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{{Short description|Swiss writer and artist}}
{{Infobox writer
{{Infobox writer
| image = [[File:Christina Krusi Speaker 2014 wiki.jpg|thumb|Krusi - speaking engagement]]
| image = Christina Krusi Speaker 2014 wiki.jpg
| caption = Krüsi - speaking engagement
| birth_date = 1968<ref name=Bio>[http://www.christina-kruesi.com/christina-kruesi-privat-presse-videos/privat Christina Krüsi biography] (in German)</ref>
| caption =
⚫
| birth_place = [[Switzerland]]<ref name=Migros2014/>
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1968|7|15}}
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| birth_place = [[Zurich, Switzerland]]
| education =
| education =
| occupation = Author, Artist
| occupation = Author, Artist
| spouse = Roland Weber (2nd marriage)
| spouse = Roland Weber (2nd marriage)
| children = 2 (Raphael and Timon)
| children = 2
| website = http://www.christina-kruesi.com/ & (Artist website: [http://www.ckruesi.ch/ www.ckruesi.ch/] )
| website = {{URL|http://www.christina-kruesi.com/}} & (Artist website: {{URL|http://www.ckruesi.ch/}})
}}
}}
{{Commonscat|Christina Krusi}}
{{Commons category|Christina Krusi}}
'''Christina Krüsi''' (born 1968<ref name=Bio/>) is a Swiss author, artist, consultant on mediation and conflict resolution, and advocate for preventing child abuse. She was a [[missionary kid]] who was sexually abused for five years as a child while her parents worked in Bolivia, translating the Bible into local languages. She told her story in a 2013 memoir called "Das Paradies war meine Hölle" ("Paradise Was My Hell"), and a documentary of her experiences was created by Swiss public television and was broadcast in 2014. She lives and works in Switzerland.
'''Christina Krüsi''' was born July 15, 1968 in [[Zurich, Switzerland]], the second of six children. In 1966, Krusi's parents moved the family to the [[Amazon rainforest]] of [[Bolivia]] to work for the American Christian Missionary Society, SIL/Wycliffe and translate the bible into the local Chiquitano and other Indian dialects. The base for the mission was located in [http://bo.geoview.info/wycliffe_base_at_tumi_chucua_circa_1965,24170492p Tumi Chucua] in the country's northeast corner.


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== Life ==
In 1979, the family returned to Switzerland where Krusi completed her Swiss education requirements, later married and moved to the [[Ivory Coast]] of [[Africa]] (returning two years later due to civil unrest). Between 2001-03, Krusi, and several friends with experiences of alleged abuses in Bolivia, approached SIL International with the claim they had failed in their responsibility to protect. Formal apologies were issued and new protective measures were installed following the investigation. Krusi went on to complete two Master's Degrees and develop her art, music and literary work. She also became a consultant in conflict management and motivational speaker, published her memoirs, [http://www.droemer-knaur.de/sixcms/detail.php?template=dkr_suche_start&fulltext=Christina+Krusi ''Paradise Was My Hell''] ([[Droemer Knaur]], July 2013), and created the ''Christina Krusi Foundation'' for child protection from violence and abuse through public awareness.<ref>http://www.moneyhouse.ch/en/u/christina_krusi_foundation_CH-020.7.001.889-9.htm</ref> In April 2014, ''Swiss Television'' debuted a documentary on Krusi's abuse experiences in Bolivia. She remains in Zurich, Switzerland with her family.
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[[File:Tumi Chucua 2013 small.jpg|framed|left|Sunset Tumi Chucua (taken by Krüsi 2013)]]
Christina Krüsi's parents were linguists who travelled to Bolivia in 1966 with the Swiss division of [[Wycliffe Global Alliance]] to translate the Bible into the language of the [[Bolivia#Ethnic and racial classifications|Chiquitano]] people, as well as others.<ref name=Migros2014>{{cite news|title=Der Weg zurück aus der Hölle |url=http://www.migrosmagazin.ch/menschen/portraet/artikel/der-weg-zurueck-aus-der-hoelle|newspaper=Migros Magazin|language=German|author= Ralf Kaminski|date=April 22, 2014}} English via Google Translate [https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.migrosmagazin.ch%2Fmenschen%2Fportraet%2Fartikel%2Fder-weg-zurueck-aus-der-hoelle&edit-text= here]</ref> The Wycliffe group worked in conjunction with [[SIL International]] which ran the site in Tumi Chucua, in the northeast corner of Bolivia.<ref name=WycliffeFAQ>Wycliffe Schweiz website (in German). [http://de.wycliffe.ch/wycliffe-schweiz/aktuell/stellungnahme-zum-buch-christina-kruesi/antworten-auf-ihre-fragen/ Aktuelle Stellungnahmen zum SRF-DOK-Film vom 24.4.14] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017214857/http://de.wycliffe.ch/wycliffe-schweiz/aktuell/stellungnahme-zum-buch-christina-kruesi/antworten-auf-ihre-fragen/ |date=2014-10-17 }} Page accessed January 23, 2016. English via Google Translate [https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fde.wycliffe.ch%2Fwycliffe-schweiz%2Faktuell%2Fstellungnahme-zum-buch-christina-kruesi%2Fantworten-auf-ihre-fragen%2F&edit-text= here]</ref><ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tumi+Chucua,+Bolivia/@-9.0282719,-74.7354409,6z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x93d6a167f1a4e6e9:0xa2cf3780373c5f43 Tumi Chucua at Google Maps]</ref><ref>[http://www.tumi-chucua.mknet.org/ Tumi Chucua Missionary Kids site]. Page accessed January 23, 2016</ref> Her parents travelled back to Switzerland in 1968 so that Krüsi would be born there, and returned to Bolivia shortly thereafter.<ref name=Migros2014/>
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[[File:Christina Krusi 1978 TUmi Chucua small2.jpg|framed|left|Krüsi 1978 Tumi Chucua, Bolivia]]


From 1974, when Krüsi was six years old, until the family left Bolivia in 1979, she was raped repeatedly by five members of the missionary group.<ref name=Migros2014/> 16 other children, girls and boys, were also regularly raped by a wider circle of men.<ref name=Landbote>{{cite news|last1=Söldi|first1=Andrea|title=Auf Mission gegen Kindsmissbrauch|url=http://www.landbote.ch/news/standard/Auf-Mission-gegen-Kindsmissbrauch-/story/16344525|newspaper=der Landbote|language=GErman|date=October 29, 2013}} English version via Google Translate [https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.landbote.ch%2Fnews%2Fstandard%2FAuf-Mission-gegen-Kindsmissbrauch-%2Fstory%2F16344525&edit-text= here]</ref> The rapists coerced the children to keep the abuse quiet by threatening that the mission would close and the indigenous people they were to help would go to hell if they told anyone.<ref name=Basler2013>{{cite news|author=Hugo Stamm|title=Martyrium im Urwald|url=http://bazonline.ch/leben/gesellschaft/Martyrium-im-Urwald/story/25691743|newspaper=Basler Zeitung|language=German|date=July 17, 2013}} English via Google Translate [https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fbazonline.ch%2Fleben%2Fgesellschaft%2FMartyrium-im-Urwald%2Fstory%2F25691743&edit-text= here]</ref> Krüsi's parents were not aware of the abuse, despite changes in her behavior and a suicide attempt.<ref name=Migros2014/><ref name=Basler2013/>
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== Life 1966-2002 ==
[[File:Aerial view of the Amazon Rainforest.jpg|thumbnail|right|Amazon Rainforest]]
[[File:AYMARA INDIANS, BOLIVIA.jpg|thumbnail|Native woman of Bolivia]]
Krusi's family journeyed to the Bolivian rainforest under the guidance of ''Wycliffe Switzerland,'' (one of 105 independent Wycliffe organizations within the [[Wycliffe Global Alliance]] umbrella of SIL International). Wycliffe works in conjunction with local organizations "for Bible translation in Africa, Asia and Latin America," and in Krusi's case, partnered with [[SIL International]], "a faith-based nonprofit organization committed to serving language communities worldwide as they build capacity for sustainable language development" (4,400+ staff in 100 countries).<ref>http://de.wycliffe.ch/wir-ueber-uns/partner/</ref><ref>http://www.sil.org/about</ref>
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[[File:Christina Krusi 1978 TUmi Chucua small2.jpg|framed|left|Krusi 1978 Tumi Chucua, Bolivia]]
Krusi returned to Switzerland with her family in 1979 at 11 years old. During the following four years (1980–84), Krusi finished middle school in [[Diessenhofen, Switzerland]] and then attended art school at [[Stuttgart]]/DE and [[St. Gallen]] for two years before receiving teacher training at [[Amriswil]]. The same year (1987 and now 19 years old), she married a man five years her senior who was also from the Christian community. Together they had two children (sons Raphael and Timon). In 1992, the family moved to [[Abidjan]], [[Côte d'Ivoire]] for two years where Krusi worked as an art teacher and illustrator. However, with the threat of civil war in 1994, they returned to Switzerland. For the next three years (1994–97), Krusi became an adult education drawing teacher as well as head mistress for the local [[Marthalen]] Senior High School in Zurich. She also developed her art and education, taking sculpture and anatomy courses in [[Schaffhausen]] (Switzerland)and [[Stuttgart, Germany]], and attending the Vocational School for Design in Zurich.
[[File:Zürich.jpg|thumbnail|Zurich, Switzerland]]
[[File:Abidjan-Plateau1.JPG|thumbnail|right|Abidjan, Ivory Coast]]


Krüsi returned to Switzerland with her family in 1979 at 11 years old. Krüsi finished middle school and then attended art school before getting training to be a teacher.<ref name=TagBlatt>{{cite news|last1=Bula|first1=Diana|title=Im Urwald gepeinigt |url=http://www.tagblatt.ch/aktuell/panorama/panorama/Im-Urwald-gepeinigt;art253654,3526533|newspaper=TagBlatt|language=German|date=September 6, 2013}} English version via Google Translate [https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tagblatt.ch%2Faktuell%2Fpanorama%2Fpanorama%2FIm-Urwald-gepeinigt%3Bart253654%2C3526533&edit-text= here]</ref> In 1987 when she was 19 years old, she married a man who was also from the Christian community. Together they had two children.<ref name=Blick2013>Kaye Anthon for Blick. July 2, 2013. [http://www.blick.ch/people-tv/schweiz/missionars-tochter-kruesi-als-kind-missbraucht-in-der-sonntagsschule-vergewaltigten-sie-mich-id2358025.html Missionars-Tochter Krüsi als Kind missbraucht:«In der Sonntagsschule vergewaltigten sie mich»] (in German) English version via Google Translate [https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blick.ch%2Fpeople-tv%2Fschweiz%2Fmissionars-tochter-kruesi-als-kind-missbraucht-in-der-sonntagsschule-vergewaltigten-sie-mich-id2358025.html&edit-text= here]</ref>
== Book/Documentary: Abuse in Bolivia ==
In 2003, and now in her mid-30's and with the help of a mediator, Krusi, and several other victims of alleged abuses in Bolivia, approached SIL/Wycliffe at an arranged meeting in the [[United States]]. In turn, SIL commenced an investigation (completed in 2005) and confirmed the abuse validity, although did not publicly reveal what abuses were committed, by whom, or against how many of the women. They also released a formal apology to the women, including regrets that the alleged offenders could not be prosecuted due to time-barred restrictions and because some alleged perpetrators had died. They did however implement several policy changes for stricter measures to protect children, including assistance from MIRA, a Swiss-based organization for sustainable prevention of sexual exploitation and ''[http://childsafetyprotectionnetwork.org/ The Child Safety and Protection Network]''<ref>http://www.mira.ch/index.php?id=2</ref><ref>http://de.wycliffe.ch/wir-ueber-uns/was-uns-wichtig-ist/kinderschutz/</ref><ref>http://www.blick.ch/people-tv/schweiz/missionars-tochter-kruesi-als-kind-missbraucht-in-der-sonntagsschule-vergewaltigten-sie-mich-id2358025.html</ref>


She told no one about the abuse until 2002, after she collapsed while jogging, and decided that she had to confront the past and stop being a victim.<ref name=TagBlatt/><ref name=Blick2013/> Her story was met with disbelief and dismay by those around her, including her family.<ref name=TagBlatt/> However the next year, she received a letter from the US division of Wycliffe, which said that two other people who had been abused had come forward and had said that she too had been abused.<ref name=TagBlatt/> The next year Wycliffe held a meeting in the US to discuss what had happened, which Krüsi attended, and the full extent of the abuse emerged.<ref name=TagBlatt/> A formal report was generated by SIL International and authorities were informed, but because the [[statute of limitations]] had long expired, no legal action could be taken.<ref name=WycliffeFAQ/><ref name=TagBlatt/> Additionally, three of the five perpetrators were dead at that time.<ref name=WycliffeFAQ/> SIL and Wycliffe issued written apologies to Krüsi and the other people who had been abused, and provided them with some money.<ref name=WycliffeFAQ/><ref name=Basler2013/> Wycliffe also implemented numerous policy changes to protect children<ref name="Blick2013"/> and SIL, together with [[New Tribes Mission]], formed the Child Protection and Safety Network in 2006.<ref>[http://childsafetyprotectionnetwork.org/about About the Child Protection and Safety Network] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201122825/http://childsafetyprotectionnetwork.org/about |date=2016-02-01 }} Page accessed January 26, 2016]</ref>
In 2013, Krusi published her biography, ''Paradise Was My Hell,''<ref>http://www.droemer-knaur.de/buch/7778930/das-paradies-war-meine-hoelle</ref> which detailed her stories of alleged abuse, including how the perpetrators marked (cut) her and other victims on both knees to "declare (them) fair game...sex slaves," and details of repeated rapes "before piano lessons...after school...during Sunday school...often in the public toilets of the missionary village and sometimes drugged her with ether." Krusi contends that all victims were put under tremendous pressure by the abusers not to talk to anybody or very bad things would happen, and denies that her abuse experiences are [[repressed memories]] because she recorded them in a diary at 13 years old (and discussed them with her mother at 16). The diary was never made public.
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[[File:Tumi Chucua 2013 small.jpg|framed|left|Sunset Tumi Chucua (taken by Krusi 2013)]]
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[[File:Christina Krusi Studio Artist 2014 Wiki.jpg|thumb|Krusi in Art Studio]]
In 2014, Andrea Pfalzgraf produced an exposé of Krusi's story called "I am no longer a victim - Abused in the name of God." The film was funded and aired by [[Swiss Television]] (SRF1)<ref>Documentary: http://www.srf.ch/sendungen/dok/ich-bin-kein-opfer-mehr-missbraucht-im-namen-gottes</ref><ref>SRF Interview: http://www.srf.ch/news/regional/zuerich-schaffhausen/ich-bin-kein-opfer-mehr-missbraucht-im-namen-gottes</ref> The SIL's response to film was skeptical. For example, Keith Robinson, SIL Global Child Safety Officer noted to Blick.ch's Ralph Hennecke: "virtually all offenders deny the crimes...[and] many are now deceased. Therefore SIL has no way to get them to the process.. If it actually happened, it would be totally horrible... But [SIL] does not have matching statements that really something happened." Krusi responded in the same article with "I know of at least 18 victims and I am still in touch with many. Unfortunately, few have the courage to talk about their experiences."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hennecke|title=Warum Sie weiter zur Frau Krüsi tun?|website=http://www.blick.ch/people-tv/tv/vergewaltigungsopfer-kehrt-fuer-srf-dok-zum-ort-des-grauens-zurueck-warum-tun-sie-sich-das-an-frau-kruesi-id2815762.html|accessdate=28 November 2014}}</ref> As well, [[:de:Hugo Stamm|Hugo Stamm]], author of several books on 'indoctrine' and editor for Tages-Anzeiger news in Zurich, noted "The parents refused to speak to journalists about the events in Bolivia" nor are they, as Stamm implies, supportive of Krusi public abuse revelations.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Stamm|first1=Hugo|title=Ein Missionskind kämpft um Gerechtigkeit|website=http://www.blick.ch/people-tv/tv/vergewaltigungsopfer-kehrt-fuer-srf-dok-zum-ort-des-grauens-zurueck-warum-tun-sie-sich-das-an-frau-kruesi-id2815762.html|accessdate=28 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Stamm|first1=Hugo|title=Für Gott – gegen die Tochter|website=http://blog.tagesanzeiger.ch/hugostamm/index.php/33514/fuer-gott-gegen-die-tochter/|accessdate=28 November 2014}}</ref>


Krüsi remained determined to overcome the wounds of her past, and the turmoil led to the end of her marriage.<ref name=Migros2014/><ref name=Blick2013/> With the money from the settlement, she was able to support herself and her children while she completed two master's degree programs and returned to making art. She began using her sculptures and paintings to continue her work of recovery. She also took a job as a school principal.<ref name=Blick2013/> She eventually realized that she needed to put the story into words to help with her own recovery, for the sake of the other people who had been abused in Bolivia, whom she had come to know, and most of whom were shattered and on government assistance,<ref name=Landbote/> and to prevent future abuse.<ref name=Migros2014/> When the book was ready to be published, she quit her job running the school in anticipation of the toll it would take on her and those around her.<ref name=Landbote/>
Wycliffe's response was conciliatory to Krusi, stating, "We congratulate Christina Krüsi for courage to face the trauma of her childhood." They were, however disappointed "the film did not address why the violators were not punished" (see above). They also reacted strongly to the documentary's sub-title, [http://www.srf.ch/sendungen/dok/ich-bin-kein-opfer-mehr-missbraucht-im-namen-gottes I am no longer a victim - ''abused in the name of God''] with Wycliffe Switzerland's website stating: "Such atrocities can not be done in the name of God. The name of God has been abused by the perpetrators as an excuse."<ref>{{cite web|title=Answers to Your Questions|url=http://de.wycliffe.ch/wycliffe-schweiz/aktuell/stellungnahme-zum-buch-christina-kruesi/antworten-auf-ihre-fragen/|accessdate=28 November 2014}}</ref> Krusi's abuse documentary also detailed a ritual child murder which was not included in the SIL/Wycliffe studies from 2003 (depicted with overtones of [[Satanic ritual abuse|Satanic Ritual]] though not labelled as such by either Krusi or Wycliffe/SIL)"because the facts [were] insufficient...[but] have changed with the release of Christina Krüsis book. Our partner organization is currently working...to organize an independent investigation."<ref>Wycliffe full response to documentary: http://de.wycliffe.ch/wycliffe-schweiz/aktuell/stellungnahme-zum-buch-christina-kruesi/antworten-auf-ihre-fragen</ref>


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[[File:Christina Krusi Studio Artist 2014 Wiki.jpg|thumb|Krüsi in Art Studio]]
== Life 2003-Present ==
In 2013, Krüsi published her memoir, "Das Paradies war meine Hölle" ("Paradise Was My Hell").<ref name=Migros2014/><ref>Christina Krüsi. [http://www.droemer-knaur.de/buch/7778930/das-paradies-war-meine-hoelleDas Paradies war meine Hölle]. Droemer Knaur (July 1, 2013) {{ISBN|978-3426785652}} (German)</ref> In response to the book, in March 2013 Krüsi's parents wrote a letter in Wycliffe's journal expressing horror over what happened to their daughter and how they almost lost their faith in God due to the events, and also expressed their subsequent affirmation of their faith and their continued dedication to their translation work.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Krüsi|first1=Martin and Dorothee|title=Uberstezen: Dennoch! |url=http://de.wycliffe.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/resources/3_2013_web.pdf |website=de.Wycliffe.ch| publisher=Wycliffe Schweiz|language=German|date=March 2013}}</ref>
Although Krusi's marriage ended in 2002, she continued as head mistress at Marthalen High School (until 2006) and participated in art/poetry/music projects and exhibitions, using her painting as a creative outlet, and between 2007–12, she completed two Masters Degrees: Management Culture from [[Zurich University of Applied Sciences]] (AW Zurich) in 2007 and Educational Management at [http://Pädagogische%20Hochschule%20Zürich Zurich University of Teacher Education] (PH Zurich - as part of the MAS) in 2012. [[File:View of Winterthur.jpg|thumbnail|left|Krusi's home Winterthur, Switzerland]]She also assumed a management position for a kindergarten-to-senior school in [[Winterthur, Switzerland]], introduced MAP Magazine for artist professionals in conjunctions with [[Open Doors Winterthur]], implemented an addiction and violence prevention program (QUIMS: Quality In Multicultural Schools) for the Winterthur [[Töss]] School District, and expanded both her consulting work and sculpture/painting.<ref>http://www.opendoorswinterthur.ch/</ref> Also, in addition to releasing her book, in 2013 Krusi co-founded (with supporter Gudrun Ruttkowski) the ''Christina Krüsi Foundation'' for the protection of children, which supports people and projects that raise public awareness - "opens society's eyes" to the issues of child abuse (the Foundation receives a portion of Krusi's book and art sales) and completed a children's book.<ref>http://www.christinakruesifoundation.org</ref><ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T64lZe1AuA8</ref><ref>http://www.amazon.de/Chrigi-Nanama-Dschungelfreunde-Christina-Kr%C3%BCsi/dp/3952418404/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1413530155&sr=1-1 Chrigi and nanama: Jungle Friends</ref> The same year, Krusi received a Swiss Federal Diploma in Conflict Management and Mediation (ZHAW) which broadened her consulting to include lectures and seminars in German and English on resilience, creative strategy building and motivational training.<ref>http://www.christina-kruesi.com/christina-kruesi-privat-presse-videos/privat</ref><ref>http://www.christina-kruesi.com/buecher-filme-lesungen</ref>


In April 2014, [[Schweizer Fernsehen|Swiss Television]] produced a program on Krüsi's experiences as part of a regular documentary series called [[DOK (TV series)|DOK]]) titled " Ich bin kein Opfer mehr – missbraucht im Namen Gottes" ("I am no longer a victim - Abused in the name of God.")<ref name=SRFprogram2014>Staff, SRF Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen. April 24, 2014. Program Description: [http://www.srf.ch/sendungen/dok/ich-bin-kein-opfer-mehr-missbraucht-im-namen-gottes Ich bin kein Opfer mehr – missbraucht im Namen Gottes] (in German) English via Google Translate [https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.srf.ch%2Fsendungen%2Fdok%2Fich-bin-kein-opfer-mehr-missbraucht-im-namen-gottes&edit-text= here]</ref><ref name=SRFinterview2014>Andrea Pfalzgraf for SRF. April 24, 2014 [http://www.srf.ch/news/regional/zuerich-schaffhausen/ich-bin-kein-opfer-mehr-missbraucht-im-namen-gottes Christina Krüsi interview] (in German) English via Google Translate [https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.srf.ch%2Fnews%2Fregional%2Fzuerich-schaffhausen%2Fich-bin-kein-opfer-mehr-missbraucht-im-namen-gottes&edit-text= here]</ref>
Krusi currently resides in Winterthur, Switzerland, a suburb of Zurich, and lives with her second husband and two grown children. She continues to develop her art, professional and foundation works.

In addition to the book and movie, Krüsi co-founded the ''Christina Krüsi Foundation'' for the protection of children; it receives a portion of Krüsi's book and art sales.<ref name=Stadi2014>{{cite news|author=Staff|title=Rückkehr an den Ort der Höllenangst|url=http://www.stadi-online.ch/PDF/Ausgabe/040314/040314/assets/basic-html/page36.html|newspaper=Winterthurer Stadtanzeiger Wochenseitung |language=German|date=March 4, 2014 }} English via Google Translate [https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stadi-online.ch%2FPDF%2FAusgabe%2F040314%2F040314%2Fassets%2Fbasic-html%2Fpage36.html&edit-text= here]</ref><ref>Moneyhouse. [http://www.moneyhouse.ch/en/u/christina_Krüsi_foundation_CH-020.7.001.889-9.htm Christina Krüsi Foundation] Page accessed January 23, 2016</ref>

She has married again, and continues to paint and sculpt, and has also self-published a children's book called, "Chrigi und Nanama: Dschungelfreunde".<ref name=Migros2014/><ref name=Basler2013/><ref>Christina Krüsi and Gudrun Ruttkowski. Chrigi und Nanama: Dschungelfreunde. 2013. {{ISBN|978-3952418406}}</ref> She has a business providing mediation and conflict management services, and is writing a second book on the processing of trauma.<ref name=Migros2014/>

==See also==
* [[Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist|2}}

{{authority control}}


{{Persondata
| NAME = Krusi, Christina
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Swiss writer and artist
| DATE OF BIRTH = July 15, 1968
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Zurich, Switzerland]]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Krusi, Christina}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Krusi, Christina}}
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:Swiss women writers|Writers]]
[[Category:Swiss women writers]]
[[Category:Swiss painters]]
[[Category:21st-century Swiss painters]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Books about child abuse]]
[[Category:Swiss women painters]]
[[Category:Memory]]
[[Category:Memory disorders]]
[[Category:Satanic ritual abuse]]

Latest revision as of 04:08, 1 April 2024

Christina Krüsi
Krüsi - speaking engagement
Krüsi - speaking engagement
Born1968[1]
Switzerland[2]
OccupationAuthor, Artist
SpouseRoland Weber (2nd marriage)
Children2
Website
www.christina-kruesi.com & (Artist website: www.ckruesi.ch)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Christina Krusi.

Christina Krüsi (born 1968[1]) is a Swiss author, artist, consultant on mediation and conflict resolution, and advocate for preventing child abuse. She was a missionary kid who was sexually abused for five years as a child while her parents worked in Bolivia, translating the Bible into local languages. She told her story in a 2013 memoir called "Das Paradies war meine Hölle" ("Paradise Was My Hell"), and a documentary of her experiences was created by Swiss public television and was broadcast in 2014. She lives and works in Switzerland.

Life

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Sunset Tumi Chucua (taken by Krüsi 2013)

Christina Krüsi's parents were linguists who travelled to Bolivia in 1966 with the Swiss division of Wycliffe Global Alliance to translate the Bible into the language of the Chiquitano people, as well as others.[2] The Wycliffe group worked in conjunction with SIL International which ran the site in Tumi Chucua, in the northeast corner of Bolivia.[3][4][5] Her parents travelled back to Switzerland in 1968 so that Krüsi would be born there, and returned to Bolivia shortly thereafter.[2]

Krüsi 1978 Tumi Chucua, Bolivia

From 1974, when Krüsi was six years old, until the family left Bolivia in 1979, she was raped repeatedly by five members of the missionary group.[2] 16 other children, girls and boys, were also regularly raped by a wider circle of men.[6] The rapists coerced the children to keep the abuse quiet by threatening that the mission would close and the indigenous people they were to help would go to hell if they told anyone.[7] Krüsi's parents were not aware of the abuse, despite changes in her behavior and a suicide attempt.[2][7]

Krüsi returned to Switzerland with her family in 1979 at 11 years old. Krüsi finished middle school and then attended art school before getting training to be a teacher.[8] In 1987 when she was 19 years old, she married a man who was also from the Christian community. Together they had two children.[9]

She told no one about the abuse until 2002, after she collapsed while jogging, and decided that she had to confront the past and stop being a victim.[8][9] Her story was met with disbelief and dismay by those around her, including her family.[8] However the next year, she received a letter from the US division of Wycliffe, which said that two other people who had been abused had come forward and had said that she too had been abused.[8] The next year Wycliffe held a meeting in the US to discuss what had happened, which Krüsi attended, and the full extent of the abuse emerged.[8] A formal report was generated by SIL International and authorities were informed, but because the statute of limitations had long expired, no legal action could be taken.[3][8] Additionally, three of the five perpetrators were dead at that time.[3] SIL and Wycliffe issued written apologies to Krüsi and the other people who had been abused, and provided them with some money.[3][7] Wycliffe also implemented numerous policy changes to protect children[9] and SIL, together with New Tribes Mission, formed the Child Protection and Safety Network in 2006.[10]

Krüsi remained determined to overcome the wounds of her past, and the turmoil led to the end of her marriage.[2][9] With the money from the settlement, she was able to support herself and her children while she completed two master's degree programs and returned to making art. She began using her sculptures and paintings to continue her work of recovery. She also took a job as a school principal.[9] She eventually realized that she needed to put the story into words to help with her own recovery, for the sake of the other people who had been abused in Bolivia, whom she had come to know, and most of whom were shattered and on government assistance,[6] and to prevent future abuse.[2] When the book was ready to be published, she quit her job running the school in anticipation of the toll it would take on her and those around her.[6]

Krüsi in Art Studio

In 2013, Krüsi published her memoir, "Das Paradies war meine Hölle" ("Paradise Was My Hell").[2][11] In response to the book, in March 2013 Krüsi's parents wrote a letter in Wycliffe's journal expressing horror over what happened to their daughter and how they almost lost their faith in God due to the events, and also expressed their subsequent affirmation of their faith and their continued dedication to their translation work.[12]

In April 2014, Swiss Television produced a program on Krüsi's experiences as part of a regular documentary series called DOK) titled " Ich bin kein Opfer mehr – missbraucht im Namen Gottes" ("I am no longer a victim - Abused in the name of God.")[13][14]

In addition to the book and movie, Krüsi co-founded the Christina Krüsi Foundation for the protection of children; it receives a portion of Krüsi's book and art sales.[15][16]

She has married again, and continues to paint and sculpt, and has also self-published a children's book called, "Chrigi und Nanama: Dschungelfreunde".[2][7][17] She has a business providing mediation and conflict management services, and is writing a second book on the processing of trauma.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Christina Krüsi biography (in German)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Ralf Kaminski (April 22, 2014). "Der Weg zurück aus der Hölle". Migros Magazin (in German). English via Google Translate here
  3. ^ a b c d Wycliffe Schweiz website (in German). Aktuelle Stellungnahmen zum SRF-DOK-Film vom 24.4.14 Archived 2014-10-17 at the Wayback Machine Page accessed January 23, 2016. English via Google Translate here
  4. ^ Tumi Chucua at Google Maps
  5. ^ Tumi Chucua Missionary Kids site. Page accessed January 23, 2016
  6. ^ a b c Söldi, Andrea (October 29, 2013). "Auf Mission gegen Kindsmissbrauch". der Landbote (in German). English version via Google Translate here
  7. ^ a b c d Hugo Stamm (July 17, 2013). "Martyrium im Urwald". Basler Zeitung (in German). English via Google Translate here
  8. ^ a b c d e f Bula, Diana (September 6, 2013). "Im Urwald gepeinigt". TagBlatt (in German). English version via Google Translate here
  9. ^ a b c d e Kaye Anthon for Blick. July 2, 2013. Missionars-Tochter Krüsi als Kind missbraucht:«In der Sonntagsschule vergewaltigten sie mich» (in German) English version via Google Translate here
  10. ^ About the Child Protection and Safety Network Archived 2016-02-01 at the Wayback Machine Page accessed January 26, 2016]
  11. ^ Christina Krüsi. Paradies war meine Hölle. Droemer Knaur (July 1, 2013) ISBN 978-3426785652 (German)
  12. ^ Krüsi, Martin and Dorothee (March 2013). "Uberstezen: Dennoch!" (PDF). de.Wycliffe.ch (in German). Wycliffe Schweiz.
  13. ^ Staff, SRF Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen. April 24, 2014. Program Description: Ich bin kein Opfer mehr – missbraucht im Namen Gottes (in German) English via Google Translate here
  14. ^ Andrea Pfalzgraf for SRF. April 24, 2014 Christina Krüsi interview (in German) English via Google Translate here
  15. ^ Staff (March 4, 2014). "Rückkehr an den Ort der Höllenangst". Winterthurer Stadtanzeiger Wochenseitung (in German). English via Google Translate here
  16. ^ Moneyhouse. Christina Krüsi Foundation Page accessed January 23, 2016
  17. ^ Christina Krüsi and Gudrun Ruttkowski. Chrigi und Nanama: Dschungelfreunde. 2013. ISBN 978-3952418406
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