I Was TRAFFICKED Between 15 Amish & Mennonite Settlements

At 11 years old, due to a neglectful and dangerous home environment, Rachel was forced to sell herself for food and clothing. Determined to find a loving community coupled with a thirst for spirituality and religion, she ended up joining the local Mennonite church. She later discovered that 2 men who had been her clients as a child, were part of this church. When she confronted leaders about their behaviors, now understanding their actions were wrong, she was told that she was not to be believed because she was not a baptized member yet. This was only the beginning of how she was tossed around as “damaged” or “promiscuous” between countless settlements and treated like property. Stay tuned for part 2 where we more fully discuss the California cult and how she deconstructed.

Watch pt 2 of Rachel's interview: https://youtu.be/nuLZVKOURJo?si=98jzPA9sf-ZIaXaO

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Chapter Markers

00:00:00 Intro
00:03:51 What Rachel's family was like growing up
00:08:27 Visits from CPS and the chaos they brought
00:09:50 What going to church was like as a kid for Rachel
00:11:50 A Mennonite family moves to town and invites Rachel to their church
00:17:48 How not being believed by church members potentially cost a life
00:21:17 How ab*se at home lead to Rachel moving in with a family from her church
00:23:40 Rachel was stripped of her identity
00:25:30 Medical care in the community
00:29:04 How mental health was viewed in the church
00:29:21 CW: r*pe, infant mortality
00:30:28 Rachel completes her education but hits rock bottom
00:33:25 How victim blaming divided Rachel's new church and dictated where she could stay
00:34:54 Rachel is cornered and given an ultimatum
00:37:22 Rachel's harrowing experience at Lighthouse Haven
00:49:19 Rachel returns home and a church family breaks the church rules for her
00:49:50 CW: attempted su*c*de
00:53:30 Rachel sees a secular counselor for the first time
00:54:29 Rachel is given another ultimatum in her community
00:58:35 Rachel escapes Kentucky with the help of another community family
01:04:20 Ohio is not the haven Rachel thought it was going to be
01:08:57 Rachel joins a Beachy Amish church and how those rules still impact her today
01:12:15 Rachel begins to tell her story in a public setting
01:16:34 Rachel's turning point that made her finally able to leave the Mennonite churches
01:25:23 How sharing stories is validating and brings awareness to unhealthy situations
01:30:02 Linda, listen

Theme Song Produced and Composed by Christian Guevara

**Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.**