If you read my blog post earlier this month, Breaking Chains: the ministry I didn’t want to do, you know that a month ago, I didn’t want to work with any ministry involving human trafficking. I didn’t understand it, didn’t like it, and didn’t want to know anything about it.
I still don’t understand it, I definitely don’t like it, and I know more than I want to about it, but still not enough.
We have two days left here. And I DON’T WANT TO LEAVE!
Our month has been full of incredible blessings: a real Thanksgiving dinner, unlimited internet, real beds and pillows, great food, comfortable couches, a mall a bus ride (and taxi ride) away, and warm showers if we wanted them.
But the biggest blessing of all is this ministry.
This month, I met prostitutes. Some were as young as twelve years old. I came face-to-face with a murderer. I heard stories that would break anyone’s heart. I spent time with a 14-year-old who later ran away with her boyfriend. I saw a corner where a 10-year-old and a 12-year-old are sold into prostitution by their aunt. I watched little girls walk by me and wondered how long before they would be violated… if they haven’t already.
And my heart broke for them all.
But it also made me thankful. Thankful for Breaking Chains.
You see, in all the hopelessness that I saw in the women and girls out on the streets, I know there is a place of hope, a place they can come to for help, a place they can meet their Rescuer, their Provider, their Physician.
Four days a week, women gather. Even though the program doesn’t start until 9:00, some of them start arriving at 7:30! They love the fellowship, the support they receive. Teaching begins at 9:00. Each morning, the women read through a chapter in Proverbs (at least they have while we’ve been here) and share the verse in that chapter that is most meaningful to them. Worship time follows and the women gather in a circle to sing praises to God! The next couple hours are spent on teaching, healing, crafts, and games. We watch as the women laugh, cry, and learn together. They share their pain and they share their joy.
This is a place of healing.
This is a place of comfort.
This is a place of restoration.
This is a place I don’t want to leave.
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