We drove only about two hours to Angeles City and settled in our hotel. Our hotel was right on the outskirts of walking street. Walking Street is a street with about 200 bars. This is the street where we were going to be going for the next two nights. On the opposite side of the street, there is a Bella Goose Coffee and Roastery. This coffee shop was made to bring people together and form a community using coffee (look them up!!). They’re partnered with Wipe Every Tear and will be sharing the building near walking street. All the families gathered at Bella Goose, drank coffee, ate dinner, and worshiped. Worship was INCREDIBLE! The families all worshiping side by side and sharing what the Lord was speaking to them. We walked onto the streets with the Holy Spirit exploding out of us. My group went into our first bar- The Dollhouse.
The first thing you saw when you entered was a huge stage with a pole in the center. White men were lounging around in different seats and couches positioned on the outskirts of the stage. The Filipina women on stage were hardly wearing anything. There were about 10 women on stage and 10 women off stage that would switch off every couple of songs. As soon as they would get off stage, they would throw on anything they had trying to cover up. You could tell just how unbelievably uncomfortable they felt in what they were being forced to wear. My mom saw a girl that looked terrified on stage. We called her down to buy her a drink and talk to her.
((When we want to talk to the girls, we have to buy them drinks. This prevents the mamasans (Filipino pimps) from kicking us out- most of the time. It’s funny because about half the time, when we asked the girls what they wanted to drink, all they would ask for is chocolate milk.))
She only had a third grade level of education, and therefore, couldn’t speak much English. My mom and I learned that this was her 2nd week working at a bar. She had 7 siblings back home and both her parents had just passed away. (If you are the oldest sibling, you are expected to provide for all those younger than you. Most parents think their daughters are working in a bakery and sending home money. Almost none realize what their daughters are actually doing to get money. The girls were tricked into working for the bars and mamasans. Doing that work in a Catholic country is looked down upon, so that is why they can’t even tell their parents). The whole time we were communicating with her, she would barely look up. The only response she would give was a slight nod or shake of her head. She was petrified… I had no clue what to do. She couldn’t speak English and it’s not like kids where you can just play with them and make funny faces. I was so thankful my mom was there. She just grabbed her hand, looked her with the compassion and kindness and love that only a mother can have, and kept on repeating, “I know it doesn’t feel this way, but you are so brave. You are so brave. You are so brave.”
We went to another bar that night as well. By the time we left the second bar, it was a little after 12 am. The parents all left for the hotel, but the kids got in a group and were preparing to head out. We were quickly stopped and had to go back to the hotel as well, because some of our parents had been pick pocketed.
I felt like a failure. I was expecting to walk into these bars, girls come running out with us, and we would protect them until our return from Angeles City. But none of that happened. Not a single girl we talked to seemed interested in any way. I had gone in with a passionate, dramatic, saving spirit. None of those were bad qualities to walk in with. But I forgot how intimate and intentional ministry is, no matter the kind. I didn’t sit down and just talk with the intention of getting to know who they were and what they had been through. I wanted a brief ”get to know you” conversation and then for us to run out into freedom together. I felt ashamed that I was given the chance to go here and I blew my first night.
BUT, as always, God is good. He gave me perspective and clarity through my mistakes. He was kindly preparing and equipping me for our next night…
