Last week, my dad visited me in the Philippines and got to experience a week of what ministry and life on the World Race looks like. I’m not sure I can explain everything that was last week in one blog, but I’m going to try.
Our ministry for Parent Vision Trip was Wipe Every Tear. Wipe Every Tear is an organization that does outreach to victims of sex trafficking. They have houses for women and children all over South East Asia. They offer girls a way out of bar work by providing housing, food, and money for tuition (completely fundraised!).
Working with Wipe Every Tear, our job was simple: go out to the bars and love the girls.
I love anti-trafficking work. It’s one of my passions. But before we went out, I assure you that doubt was flooding my mind. I mean what 23 year old girl willingly goes into strip clubs, where girls are sold for sex, with her father, for ministry? It sounded ridiculously awkward.
And it was, for the first ten minutes. Painfully. We didn’t know what to do or say. But then my friend Kiersten and I just went up to the stage and started talking to girls. We ended up calling two down to sit with us ( I am not going to use their real names for their protection), Jennie and Kayla. Kayla sat next to me, her eyes big and full of fear, looking at the men. I quickly assured her we just wanted to talk to her and get to know her more. We bought her a drink, and started talking about life. I asked her about her dreams, and she said she wanted to be a teacher. She even gave me a Tagalog lesson! After a little while I looked at her, and said “Kayla, you are going to be a really good teacher.”
She looked down at her feet, becauese she couldn’t. Her family had sent her to the bar instead of college. She was 18 years old. She was helpless.
I began to talk to her about Wipe Every Tear. As I was talking to her about everything they offer, something changed in her eyes. The fear and helplessness vanished, and I saw hope.
I have seen hope in so many forms on the race. I have seen people hear about Jesus for the first time. I have seen people be healed of physical pains and sicknesses. I have watched people receive love. But I haven’t seen such a clear shift towards hope as I did looking into Kayla’s eyes as she heard for the first time that she might now have to spend her life being bought for sex.
I came to find out later that Kayla is a virgin. She hasn’t been bought yet. She is brand new to bar work. No wonder she was so scared.
The rest of the week was amazing. Challenging, fruitful, and heart breaking. I watched my Dad go into bars undercover and talk to girls about Wipe Every Tear, give them hope. I am so proud of him.
Just to give you so perspective, the leaders we went with into the bars are girls that were rescued out of sex slavery themselves. Who live in the houses and who are now college students who worship Jesus. At the end of the week, 3 new girls moved into the house, and never have to sleep with someone for money again. Kayla was not one of those girls. Her family still doesn’t trust the organization. Please join me in prayer that they will let her move into the Hope House soon!
