How does one explain mission work in Angeles City, (red light district aka Walking Street) Pampanga,
Philippines with her daughter by her side? …
When I was invited to team up with my daughter on the mission field I wasn’t sure what we would be doing.
When I heard that we would be doing “bar ministry” I nearly cried. You’ll have to understand my past…
Years ago when I first became a Christian I believed I was called into bar ministry. I wasn’t sure what that
looked like, but I was sure that’s where the broken, lost, lonely and hurting were hanging out. The more I
read the Word of God the more I was convinced that’s where Jesus would be found if He were to physically
walk the streets again. All these years later when I heard God was calling us to “bar ministry” I was finally
going to see what God meant so many years ago.
The World Race (Adventure in Missions) teamed up with Wipe Every Tear during our Parent Vision Trip to
see if God could use us to bring the hope of Christ to hurting and lost souls. We showed up and so did
Jesus! I never feared once. I would be lying if I told you I never felt uncomfortable or unsettled… We all did.
We were out of our comfort zone. BUT we were being faithful to what we were called to do… find the lost
and bring them home to the Father. Our first night as we walked and prayed for guidance on where we
were to go… God said to my heart “pick a place, you’ll find the lost and hurting behind every door and even
on the streets”. So we went in… actually I was escorted in by one of my new friends, he laced his arm in
mine, his excitement almost make me want to sing karaoke and dance on the stage, I’m pretty positive my
teammates were glad I didn’t … along with everyone else. I could feel the excitement build inside myself,
this wasn’t going to be difficult! Everyone was willing to talk. We went onto our second bar, Bar-Nana, my
favorite bar! We walked in and sat at a table watching the girls dance, a few minutes later a handsome
young man came to our table to see what the heck we were doing there. This turned into a lengthy
conversation and the building of a friendship. I asked him if I could pray with him and he said, “yes”! Right
there at a table in front of the girls he joined hands with me and bowed his head in prayer…. He then asked
if we had a business card, “we sure do”, I replied, shortly later he excused himself. I thought that was
nice… but, I wonder if he’s trying to ditch me. A few minutes later my team agreed it was time to move on.
We left Bar-Nana and walked a few hundred feet and I hear us being called… it was my new friend. He left
the bar to come out to tell three young ladies about the hope we were offering from Wipe Every Tear. I was
amazed this manager left the bar to help us find the lost! We were ecstatic to have the ability to share with
these 3 beautiful women. They responded to us with warmth and indicated they wanted to take advantage
of the opportunity we were able to offer them. After we left them we were pumped… this was easy! Let’s go
find more that wanted hope, so we did. We also met a (drunk) man from Australia who was walking with his
pregnant girlfriend. After he passed us he shouted at us “American white women” he said in his accent
“what in the world are a bunch of American white woman doing here”. I was so happy to be able to tell
them! Before we walked on we prayed with them both, in the middle of the street! I also invited them to the
First Assembly of God church, just down the road a ways… any and every Sunday of their choice.
Night number 2… we began at “The Doll House”… wish I would have never walked into there! I felt so
uncomfortable, it reminded many of us like being at a cattle sale. BUT these were beautiful women loved by
God. That was the only place I felt that we were unwelcome, causing an unsettled feeling. I couldn’t get out
of there soon enough. Onto Bar-Nana … I still wasn’t sure “my friend” was really my friend, I was about to
find out. When he saw me he approached me with warmth and asked if we had spoken to the three young
women he introduced to us last night, I told him we had and we had just seen them again. He indicated that
he would encourage them again after we left. He excused himself and waked back with a beautiful woman
who he set down beside me. He indicated that he wanted me to offer her hope from Wipe Every Tear, but
first he wanted to talk to her. I don’t speak their language, but I could tell he was telling her she was too
good for what she was doing and should listen to what we had to offer. Simply AMAZING I witnessed a bar
manager being a witness for our King!
I stepped out of my comfort zone when I entered a plane that would begin my journey half way across the
world to be a witness for our Savior… what an honor! I truly believe when we sacrifice for His service Jesus
shows up. I could go on and on with stories about how the other parents that traveled from so many
different places to team up, bonded like crazy in just 6 short days… I can’t imagine the bond our kids will
have after 11 months. I believe they are experiencing what “family” really means. The sacrifice of miles
traveled, money spent, comfort zones exploded… is when the Holy Spirit moves and lives are changed!
18 young women showed up to climb on a bus for a two hour bus ride to visit the houses and staff of Wipe
Every Tear. They wanted to hear more about this hope the crazy Americans were talking about. After that
they were all given money to go back to their life … to decide if they wanted “in”.
I believe out of the 18 that showed up 5 are already packed and living in one of the Wipe Every Tear
homes; Hope, Grace or Faith. All three of the girls outside of Bar-Nana are with Wipe Every Tear! Praise
God! The woman that Ashley wrote about in her blog will forever have a place in my heart… like Ashley, we
cried together and laughed together, I believe God has big plans for my new friends.
More about Wipe Every Tear… each woman that leaves Walking Street to live in one of the homes needs
sponsorship of $300 each month. This covers, lodging, food, medical attention, education and a weekly
allowance of approximately $11. If you feel God calling you to partner with this ministry please visit
Thank you so much Kenny Sacht and Becky Angeles from Wipe Every Tear along with their many team
members for their faithful service.
Also, thanks to Joe Lynch from Adventure in Missions for your willingness to serve!
Most of all thank you Jesus for allowing Ashley Loucks, “my little GAL”, to be my daughter. I could not be
more proud to have ministered beside her and to hear Your praises come from her voice!
Words from one proud World Race mother…
Madre’
