This month, we’ve had the privilege and honor to come alongside the Night Light ministry and join them in their efforts in reaching out, rescuing and restoring women and lady boys (transgenders) from the sex trafficking as well as the commercial sex exploitation world. One of the many ways Night Light reaches out to these ladies is through a beauty shop that they host twice a week. Indeed, every Tuesday and Friday afternoon, from 1:30 to 5:00pm, a group of Night Light women (they used to be trapped in the sex trafficking world but have now been rescued and are now employed by Night Light) come together to make over the girls and lady boys before they go back out to “work” their night shift.
When they come over to the beauty shop, the girls and lady boys can get their hair washed (shampoo and conditioner), blow dried and styled with a hairstyle of their choice. They can also get their make-up and nails done. They also have a bathroom where they can change into their evening outfits. And they get to enjoy delicious coffee, snacks, fruits and water. The cost of it all: $FREE.99!!! And guess what?!?! During their first meeting with the Night Light volunteer coordinator, Lace and Essie, our squad leaders, were asked if the beauty shop could be an area that we help out with. It goes without saying that they said yes and I got to help out twice.
I remember like it was yesterday when our first customer, a lady boy, walked through the door. She was so beautiful and so fly! I LOVED her! She was wearing this stylish black and white jumpsuit and matching purse. She immediately ran and hugged one of the Night Light women. She started talking with her and in the middle of the conversation, she proceeded to gently lift her long luscious beautiful black hair to show a completely shaved area exposing a scar in the back of her head near her right ear.
My team (T -our nickname for Tandi-, Ace, Dyer and I) quickly found out that the scar was from a mouth surgery she had recently undergone and we were told to be extra careful when we do her hair. T and Dyer washed her hair. Ace and I blow-dried it. She ended up asking me to braid her hair as well. Once I was done, she got up and looked in the mirror to check the final product. And it warmed my heart when she thanked me and said that she loved it because one of the things we were told was that they are not afraid to undo a hair style if they didn’t like it. Slowly but surely, other girls started to walk in and we had a blast getting to know them and helping them get ready that first time.
The second time around however, as much as I tried, I could not fully enjoy my time with the girls. And that is because of the answer that one customer gave us when we asked her that one question. Her name was Lady A. She was the first customer that day and was getting her nails done. We started talking to her and we found out she was from a town that was 2 hours away from Bangkok and she had two children: a boy in college and a girl in high school. We asked her another question about her home and her commute, but she must have misunderstood because she replied this: “Oh! My children are at home. Very far from here. Two hours. They don’t know what I came here to do.”
Her answer hit me like a ton of brick: “Oh my stars! What am I doing here? I think I am literally helping these women get ready to go have sex? Oh snap! I think I am. I really am. I’m helping them look beautiful so that men filled with brokenness inside of them can solicit them for sex. I’m encouraging them on that path. And this is considered ministry work how again? Isn’t this enabling the commercial sex exploitation industry? I don’t think I am helping put an end to it by doing this.” The more I thought about it, the more I didn’t want to be a part of this “outreach ministry” anymore. And I internally wrestled with this thought or concept over the next few days. Then, I finally decided to officially ask Papa about it.
“Glad you finally decided to officially ask me about it. Let’s chat. Take a look at Luke 5:1-11. What do you read?” He said.
-You performing a miraculous catch of fish?!??
–Yes. But more than that, you see me literally stepping into the boat (i.e. workplace) of Simon, the fisherman. From his boat, I preached the gospel to crowds of people. I then asked him to go fishing with me in the deeper area of the Sea of Galilee. Simon listened to me and he caught so many fishes that his boat was on the verge of sinking. Simon and his partners became amazed and I invited them to follow me.
-Okkkk
-Now, replace “Me” with the “Night Lights women, your teammates and you.” Also, replace “Simon’s boat” with the “beauty shop and the Red Light District.” Then replace “Simon and his partners” with the “girls and lady boys” who come to the beauty shop. You’re tracking with me?!??
-(Light bulb moment for me)
-You see Steph, I, myself had to make my way down to Simon’s work place. Because I knew in order for me to get his attention, I had to meet him where he was at, I had to show him that I can relate to him, and I had to speak his language (which was fishing). It wasn’t by accident that I used the following lingo: “go where it’s deeper,” “let down your nets,” etc… I had to show him that I knew his world, what it entails and that I wasn’t feeling “superior” to him in any way, shape or form. Not only did I show him I could relate to him, I blew his socks off by performing this miraculous catch of fish. Only then I asked him to drop everything and follow me.
Steph, it is the exact same thing with these girls. You obviously can’t go and literally do their job with them and/or for them. However, believe me you have stepped into their boat, you’re going fishing with them. You are speaking their language and you are showing them that you relate to them by helping out at the beauty shop (which I made sure was located in the middle of this red light district area.) “Pretty nails,” “beautiful hair,” “make-up on fleek,” Steph, you are speaking their language.
Thus, to answer your question, no! you’re not enabling them. You’re not encouraging them in their ways. I’m using the Night Lights women, your teammates and you to show them love. MY Love. You’re sharing My good news and Me with them by loving on them that way. I mean you get to freely lay hands on them and pray for them. (And He’s right: we did that. Dyer wrote about it here!) That’s huge! Don’t you see that? Your simple presence in this place and the simple presence of Night Lights in this red light district are making a huge difference in these women’s lives that is unimaginable to your human eyes. Let me reassure you that what you’re doing is key in helping the “miraculous catch of fish” that will take place in these women’s lives. And only then, at the right time, I will ask them to follow me. And when I do, they say yes, they will drop everything and they will follow me yes.
Also, I know you were wondering about the amount of time it will take for them to come around and leave the prostitution world. Well, look at verse 8, it reads “when Simon Peter realized what had happened.” Steph, he had to “realize,” which means it took him a minute to understand what was happening. Thus, similarly it will take the women and you a minute to realize the transforming work that I am doing in their lives.
Lastly, I’m going to encourage by telling you when you stepped into the beauty shop (their “boat”), you have had the honor and privilege to meet, get to know and love on some of my biggest future disciples.
You’re awesome for reading: thanxies so much! 
Just a few things:
- If you interested in finding more about Night Light ministry and the amazing work that they are doing to help put an end to the sex trafficking and commercial sex exploitation world and how you can help them out, please head over to their website: www.nightlightinternational.com
- I am still $5,174 away from being fully funded. Please prayerfully consider partnering up with me on this journey and hit the “Donate!” button located on the top right corner of this page. ANY amount does count. Many thanks in advance!
