On Friday the 26th, I got to go to a brothel in Nelspruit, South Africa. Down the road from two bars, I passed some girls doing hair in the street and turned down an alley where I went up a stairwell and was in a brothel. Down another set of stairs I was in a hallway with numbered doors. As I passed the rooms, some of the girls doors were opened and they were lying on their bed doing their hair and makeup. There was a gut awful feeling in my stomach and still is as I write about the experience. The hallway, including the doors and the molding, was run down. How can girls live like this? How can men do this to them and think nothing of it? My word I was so heavy when I left that place.
In the midst of the evil we held bible study. Four prostitutes sang, read scripture, and prayed with Liz, Catherine, Tryphina, and I. They shared their dreams and what they would do instead if they could get out. One girl, Tandeka, wants to do manicures and eye lashes, but she said it’s too expensive to get trained. Her dad died in 06 and her mom in 07 and at the time of her mother’s death she herself was pregnant. So after having lost both parents and birthing her own child, she was in charge of taking care of her newborn and her younger siblings. When they didn’t have any money she fell into prostitution. She said if there were another way she would get out. Her tears spoke of her struggle. She had so much outer beauty and I hate seeing it used in the way it is. She currently has a problem with swelling in her stomach. The doctor thinks it might be endometriosis. We put her in the middle and prayed over her dream, her life, and her stomach. We prayed over each girl.
There was so much desperation in their eyes. I knew they wanted more of Jesus. I also knew they felt trapped in their current lifestyle. However, Jesus came to bring them hope. I made sure to hug each one tightly and speak life into them before we left.
Leaving the brothel I was taking a few pictures for Catherine’s blog (it’s her ministry) and this lady got really mad. Going off, she asked if I was a journalist and if her kids would be seeing her face in the paper tomorrow. Tryphina explained that I was a Christian. While the others were looking for a friend, me and Liz listened to this lady’s story. She has kids and a husband and they don’t know that sometimes she sells herself for money. Whenever her tax shop is in trouble she goes back into prostitution for a little bit and then gets out again. She told me that it is scary when a man comes in and takes you because you don’t know what he might do to you—if he would kill you or hurt you. My word I can’t imagine the fear and that she has a family and feels it’s her only way to find money when they go bankrupt.
During bible study a drunk man walked in hollering at one of our girls. She said he needed to leave and once he realized we were praying he backed out saying that he respected God. When we exited the room there were men right outside the door and it made me feel sick to my stomach. How could they? It was only like 430 too and the night had already begun. Jesus save those girls! (was the cry of my heart).
In the car on the way back Tryphina was talking about painting one of the dorms in Backdoor and making it home to get those girls out of there quickly. She said she would talk to some people who she thought be helpful in making things happen. She also said that God is opening doors and we must thank Him in ahead of time for already working things out. Tryphina is going to try to connect the girls with their dreams. Thank you God for God-fearing women like her. She doesn’t waste time and she believes in His finished work. So much to learn from women like this!
Pictured above in the red dress is Tryphina Sithole and Catherine is in the blue shirt. They started the ministry in this brothel. Liz my teammate is in white!
