Red Light, Green Light: For two weeks, the girls lost skin.

There are times in our lives when God puts us in the right place, at the right time so that he can use us for His glory.  If only we obey his calling he will provide his blessing.

God put that priest on the road so that he might help the beaten man, but he was too busy moving onto his next "ministry opportunity."

God put that temple servant on the road so that he might help the beaten man, but he was too busy moving onto his next "ministry opportunity."

How often do we miss God's calling because we are busy heading to our next ministry opportunity? 

Just the other day as I was riding with our ministry contact, Maureen, we were driving down this stretch of road and God said, "That is a brothel."

Then in one quick sweep the red curtain that was covering the door flew open and for a split second I saw what God's eyes were seeing.  

As we were walking to Marco Tulio's pharmacy a couple of days later it was on that same street and I told the girls in my group that these were brothels.  Then we get to the pharmacy and Maureen says that we are in the "Red Light" district of Chimaltenango.  It was like God was saying, "You are here for a reason."

When I was at Passion at the beginning of this month, we raised money to end the slavery that is running rampant in our world today.  There are 27 million people in slavery worldwide.  You might be thinking that slavery was over after the civil war, but its actually higher than it has ever been in human history.  Maureen spoke with us about a time that she was ministering to some prostitutes as they came to the hospital weekly to get blood work done.  She had arranged for them to come to her house for tea.  The pimp that owned the girls found out about the date and he closed down his brothel for two weeks.  He took the girls into the country and he beat them for two weeks.  For two weeks he lost money, the girls lost skin.  What if that was your daughter that was being beaten?  What if that was your daughter that was locked inside of a brothel just to be abused?
 

My team decided to go on a prayer walk throughout the Red Light district of Chimaltenango.  Just to to pray for the slavery and wickedness that has taken root in this town.  

A town that has a fond place in my heart.  

A town that the people are so joyful. 

A town that has taught me so much about myself and my walk with Jesus.

A town that God is calling His people to do great things in His name.

As we were walking down the streets of Chimaltenango, Sammie Jo felt like we should stop outside of this particular brothel at the end of the Red Light district and pray as we felt lead.  The brothel that we stopped at, happened to be the one that God had shown me in my car ride with Maureen the days just before.  As we stopped to pray for this brothel, some were laying hands on the building while others were raising hands and praying aloud.

We stirred up a hornet's nest.

Bar owners were coming out to see what was happening in the area.  I could feel in my spirit that the darkness was upset that we were shining light in their area.  Casey, another team leader, also said that she felt the same thing.  Bar owners were closing their gates and other prostitutes were coming out to see what was happening.  The girls had been praying outside the doors and the windows of the brothel, and a face appeared from the darkness.  She was deaf and mute but they were able to communicate with her.
 

This lady, Marie, lived in the brothel and worked twenty four hours a day. Her two children lived with her grandparents and her husband was killed in a car accident.  As the girls were praying for Marie, three other girls came outside and received prayer.

As the girls began to pray, I turned around to watch the hornets stir.  Bar owners coming to their doors every couple minutes to make sure we weren't at their doors.  Men coming out of the brothels, looking at us, and them instantly putting their heads down in shame.  Prostitutes coming to the door to watch.  Men attempting to enter the brothel we were praying for, but couldn't fit through the door because we were blocking it.  One man paced back and forth in front of the brothel.  He was upset that he wasn't able to enter.

As some of us began to struggle with the fact that we weren't able to actually get any of the women out of slavery, God put this verse on my heart.

"So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.  For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." 2 Corinthians 4:18

Often times we are so worried about seeing instant results or receiving instant gratification that we miss the reality of God.  God is the great I AM and He has the situation under control.  We don't need to worry about what we can't do.

As I was reading Louie Giglio's book "I am not but I know I AM" this passage really touched my heart.

"For every cry there is one answer:

I need help.

I AM.

I need a bigger story.

I AM.

I don't have a prayer. 

I AM.

I can't hold on.

I AM.

I'm tired.

I AM.

I quit.

I AM.

I can't.

I AM.

I am the way, I am the truth, and I am the life. I am the resurrection and the life. I am Savior. I am Jesus the solution, the restorer, the builder, the answer, the Wise One, the Coming One, the Mighty One. I am the Lord and there is no other… I am the Lord, that is My name, and I will not give My glory to another, or any of My praise to idol. I AM THAT I AM, and that is My name – My memorial name to every single generation.”