Today, we walked the strip that is known for their dance bars, “cabin restaurants”, and prostitution. For those of you who don’t know what a cabin restaurant is, the front room is a café where the women serve tea and alcohol, but in the back there are rooms where men can “rent” the ladies for as ever long as they need. The first place we came across, we actually tried to go in to order a drink and talk with the ladies, but there were two men inside, so they said they were too busy and told us to leave.
Now, to envision the area we are walking in. The streets are filled with more trash, grime, and pollution than you can imagine. There are numerous guest houses in the area, but they are mostly attached to a dance bar. Walking down the roads, I could feel the heaviness, the pain, and despair. We saw men walking around drunk with slurred speech and looking into their eyes you only see darkness and death. They have already died to themselves. They don’t know where to turn except to spend their money on drinks and women.
When we first arrived to the area, I saw two beautiful girls, no older than 15 years old, getting out of the back of a car being dropped off from a job. I couldn’t believe it. It’s hard to watch these “beautiful princesses”, as I now like to call them, walking down the streets knowing that they are in chains and shackles, waiting on their pimp to give them another job.
We then ventured off to a local dance bar to see if they would be open. We climbed to the second floor, and to our dismay, it was closed. Two of us stood in front of the door, and prayed for these women. As we were investigating the building, we saw burn marks all over the doorframe and red and yellow paint splattered as well. Our translator explained to us that these rituals were for different sacrifices to idols. It explained even more that these women are searching for life. They are searching for a way out in any form they can get it. Whether it’s drugs, prostitution, or freedom in religions, these women are looking for help in all the wrong places.
Coming into this, I knew very little about the prostitution and human trafficking ring, but as I continue to dig deeper, I’m finding more and more that I was made to work with these women. I’ve never had more of a passion for women I’ve never met, faces I’ve never seen, and souls that have never met Christ. All day I’ve cried out for these women and had just such a heavy heart. I need to help them. I need to just talk with them and let them know of the freedom that the Almighty King brings and just let them know that they are loved.
This is just the beginning.
I am daring enough to believe that the impossible is possible.
