The NightLight staff warned us of the spiritual warfare going on in the Nana District. They warned us that sometimes before going on outreach, we might not feel like going. We might feel distracted and that after outreach that we would probably feel exhausted, because it is Satan’s territory, it is his playground, and there is intense spiritual warfare. He doesn’t like us coming or doing what we are doing. Many of the girls experienced these feelings early on, but I didn’t experience them until Friday night. We had talked about the spiritual darkness of the bars at lunch on Thursday. Then, some incidents happened to affirm this darkness and it really made me more aware of the power of the spiritual realm. I asked God to give me His eyes. I wanted to see the girls through His eyes and I wanted to be more aware of what was going on spiritually in the area.
Some of the women getting their hair done.
So, on Friday, I was kind of distracted all day. From the beginning of the morning all the day through. We went to NightLight and helped count beads for inventory. During our hour break before going out to the bars. I went to a coffee shop with some of the other girls, but chose to sit by myself as I processed through my thoughts. We returned to NightLight for prayer. I have learned that I like routines, I like schedules, and I like to know what to expect. (How I can cope on the World Race with needs like that, I don’t know.) Our usual routine of praying, going out to eat, going to the bar, etc had been switched around. We sat waiting for some details to fall into place and I found myself frustrated that we were just sitting there. In the meantime, I picked up a book about the comparison between women in domestic violence relationships and women in prostitution. It was very interesting, but heartbreaking and disturbing at the same time. We ended up ordering pizza in, prayed, and then headed out. As we were walking to the bar, I was thinking, “I don’t really want to do this right now. I just want to go back home, maybe do some reading, and go to bed early.” Knowing that was not the appropriate response, I prayed and asked God to be my strength because I couldn’t do it by myself.
We ended up at a bar that the NightLight staff hadn’t been to in awhile. It was a small bar compared to others. We sat down and ordered Cokes and I continued in prayer. Soon after we arrived, the girls participated in a ritual. Half of them line up at the door, the others hand in hand (so that they can all be a part of the experience) as they dipped a wooden stick into a cup of some liquid (i am told it is beer). They hit the stick at the door way then one girl hits each pole and table with the stick. She uses the stick to write something on the ground then goes around to each girl. Each girl touches the stick and wipes the liquid on her hands. Then, the girls stand in a circle and they play something similar to “spin the bottle.” The spin the stick and whoever it lands on, touches the stick, and has extra good luck and gets the good customers that night. As I watched that, I struggled. I had a million questions. Why? Do they believe what they’re doing? Do they do it as part of their job? Do they get anything from it? What does it all mean? Many questions were running through my head. I just kept thinking of the emptiness they must feel, if this ritual is supposed to bring them something. I felt myself at one point almost break into tears.
I just continued to struggle in the bar. I felt a slight heaviness that I hadn’t felt in a bar before. I could hardly even pray. All I could do was call on the name of Jesus. I just kept repeating His name because I didn’t really even know what to pray. I watched a man pay one of the girl’s bar fees. I watched him give her money, she took it to the mamasong, and then returned in normal clothes. He had paid to take her for the night. That was hard to watch knowing what would happen to her. Then, I watched as she did a handshake-like thing with two of the other girls. I was told later that was to spread the good luck since she had obtained an all night customer. As I looked the other direction, I saw the most physical action between some of the male customers and the women that I have seen yet. I was disgusted and am thankful that it was time to leave because otherwise I think I would have walked out.
It was a different night than my other experiences. I didn’t get to talk to any of the girls, but got to watch, observe, and pray. I think that in those times, it is hard to see hope. It is hard to see that things will change. It is hard! but I know that I know that I know that God is faithful! I know that this breaks His heart. I know that He redeems and He saves! and I am thankful that I can trust in His promises and sacrifice!
