists shout out as she practices cuts and slides. Learning
new ropes and braids and every minute igniting a new fire inside. / ‘What will my family say?
What is home? I do not know what home is anymore.’ / Familiar streets. Familiar bar. Familiar
money. Familiar bed. / She paces to keep her mind from spinning. Fighting hard to make
sense and drown the voices in her head. / ‘I really cannot do this anymore.’ / The strength
to pretend only holds up for so long. Unsteady steps into an unknown, where second chances
spring forth, blossoming hope. / Light has dawned to wake up the night.
SECTION SIX
Written by Jenna Lewis
Still by PJ Accetturo
24 | Awaken
* This piece is inspired by Shear Love’s short film Section Six
under the direction of PJ Accetturo. To view this film visit bit.ly/thesectionsixfilm

F O R G O T T E N
F R E E D O M
Kaylie Housewright
Founder of Injustice Response Training
Hear me when I say that the rescue and restoration
of children is VITAL… as well as, the
rescue and restoration of those over 15, especially
boys, but it is unfortunately more
sparse. Within the city we work in, and within
this field, the boys are the minority.
After thorough research, we found that we
are one of the only organizations in the area
that has a program for men. When we pondered
on why, it was because the need for
women and children is so vast. When we
inquired about working with those over 15,
partnering organizations agreed that it was
more difficult to obtain funds and resources.
Why? Because it’s not the “sexy” thing to do.
Because honestly, more people want to give
to programs that are caring for children. Because
in the law, and many people’s eyes...at
one age it’s rape, and then a passing birthday
can make it a choice, or “not as bad”
because of their age. Because a 4-year-old
being raped is more appealing within storytelling
than a 40-year-old. These are frustrating,
yet real findings that I myself have fallen
into when first starting this work. But what
people forget, and what I was just reminded
of, is that 40-year-old was that 4-year-old….
They were just never rescued.
We want rescue and restoration for all those
enslaved, no matter age or gender. We want
your skills and heartbeat to create a rhythm
of freedom for all those within this nefarious
crime. We want to provide the most excellent
and integral relationships, and aftercare for
the 2-year-old and the 60-year-old.
We vow to never forget, or stop fighting for
the ones that were never
rescued.

SHEAR LOVE INTERNATIONAL
EXISTS TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER PEOPLE BY PROVIDING AN
EDUCATION IN HAIR DESIGN. EQUIPPING PEOPLE WITH VOCATIONAL
KNOWLEDGE, FINANCIAL TRAINING, AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
WILL GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES IN
A DIGNIFIED WAY. WHETHER COMING FROM A BACKGROUND OF
POVERTY, ABUSE, EXPLOITATION, OR TRAFFICKING, WE BELIEVE ALL
PEOPLE DESERVE AN EDUCATION AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED.
SHEARLOVEINTERNATIONAL.ORG