It’s close to 1:30am as I am writing this. I just got back from the streets of Kathmandu and now I’m sitting on my bed sipping on a red bull that did not open correctly.
I really don’t know how to begin to tell you what happened tonight so I’m going to start with what happened this past Wednesday.
Wednesday was a pretty chill day with just the men. Instead of going out ministering, we sat around and talked to each other about what manhood was and meant.
We then started to discuss the issue of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Transgenders. We were wondering how we should minister and what we should do for them. How could we show them love without excusing their sin and how could we show them the way to God without condemning them?
Brian, our host, went to the story of the adulterous woman.
There was a woman who was caught in adultery and the people around her were going to stone her but Jesus said, “Ye who has not sinned, cast the first stone.” All of the people dropped their stones and left.
Jesus had been writing in the sand and then looked up. He asked the woman where her accusers were.
She said they had left, which meant they no longer condemned her. Jesus said, “Neither I condemn you, go and sin no more.”
Jesus showed her compassion and love but didn’t stop at “I don’t condemn you.” Jesus also said, “Go and sin no more.” These two together show mercy, love, compassion, but also a direction in which to go after being shown this love.
After this discussion we decided that we were going to do ‘Manistry’ together Friday night on the streets of Kathmandu to minister to the Transgenders that came out as prostitutes.
We then went and bought paper to make cards with as well that went along with our man talk.
We made cards that said, ‘I am a man of courage,’ ‘I am a man of love,’ ‘I am a man of patience,’ and so on and so forth. We then decided that when we were going to minister we would give these cards to the transgendered men. (If your aren’t following me or know what a transgender is I am speaking of men who became women surgically and through medicine.)
This brings me to tonight.
Tonight after our Shabbat Shalom night with the squad, hosts, and friends, the men went and prayed together, divided into teams of three or four and found a taxi.
We drove in our taxi to Thamel, Kathmandu and got out all together.
I was getting nervous. I have never done anything like this before.
I also felt like an undercover agent for God, which was kind of cool.
Once all of our group had gotten to the area we split into our teams and just scanned the area.
The prostitutes only gathered in one little area and that’s where we spread out.
It was hard at first talking to the transgender prostitutes. I had no idea what to say.
I had to pray for God to give me the words. I had to really rely on God because I had no idea what to do.
Prompted by the Holy Spirit as courage rose up inside of me I approached two of the prostitutes. I began talking to them. Only one of them knew English but not very well. We talked for a couple of minutes but then we had to walk in different directions because the cops were coming around.
If the cops catch you then you are in big trouble, not only for talking about Jesus but also talking to a prostitute.
Those particular prostitutes did not come back around so I hung out against a wall and then on a step. As I stood on the step I continued praying but asked God to give me courage to do what I needed to spread the love He has for those here.
As I prayed this prayer I felt zeal and courage rise up in me. I then saw two approaching me and I met them halfway and asked how they were doing.
They responded and said they were doing okay. I asked if I could buy them some tea or a drink so that we could talk (mind you I was trying all different kinds of strategies because I had no idea really how to go about what I was doing). They said yes but they wanted red bull so I went over to the vendor and bought the both of them a red bull and myself one as well.
I was so nervous and praying in my mind for the Spirit to give me words to speak. I was so nervous that, as I opened my red bull I tore the tab off instead of actually opening the drink so there is a small whole in the top of my red bull, which is why I am still drinking it.
So we gathered our red bulls and walked into the dark shaded area from street lights.
I leaned against a wall as they came in close to talk to me. I asked them their names and if they had grown up in Kathmandu all of their life and they said yes.
I asked them what they did for fun and they said, “S*ck, F**k, and get dirty.” My response was, “Oh, that’s interesting. Why?”
They then responded that it was their job. I then asked why it was their job and they said they had money issues at home.
I then said that I had money issues at one point to but instead of turning to sex I turned to a man that would actually love to be with you.
They began to act intrigued about this man I told them about. I then proceeded to tell them about Jesus in which they had said, “Oh we know about him.”
I asked them what did they know and they couldn’t say much about Him.
I then began to tell them how much Jesus loved them and how He wanted to help them and get them out of the mess they were in because He knows that you really don’t like being in this job.
They just kind of laughed it off and then the pimp started to come at us and they said that they were going to have to go if I wasn’t going to buy so prompted by the Holy Spirit I asked, “Can I give you a gift?”
They laughed and said sure so I pulled out the paper and showed them that it said, “I am a man of love,” and “I am a man of courage.” I told them that this can be a reminder that they have a man Jesus who loves them more than any man could ever love them and that He wanted to help them get out of the mess they were in.
They then laughed but suddenly ran and got on a motorcycle. I had to split as well because more cops with canes were coming.
I began to thank God for allowing me to minister in the way He did which also gave me more confidence to do more. I was ready to be out there all night long if it was possible.
As I began to walk a little ways I saw some more prostitutes except this time it was a transgender and a female.
They came up to me and asked me how I was doing. I said good and asked them the same. They then asked if I wanted to have sex and a blowjob and a threesome. I said no and then one of them tried to touch my crotch but I grabbed their hand and said no please don’t touch me there. They then walked away.
I stayed put against the wall and a couple of minutes later the same two came back and talked more.
They asked why I didn’t want them. I told them that they were far too beautiful for me to do anything with them but there was a man that would always want to be with them and I told them about Jesus. They laughed it off and talked to me for a little bit but ended up walking away.
Towards the end of the night I met another transgender standing alone. I asked how he was doing and he said not good. I asked why and he said, “Because I am a virgin and need someone to pop my cherry.” I then said, “Oh being a virgin is a great thing.” He said, “You think so?” I said, “Of course and this is why…”
So I began to tell him about it but then the pimp interrupted and asked me to leave. I began to walk and then the cops came up to me with a cane and told me to go.
I then began to find the rest of my team to head back home because more cops kept coming around and it was getting a little unrestful and a bit more dangerous.
Through this experience I learned so much.
I definitely learned the truth of Zechariah 4:6 which says, “…Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit..” I couldn’t do this alone. I needed God. I will always need God.
Another thing I learned is that manhood is being perverted and that there are many lies that the enemy has deceived too many people with but what is the church doing?
Going back to the story of the adulterous woman, are we the church that is the embodiment of Christ or are we the church that wants to throw stones?
Are we the church that shows love and compassion or are we the church that tries to be preachy?
In order for us to see change, we must be the change. We can have all of the faith in the world but if we don’t have love then we have nothing.
“Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22
I used money on prostitutes. What did you do? What are you going to do?
