As we came into
the Philippines, I honestly didn’t want to be here. Malaysia was incredible and I truly believe there was still
a ton going on that I just left hanging.
I’m becoming a little tired of getting so connected and then having my
heart ripped out month after month.
Every bit of me just wanted to check out. However, every time I try this I don’t last very long.
On our third day
out here, I saw these children for who they were: precious gifts from God. Unfortunately, they don’t really have
anyway of believing this because they have no one to tell them. This same day, a beautiful daughter of
God in a pretty pink dress came up and grabbed my hand. Her name was Roxanne and she was 8
years old. I can’t explain what
happened at that moment but I was living out two different scenes. I’ve worked with kids most of my life
and met some adorable children (my niece still probably at #1), but there was
something different about this one. As the scenes role, again those familiar lyrics pop into my head…
“Roxanne
you
don’t have to put on the red light
those
days are over
you
don’t have to sell you body to the night
Roxanne
you
don’t have to wear that dress tonight
walk
the streets for money
you don’t
care if it’s wrong or if it’s right”
Surely this is
some strange coincidence, but suddenly I’m transported right back to that bar
in Malaysia. As I twirled Roxanne
around, God’s voice became very clear…
“You want to save my daughters? Start here.”
In the
Philippines, it’s rare for girls to outnumber boys in orphanages or children’s homes,
because many of them aren’t sent there first; because honestly, there’s a lot
more money in the selling of daughters.
Without getting into too much legal detail on this specific case,
Roxanne is a prime target for child trafficking leading into sex slavery. Both of her parents are still alive, but have legally
surrendered her to Kids International Ministries (KIM) along with her two
younger siblings: Rosalie age 5 (left) and Andrew age 3 (right). While
this is definitely something to celebrate, I can’t
help but think of all the daughters of the Philippines that are treated more as
a commodity than a child.
So how can I help
those girls in the bars? For now, by doing
whatever I can to make sure Roxanne never gets there. This may sound insignificant in comparison to the mountain
I’m facing, but there’s no action that will bring down this operation, it HAS TO BE A MOVEMENT. A body, THE BODY, has to come
together for a rescue movement.
Men can no longer be ignorant in thinking they’re just making a purchase
that no one will ever know about or that “doesn’t hurt anyone else”.
Women need to grasp their identity as pure and take that message of hope
to a group that has resigned their existence as nothing more than a body. And children need to be protected from
the predators that live in their country, down the street, or even in their own
home.
I’ve decided to
sponsor Roxanne and Rosalie throughout their schooling to ensure the fact that
they will have an education and something to lean upon. They may never be adopted, but they
will never be abducted due to a lack of money or a way out. They will grow up in a loving, safe
home. Praise God.
So that’s step
one. I need more to walk with
me. These cries HAVE TO BE HEARD…
