My parents had the opportunity to come see me for a week in the Philippines on what’s called “The Parent Vision Trip”. It’s a chance for parents to come see their racers and do ministry with them. Both of my parents were able to come, which was a huge blessing! Before they came, they told me how excited they were to see me and I was excited to see them too, but I was more excited for them to experience ministry. I knew that if they were open, Jesus was going to rock their world with the extra bonus of seeing their favorite daughter after six months. BUT when they signed up for this trip, I don’t think they expected to do the ministry we did.
This is the beginning of “The Walking Street” in a small city in the Philippines. This street has over 15,000 girls who are trapped in sex trafficking. My parents and I got the chance to go into this street to rescue some girls, to return them to their beloved Father.
There are over forty different bars down The Walking Street; each one unique in the way it runs. The bars vary in size; some are three stories high and some barely have room to walk through. The bars also vary in quality; some are fancy and nice while others are disgusting. Each bar has its own environment and feel, but they all have ONE thing in common: the girls. Every bar has over a hundred girls working, wearing skimpy clothing and selling themselves. I can’t speak for all the girls, but I can speak for most when I say that this is not where they want to be. Most of these girls are trapped. They were tricked into working in these bars and now can’t find a way out.
These girls have families and children to support, so it is nearly impossible for them to turn down money in whatever form it comes from. Money can come from the bars by them dancing and selling drinks or from men buying them for the night. Whether it’s from dancing or sex, they need money so they do what they know. And so the trapping begins.
My parents and I got to go into these bars and talk with the girls. Now when I say “bar”, I want you to picture strip clubs because that’s what they are. There are stages with girls, half naked, dancing and prancing. We would go into the bar, sit down, order drinks and wait for the Spirit to lead. When the Spirit led you to a girl, you would tell the waitress and get her down off stage. From then on, that girl is yours. We ordered them drinks and just talked. No pressing questions, just general “get to know you” questions. What’s your name? How old are you? Do you have children? Then we got to share about Wipe Every Tear. This is an organization that houses and feeds girls who have decided to come out of the sex trade, but better than that they pay for college. All of it! Everything is paid for. Absolutely amazing, right?! (Go check them out, it is truly incredible. – http://wipeeverytear.org/) So we would talk to the girls about coming to Wipe Every Tear, to finish college and live out their dreams. We invited them to visit the houses at the end of the week, just to see the place and know that this offer is real. Most of the girls I spoke to thought it was too good to be true, which I completely understand. The invitation was there for them to take or not, but regardless of that a seed was planted. They now know there is a way out and in God’s perfect timing, they will decide.
As my parents and I were in the bars, I had moments with Jesus like none other. He showed me these girl’s beauty and pureness. He showed me that I am no different than them! So I danced and talked with the girls. I saw no division between me and them. We are both daughters of the true King and get to celebrate in that, together. I couldn’t help but picture Jesus with me in these bars, talking to His girls. Jesus was there in those bars with us. Yes, the bars were dark and filled with sin but God says He is everywhere. Jesus was there with me and He was with His girls.
My Jesus, oh my Jesus, would be in the center of those bars. Up on stage with His girls, holding their hands, dancing and twirling them around. He would be there, gettin’ His boogy on. Smiling and laughing with them. Bringing JOY and CELEBRATION with Him. And because my Jesus would do that, so should I. So I danced on a stage with the girls; I learned their little dance to songs. They taught me the moves, smiling and laughing. I did everything I could to show them that we were no different, I wasn’t judging them and I wanted to bring joy and celebration into their lives. I’m not sure if I succeeded, but I did what I could. I will let Jesus do the rest! Maybe you don’t picture Jesus like that or don’t dare saying Jesus and half naked girls in the same sentence, but I do. I believe, whole-heartedly, that Jesus in the CENTER of this broken world. He is in the center of Filipino bars with girls half naked.
Jesus is calling these girls home, please be praying for them to have strength and braveness as they step out of all they know. This will be difficult for them, but there is FREEDOM for these girls. FULL RESTORATION, JOY, and CELEBRATION!
