Only a few hours left before our squad moves to our next destination, Cambodia! As I reflect on our time here in Vietnam I am left with more questions than answers. Living in the “red light” district of Ho Chi Minh City has made quite an impression on me. Watching scantily dressed women with flashy high heels flooding bars as daylight fades had become my “normal”. On the streets late at night, it is a guarantee to see older foreign men walking around with their arm draped around a woman at least half their age. One night while giving some sandwiches to a few homeless people, I looked over to see three men ganging up on a woman all grabbing her inappropriately. The demeaning yelling, nauseating gawking, open abuse, and emptiness behind the eyes of every prostitutes I have come into contact with had left me with a burning anger towards the male gender.
As my teammates (Leanne and Natalie) and myself walked back to our hostel around 3 A.M we were entirely overwhelmed by the horrific sights we have witnessed during ministry. Expressing the hopelessness that plagued our hearts, we asked the question, “What can we do about this?” A comment was made about starting an organization to pull women out of human trafficking and out of my mouth spewed, “BUT THERE WILL AWAYS BE ANOTHER GIRL!” I had no idea how much anger I hoarded in my heart, but at that truth, I realized I was angry at the ones who hold the solution to this world wide slave trade. Since there will always be another girl found to take the place of those rescued in order to fuel the demand of a demonic industry, the solution is the revolution of hearts of men who are equally loved and desired by God. The supply will only go down when the demand decreases.
Even with this revelation the question remains the same, “What can we do about this?!” Please understand my heart in the fact that rescue shelters and anti-human trafficking initiatives are good, but the problem is much, much bigger. All I can say is my prayers have changed. Pray for a world wide revolution in the hearts of men! May they know the freedom found in waring against lust and the love of a forgiving God.
