Issue 2 | November 2020
Message from the President
Thinking about the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, I am reminded of the importance of gratitude. Giving is so much a part of who we are that it can overshadow the importance of gratitude. Gratitude is more than just saying “Thank You.” Gratitude is a compelling positive emotion whether we express it or receive it. Regular practice of realizing all that we are grateful for is a rich and soulful experience. When we express our gratitude, the circle of giving and receiving is complete. This is so important during the difficult times we are currently experiencing.

As you are thankful, please accept our gratitude for your good thoughts, prayers, and gifts of your time and financial support to Bakhita Mountain Home.

Steve Tucker, Ph.D.
Board of Directors President
Bakhita Mountain Home
Gratitude and Giving
What would you give to help a survivor of human trafficking be restored to a full and productive life?

This is the question I have been asking myself as a volunteer with Bakhita Mountain Home. The empathy I feel for the trafficked survivors being forced to endure unimaginable pain and suffering is something hard to describe. Some of these survivors are rescued or escape, and that is when we step up to help them heal.

We are not a large program; we will take in only five residents for a two-year program. We are currently working to raise $2.5 million to enable our operations for 10-years. The need for programs like Bakhita in Colorado is dire. Programs and agencies we are working with tell us that Colorado needs well over 100 beds in long term restoration programs. Right now, there is only one program in Denver with space for five residents.

With your support, we plan to begin operations in Summer 2021. The impact on the five residents in our program will shape the rest of their lives.

As we enter the holiday season, the dominant theme I feel is gratitude; for the blessings of my family, my life, my friendships and the work we are doing.

So, I ask again, what would you give? Consider a donation to Bakhita Mountain Home now. Every dollar you give will go directly to services for our residents making their futures brighter.

--Mike deBettencourt
Board Member Profile
Rita Petersen, MA, LPC, NCC, ACS

The Mission of Bakhita Mountain Home will be assisting women transitioning from human trafficking to self-sufficiency. Women will experience healing through three components: Safe Haven, Trauma-informed therapy and life-enhancing skills. Rita Peterson shares her approach to trauma-informed therapy.

Trauma shapes the lens through which we see the world. We respond to trauma in only three ways: fight, flee, or freeze. In fighting and fleeing, we move and release the traumatic experiences. In freezing, all the senses that occur are trapped deep within the brain and locked inside the human body. The effects impact us for a long time. Emotional and physical effects can occur when we are removed from home and abused. The results may be irritability, sleeplessness, poor relationships, difficult behavior, unhelpful habits, poor choices, depression, etc. All contribute to long-lasting health issues.

Rita has learned ways to address many of the layers of complex PTSD. Clients gain self-regulating and mindfulness skills. They become aware and understand parts of their stories that have confused them for years. Sensorimotor therapy (reconnecting a person’s body to present awareness), equine-assisted therapy, and helping people understand their feelings and emotions can give clients clarity, hope, and purpose.
DID YOU KNOW?

  • There were 176 confirmed cases of human trafficking in Colorado in 2019.
  • Currently, there is only one other place in Colorado dedicated exclusively to the healing of trafficked survivors.
  • Bakhita Mountain Home is a facility where 5 women over the age of 18 can can live and experience skills they need to live a better life.
  • Bakhita Mountain Home will be funded entirely through grants, donations, and volunteer services.

You can help us open our doors by donating to Bakhita Mountain Home.
--S Joanne Moeller, FSPA
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St. Clare's Quilt Circle, St. Francis Catholic Church, made quilts for Bakhita Mountain Home.
BAKHITA NEEDS
We are grateful for the many donations we have received. Many of you have donated living room furniture, bedroom furniture, and items for the kitchen. We still have a few more needs, which includes:

  • 6 floor lamps for the bedrooms
  • 3 small desks with chairs
  • 6 comfortable bedroom chairs
  • full size bed frame and headboard
  • Dining room table that seats 8
A moment of gratitude makes a difference in your attitude. It is not joy that makes us grateful, it is gratitude that makes us joyful. - Anonymous

Thanksgiving is not just another day. It is the way we live our lives every day.
Bakhita Mountain Home is a non-profit that assists women transitioning from human trafficking to self-sufficiency and successful reintegration into society. Women experience healing through three components: 

  • Safe haven
  • Trauma-informed therapy
  • Life-enhancing skills


Bakhita Mountain Home, Inc is a 501(c) (3).
EIN 83-1951199
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