(this blog is over a month late, so forgive me)
Our first night in Cambodia, we went out to a club of sorts to meet up with some members of F-Squad (a July 2012 squad) who was finishing their month in Cambodia in the next couple days before going to Vietnam. One of the girls on my squad’s best guy friend from home is on F-Squad, so we thought why not? It’s our first day here, a day of ‘rest’, why don’t also check out a bit of the city.
I had heard many times things about Cambodia and how its one of the worst countries in the world for sex trafficking…this is honestly the biggest reason why I was excited for this country. Excited might not be the right word, but you’ll understand what I mean in a minute. See my heart BREAKS for human trafficking. Its probably the biggest thing that just wrecks my heart, and the thing I automatically notice where ever we go. I can always spot locations and women who are a part of this.
I can relate to a lot of these women. I’ve been hurt many times in my past by sexual sin. Whether it was others hurting me, or me trying to turn the tables to numb that pain, I’ve been there too at some point.
My heart just beats so strong for them.
We walked into that club last night expecting to meet a few fellow racers and hang out for a bit then head home. We walked out of that club doing something more.
As soon as we walked in (there were very few customers since it had just opened) I saw so many women ready to work.
Lord help me.
The spirit of sex was everywhere. I mean everywhere. Within a half hour or so, so many ‘white’ skinned men, young and old started filling up the club. The VIP areas were getting full. Full of men, most of which were old white men and young Asian women. The men were feeling up on these tiny Cambodian women, dancing with them, buying them drinks, and leaving with them. The women, dressed in very little clothing, were trying to find the big spenders to make a living.
The more I prayed and looked around the more I saw. I found the guy at the bar who was obviously watching and controlling everything that happened in that club.
My heart just hurt for them. All of them!
These men need prayers too! Father convict them! Send someone to him to show him Your love and Your truth. They are obviously lost and don’t know the love of the Father. And the women, oh Lord give these women another way to survive. Rescue them. Heal them. Let them know You and Your redeeming love too!
What you would normally call a prostitute is a victim, make no mistake about this.
Prostitution is rarely a choice, or something you want to do. It’s survival mode, feeding families, providing a roof over their heads. Not having a choice or option to do anything else.
It’s being controlled and many many times outright bought in underground sex trafficking markets. Women, men and children are taken, bought and sold all over this world, even in America right under your nose, right now.
Sobering thought isn’t it?
At this moment in time there is an estimated 27 million people in human trafficking in the world. That’s more slaves today than at any other point in history!
How are we still letting this happen!?
Sex sells. That’s how.
Sex is pushing the majority of these markets to keep expanding. 27 million isn’t the number it’s staying at or decreasing. Every day that number gains more. Every day.
With a number like that it seems overwhelming. What can one person do to effect 27 million?
Pray. I mean pray hard. Find out more about human trafficking and where it’s happening. Ask the Lord to give you a specific country or place to pray for. Every day pray for that place, for those people. Pray for those who are struggling with the sin of porn. Porn has a HUGE role in human trafficking all over the world.
There are organizations that are working to combat human trafficking. Educate yourself on them, then financially support them if you are able or find ways to help serve with them. There are some who dedicate themselves to the fight in America, and some who fight in other countries. Whatever God lays on your heart, fight with them.
What we did that night was beautiful. We prayed. We talked to different guys we met, one of which allowed one of our guys to pray for him! We worshipped on the dance floor. Thomas, one of the guys with me started singing praises at the top of his lungs the whole time he was dancing. It was incredible and encouraged us to do the same. We prayed over that place, over the people. Prayed for the Holy Spirit to invade that club, to change the atmosphere, to heal hearts, to reveal Himself to the people in the place, to bring restoration, hope, life, light, love.
That one night changed the way we now look at going to meet up with some friends. There’s no place where we shouldn’t be Kingdom minded. God is everywhere. We can bring His Kingdom to anywhere and everywhere we go. No matter how dark the place feels when we first walk in, we can bring the light!
