Asa

Senior firsthand Guide
Memphis, TN

In many respects, Asa had a wonderful childhood. As part of a military family, she traveled the world and lived in many new and beautiful places. But unfortunately, at only fourteen, everything changed.

Asa visited the local convenience store daily. A regular customer would buy her snacks, and she thought he was a nice, neighborly person. One day, the man offered her a ride home from the store. Having developed a friendly relationship with the man, Asa felt safe getting in the car. 

To her horror, the car never stopped, and Asa was dragged into the terrifying world of human trafficking. For nearly a year, Asa was a prisoner. She happened to see a police officer one day, and was able to run to him and reclaim her freedom.

While being held against her will, Asa was forced to take drugs. When she returned back to her life and family, she felt damaged and disconnected from everything, which only made her addiction stronger.

As a young mother, she was using drugs and her children were being cared for by her mother. One day, her sister was watching the kids, and Asa’s young son continued to run away in search of his mom. Asa’s sister dropped the boy off with her on the street, saying she could not forgive herself if anything happened to him while he desperately tried to find his mom. Asa kept the boy with her for several days, and a light went on when she realized that her lifestyle was not safe for a child.

She contacted the Salvation Army, who welcomed her and her children. She credits her recovery to a compassionate employee there, who “saw in her what she didn’t see.” She cried with Asa and helped her and her children get the therapy they needed to live and heal together. Back then, she really wished that something like firsthand existed. Asa believes she would have been an individual that firsthand could help. She ended up in the emergency room a lot, desperate and not knowing what else to do. 

Asa now has a wonderful husband, children and grandchildren. She’s so proud that her family believes in her. Today, she is able to show up for her family and the people she cares about.

When Asa saw the job posting for a firsthand Guide, she thought it was too good to be true- she thought it was a scam! After she went through the interview process, she became convinced that firsthand was real. It was hard to believe that she could spend her days helping others who experienced many of the same horrors that Asa experienced in her own life. She was thrilled to begin paying it forward. 

Asa’s favorite part of being a firsthand Guide is to see people smile. She loves to see people come to life. It is amazing when “the light comes on”, and when she’s able to bring joy to someone. She doesn’t consider her role at firsthand a job- she says her work is “taking care of people.” She’s building relationships and creating bonds. In Asa’s words, firsthand has “unleashed” her- the Asa that she has always wanted to be.