Our Mission

The mission of The Light of the Moon is to battle the commercial sex trafficking of children and young adults in Tijuana, Mexico and beyond by bringing justice to the perpetrators, freedom & healing to the victims, and education & training to the community.

Our Vision

Our first goal is to provide monthly funding of our safe house, Ahava, situated in Tijuana, Mexico. We envision providing for monthly rent, salaries, and the professional fees at Ahava House.

  • Consistently meeting every physical need of our guests is a priority - and covering the rent expense every month brings safety, shelter and .

  • Maintaining our team of trained staff and counselors who work tirelessly around the clock at Ahava ensures that our guests have the support they need as they start their journey of healing.

  • Providing for our guests’ medical and legal needs is an integral part of promoting the healing process for these survivors.

We can create a safer future for Mexico and beyond by replicating our model of a safe house. We look forward with hope and determination to make this second vision a reality as we are now in contact with multiple government agencies interested in our safe house model being implemented in their cities. We are committed to maintaining high management standards for our Tijuana safe house, and we envision it becoming a resource for future safe house development.

How We Started

A note from LOTM’s founder and director, Stacy Swenson…

It was a chilly night on November 12, 2019 in Tijuana, Mexico. I had just arrived from Chicago to meet my first granddaughter - she was born a few days earlier on November 8. I knew my life would forever change with her entrance into the world!

Children have always been my favorite ministry. God has blessed me with a heart for little ones, and now I was about to meet my granddaughter - my heart was bursting.

My kind son-in-law picked me up at the San Diego airport and after a few quick stops, we headed over the border to Tijuana. It was just getting dark and the wind off the ocean felt cold. He pulled the car in next to their little mobile home. I jumped out of the car and opened the trailer door. The warmth of the cozy home met my face, and the soft lights revealed the little pink bundle sleeping on the couch. I asked my daughter, “Can I hold her?”.

I picked up the warm, beautiful, bundle named Maggie Luna. The chubby rosy cheeks, her soft breathing, the smell of the wonderful newborn scent of milk and love - it took my breath away. I was overwhelmed with all the blessings poured into this tiny baby. Two parents who love Jesus, who love her and are ready to perfectly care for this little one, and grandparents aunts and uncles on both sides who would move the world for her. I couldn’t speak as I absorbed the anointing she was given at birth, through nothing but the grace of God, her blessings were overflowing.

At that very same moment, God spoke to me, “Right now there is another newborn a mile away. She doesn’t have a mother or a family that can care for her. As warm and peaceful as Maggie is, this baby is cold and hungry and has no comfort. I am calling you now, Stacy, to move to Tijuana and be a mother and grandmother to those little ones in the streets of Tijuana who need your love and care.”

My husband and I sold everything we could and left Chicago for Tijuana, Mexico - we arrived in October 2020.

I was eager to find the place God had in mind for me. I visited a busy orphanage, a large refugee camp, and other ministries related to children. Nothing seemed right - I loved the places I visited but they weren’t what God was calling me to.

One day my daughter - Maggie’s mother - told me there would be a meeting in a few days that I might enjoy. A local lady was going to speak about the work she does in the dark world of commercial sex trafficking of children. I would say 100% that I would never have attended a meeting like that before. I could never bear to hear of the mistreatment of children in any way. But this time I was genuinely excited to go - I was eager for the meeting!

When the speaker, Lizette, spoke of the work their ministry does in the streets of Tijuana, my heart burned! After the meeting, I went up to Lizette and said “God sent me here from Chicago to be a part of your ministry.” We got together over coffee the next day - she told me about the work of her organization over the last 7 years. She told me about the rescues, the trainings for community workers, the education for the children on the street …… and her huge dream just taking off…….a safe house for survivors of sex trafficking. Normally in Tijuana, survivors go to an orphanage after rescue with no special help for their immense trauma from the sexual abuse. Lizette and her husband had just taken a step of faith that week and signed a lease for a safe house hidden deep in Tijuana. She shared that she had no idea how they would get it up and running but they looked to God. Then it was my turn to talk - I told her my heart is close to children and that God called me here to care for the littlest ones without a family. AMAZING! And God placed a safe house in Tijuana Mexico.

Recently I started a nonprofit organization called Light of the Moon. We educate the community on the wonderful work God is doing through our little hidden safe house. We raise funds to cover the rent, salaries of the caregivers, food costs, utilities and so much more. I love LOTM - when you give, your donations go straight to the expenses of the safe house. You have a beautiful opportunity to help these precious children and young adults from wherever you live. The Light is shining brightly in our little corner of Tijuana.

Jamie Benjamin

Friend and Donor of LOTM

My family and I were blessed to be able to see first hand how God uses LOTM to reach, protect and give hope to the girls overtaken by this demonic industry. LOTM shines very brightly in a very dark place through Jesus Christ.

Anna Rourke, LCSW ~ Board Member

As a licensed therapist and believer in the power of Jesus, it has been a blessing to serve LOTM in their mission to bring justice, peace and healing to the dark industry of sex trafficking. The young women and children who have been rescued and protected by LOTM’s staff, deserve all the love and healing they provide through the wisdom and love of the Spirit.

Contact Us

FAQ’s

  • 100% of donations is used to cover operation costs of the safe house, and treatment for those who have been rescued. When you give, every dollar matters. We strive for the highest level of financial integrity to make your generosity life-changing. If you would like to know how your gift was used, email us at lotm@lotm.org.

  • Yes, you will receive either a mailed or electronic receipt. For donations sent by mail, you will receive a paper receipt. For donations made online at lotm.org, you will receive a receipt via email.

  • LOTM’s staff are inspired by God's love to care for His most vulnerable and traumatized children and to seek justice for those who devise evil against them. We serve every victim, without regard to religion or any other factor, and seek to work alongside all people of goodwill.