Written 2/3/11
Just when I think that I’m speechless, and have no words to
describe something that is going on inside of me… God allows another
circumstance to rock my world, and leave me even more speechless than I was
before.
describe something that is going on inside of me… God allows another
circumstance to rock my world, and leave me even more speechless than I was
before.
I really felt strongly to go to the beach today. And NO, it
was not to go for a swim, or get a tan… I think I’m tanned enough anyways. But
that’s where the Balka’s are…that’ where the prostitutes are… I wanted to be
there among them and let God lead me to a conversation with at least one of
them.
was not to go for a swim, or get a tan… I think I’m tanned enough anyways. But
that’s where the Balka’s are…that’ where the prostitutes are… I wanted to be
there among them and let God lead me to a conversation with at least one of
them.
Leah, who is on another team, volunteered to come with me.
She felt she needed to be there too. James volunteered to come with us, because
we needed a guy to walk with us for these first few days, just for AIM safety
reasons, until we can feel out the area and see what it is like.
She felt she needed to be there too. James volunteered to come with us, because
we needed a guy to walk with us for these first few days, just for AIM safety
reasons, until we can feel out the area and see what it is like.
We all set out, and came upon Christian on the Rocks’
restaurant. He called us over, and Leah and I sat down ready to eat, and ready
to converse with him. James stayed behind, because we felt he would be more of
a distraction (in this area, us girls are protecting the guys…interesting turn
of events). We got to start a convo with Christian on the Rocks, but he was a
bit busy trying to get more customers to come into the restaurant. “Friend,
come inside. Have a drink.�
restaurant. He called us over, and Leah and I sat down ready to eat, and ready
to converse with him. James stayed behind, because we felt he would be more of
a distraction (in this area, us girls are protecting the guys…interesting turn
of events). We got to start a convo with Christian on the Rocks, but he was a
bit busy trying to get more customers to come into the restaurant. “Friend,
come inside. Have a drink.�
We did get some good bits of convo going. He is 20 years
old. He came to Puerto Galera, and started working at the age of 15. He said it
was to help his family. They needed money. He says that he sends them money.
old. He came to Puerto Galera, and started working at the age of 15. He said it
was to help his family. They needed money. He says that he sends them money.
One thing we found a bit odd was that he kept on saying “Friend, I’m so happy. I love my job. I’m so happy.� We just nodded our heads in
agreement. He briskly walked away, then wmarched back with our food. I offered some
of my waffle to him, and he adamantly said “NO… I’m so full, I just ate.�
agreement. He briskly walked away, then wmarched back with our food. I offered some
of my waffle to him, and he adamantly said “NO… I’m so full, I just ate.�
About ten minutes later, we saw Christian on the Rocks
scarfing a burger down, that was bought from a street vendor.
scarfing a burger down, that was bought from a street vendor.
Made me wonder if all that he says aligns with what’s
actually going on inside of him.
actually going on inside of him.
We finished our meal, and told Christian on the Rocks that
we would see him again. His birthday is Feb 15th. We’re going to try
to do something special for him on that day. It was a great start of a
friendship.
we would see him again. His birthday is Feb 15th. We’re going to try
to do something special for him on that day. It was a great start of a
friendship.
We moved on down the strip and I stopped by Ayeth’s shop. I
started talking to her, and got to share a lot about the difference between a
religion with God and a relationship with God. She was listening intently and
asking a lot of questions.
started talking to her, and got to share a lot about the difference between a
religion with God and a relationship with God. She was listening intently and
asking a lot of questions.
I got
to talk to her about my family, and hear about her family. She also said she
would give me a good price on some items because she loved me. That melted my
heart…not the good price thing…but that she said she loved me. I just met her
the day before, but she felt comfortable enough to say something like that… I’m
humbled once again…that’s the Jesus in me…I like it.
When we were almost done with our convo, Leah came up to me
and said she felt very strongly to go over to a Filipino girl who was sitting
on the beach by herself.
and said she felt very strongly to go over to a Filipino girl who was sitting
on the beach by herself.
O.K… Pause….Rewind…So, I’m going to try my best to relay to
you the elaborate lengths God goes to reach a hungry soul, and the complexity
of his simplicity, and how when we just simply obey him, He allows things to
happen that blow our mind, and
give He can get all the glory.
you the elaborate lengths God goes to reach a hungry soul, and the complexity
of his simplicity, and how when we just simply obey him, He allows things to
happen that blow our mind, and
give He can get all the glory.
Yesterday, my teammate, Sarah, and a squadmate , Stacey,
felt God was impressing in their hearts to start a volleyball camp at the
beach. Using the volleyball as a means to build relationship and show others
the God in them. SO they started that today.
felt God was impressing in their hearts to start a volleyball camp at the
beach. Using the volleyball as a means to build relationship and show others
the God in them. SO they started that today.
There are at least 10 volleyball nets on the beach, and when
they arrived at the beach they were led to one of the last volleyball nets.
they arrived at the beach they were led to one of the last volleyball nets.
This happened to be the volleyball net right outside my new
Filipino friend Ayeth’s shop. And this also happened to be near the spot where
a 60ish year old American was sitting and caressing a younger Filipino girl. Leah
noticed this while she was sitting outside the shop watching the girls play,
and waiting for me to finish talking to Ayeth.
Filipino friend Ayeth’s shop. And this also happened to be near the spot where
a 60ish year old American was sitting and caressing a younger Filipino girl. Leah
noticed this while she was sitting outside the shop watching the girls play,
and waiting for me to finish talking to Ayeth.
Resume… Leah came up to me and said she believed God wanted
us to go talk to a Filipino girl sitting by herself. She was sitting by herself
because the man had gotten up to play volleyball!!
us to go talk to a Filipino girl sitting by herself. She was sitting by herself
because the man had gotten up to play volleyball!!
Leah and I jumped at the opportunity and walked near where
she was sitting, pretending to be enamored by the ocean. I looked over and
smiled at the girl. She smiled back, and Leah and I both knew she was open to
have the company of two females. We walked over and started talking to her.
she was sitting, pretending to be enamored by the ocean. I looked over and
smiled at the girl. She smiled back, and Leah and I both knew she was open to
have the company of two females. We walked over and started talking to her.
As we talked to her, it all felt so surreal.
She told us her
name is Paris. She’s 22. Paris is beautiful. She has a petite build, and a
heart shaped face with a beautiful smile. Despite her “job�, she had such a
tender and warm spirit about her. She was so excited to talk with us. Her smile
reassured us of this. And so did our conversation.
name is Paris. She’s 22. Paris is beautiful. She has a petite build, and a
heart shaped face with a beautiful smile. Despite her “job�, she had such a
tender and warm spirit about her. She was so excited to talk with us. Her smile
reassured us of this. And so did our conversation.
Leah asked her
a couple of general questions, and Paris’s answers led to the question of what
she was doing here. Paris began to give her safe answer but then said , “I’m
not going to lie to you girls, I work at the bar, and this is my friend that I
am showing around.� We knew exactly what she meant.
a couple of general questions, and Paris’s answers led to the question of what
she was doing here. Paris began to give her safe answer but then said , “I’m
not going to lie to you girls, I work at the bar, and this is my friend that I
am showing around.� We knew exactly what she meant.
She continued. “I don’t like what I do, but I have no
choice. I am the oldest in the family, and my sister and brother have to go to
school. I send them money. �
choice. I am the oldest in the family, and my sister and brother have to go to
school. I send them money. �
I think that those words will motivate me to fight against
this issue till the day I die. “…But I have no choice.�
this issue till the day I die. “…But I have no choice.�
We began to share with her that she does have a choice. That
there is a God who loves her deeply, and has a future for her, with a hope.
there is a God who loves her deeply, and has a future for her, with a hope.
She told us that she often prayed to God and told him that
she was sorry for doing bad things, and that she didn’t smoke or drink like the
other girls because she didn’t want God to be even more upset with her. She told us that she was lonely, and was
so happy to talk to two females.
she was sorry for doing bad things, and that she didn’t smoke or drink like the
other girls because she didn’t want God to be even more upset with her. She told us that she was lonely, and was
so happy to talk to two females.
As she talked, it took everything inside of me to not break
down in tears in front of her.
down in tears in front of her.
She’s the face!
She’s the face
of all the stories I read about, of all the research I’ve done. Of the songs
and writings that were created about this issue… Paris is the face. She is a person… a life… a hurting
heart… a soul crying out for redemption and an alternative…
of all the stories I read about, of all the research I’ve done. Of the songs
and writings that were created about this issue… Paris is the face. She is a person… a life… a hurting
heart… a soul crying out for redemption and an alternative…
As Leah and I shared about God’s love for her, how he’s not
upset with her, and about His forgiveness through Jesus, tears welled up in
Paris’ eyes. These words came out of her mouth.
upset with her, and about His forgiveness through Jesus, tears welled up in
Paris’ eyes. These words came out of her mouth.
“God used you two as instruments.�
“Yes!� We said emphatically. We were simply the ones who
were privileged to tell Paris about God’s intense, insane, and passionate love
for her.
were privileged to tell Paris about God’s intense, insane, and passionate love
for her.
The volleyball game ended, and her “friend� came back. He
seemed nice enough. (again, God loves him too, and he has cuts in his heart
that no one but Jesus can heal).Paris made sure she was ready to go when he
was. Naturally our conversation ended, but before he came back we made plans to
meet her tomorrow for lunch. She mentioned she would like to bring another
girlfriend who hates what she’s doing as well.
seemed nice enough. (again, God loves him too, and he has cuts in his heart
that no one but Jesus can heal).Paris made sure she was ready to go when he
was. Naturally our conversation ended, but before he came back we made plans to
meet her tomorrow for lunch. She mentioned she would like to bring another
girlfriend who hates what she’s doing as well.
I can hardly contain the excitement, and expectancy that is
surging inside of me! God loves Paris, and she will choose to live a life that
is FREE in Christ!
surging inside of me! God loves Paris, and she will choose to live a life that
is FREE in Christ!
I know MORE THAN EVER that this is where my heart lies… with
these girls…with those who are lonely and feel that they have no choice, and with
the children who are at risk of ending up in Paris’ shoes.
these girls…with those who are lonely and feel that they have no choice, and with
the children who are at risk of ending up in Paris’ shoes.
I just stand in awe of God and his sovereignty in my life,
and how He has guided me thus far.
and how He has guided me thus far.
I think back to 2004, when I first heard about the teenage
prostitution going on in Angeles City, Philippines, and how my heart broke for
them… but I never thought I would get to the Philippines.
prostitution going on in Angeles City, Philippines, and how my heart broke for
them… but I never thought I would get to the Philippines.
And then two summers ago, with my heart breaking even more
for the issue, and diving head first into the fight against human trafficking.
for the issue, and diving head first into the fight against human trafficking.
Now, 2011… here I am… meeting a life that, I believe by
faith, will be a survivor story of God’s life changing and saving power from the sex industry.
faith, will be a survivor story of God’s life changing and saving power from the sex industry.
And this is only the beginning… The wheels in my head are
turning, and my heart is burning .
turning, and my heart is burning .
Like I said before, this is only the beginning… and God is getting all the
credit, and glory.
credit, and glory.
Agenda: Love,
Bethsaida
p.s. Here’s the link to some more pics from the Philippines:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1886101791416&set=a.1886100871393.2116296.1207557236#!/album.php?fbid=1886100871393&id=1207557236&aid=2116296
