10 hours of solid sleep and I feel so refreshed. The day began with breakfast at the hotel then as a team we gathered for a time of worship, devotional, and to talk about what we had experienced the night before. This time was so refreshing and rejuvenating, especially after a difficult few days of travel and witnessing the sin of the city first hand.
We then headed a short distance outside of the city to visit the halfway house for women that are choosing to leave the industry. This is the first shelter for the program and can accommodate up to 10 women at a time. The vision is to open more homes like this around the city. Each home would also have a house mother who would provide counseling, supervision, and direction. Meeting some of the girls there was so encouraging. They had life, hope and a sparkle in their eyes – dreams of learning English and opening their own business. One girl that lived there had just left life at the bars and was able to rescue her sister who was on her way to the city to work with a neighboring bar owner. Her sister had been sent into the city to work by her family to send money home. But her sister was able to stop her from a life of prostitution and convince her that there are other options and a better life ahead. They now share a room in this halfway house.
In a few hours we will be heading out to the businesses center that is a part of this program to teach. Afterwards we will be heading to the bars again, but this time to do outreach to the girls, bar owners, and even customers.
After processing my thoughts a bit from what I observed last night, I still feel overwhelmed. While in India we were confronted daily by the in your face type of poverty… this is different as it is blatant in your face evil. The look in the girls eyes who are working in the bars is hollow and empty… but when you stare at the men, the customers, they have the same look… glazed over and distant, just a shell of a man. They walk with their shoulders hunched and exhibit no sign of confidence (the customers are primarily middle aged American and European men). The worse of it all is seeing the children, some as young as 2 or 3…
The thing I need to remember (but struggle to do) is that it is okay to be angry, however I need to keep my anger directed towards the situation, the sin. Being angry and hateful towards the men (bar owners and customers) makes me part of the issue, part of the sin. The customers are broken and seeking love; the bar owners are the instruments of Satan in this dark place – they are broken people. Even though it is easier said than done I am trying to understand what it means to extend mercy, especially in this evil place.
At the end of the day all I can say is that there is hope. The crowds are smaller than usual and some bars have even closed down… all we can continue to hope for is that this is a sign of God’s work and light in a city of darkness. I am encouraged by this awareness and with the knowledge that we are here doing good work and providing sustainable opportunities for women to choose a different life.
When most of you read this (Monday Morning) please pray as we will be in the middle of the bars… pray for safety for the team, but more importantly that the girl’s hearts would be softened to what we have to share with them about hope for a different way of life.
No comments:
Post a Comment