1 street, 12,000 girls.
The “Walking Street” in Angeles City is the home to 12,000 Filipino girls, all from the ages of 17 to around 30 years old. The Walking Street is the place where the Lord broke my heart because it broke His first.
8 o’clock PM rolled around and 100 of us Americans left the comforts of our hotel to spend a night on the Walking Street. People. Men. Men and young girls everywhere. Bar after bar we passed we were summoned by girls with little to know clothing on, trying to draw us in. Our Filipino leader (who was once a bar girl) led us so bravely down the street, so eager to go into these bars and rescue the girls that were just like her.
A million and one emotions and feelings were running through my mind that first night. I was nervous that I was doing this with my dad, I was excited that we could potentially help these girls, I was scared that they wouldn’t trust us, I was so angry and disgusted at the men buying them. The craziest part of all was that Jesus still showed up. In fact, He didn’t just show up, He had been there the whole time.
That night we walked confidently into the bar that our Filipino friend once worked at. My team and I sat there looking at the girls on stage in front of us, deciding which one we wanted to call down for a drink. Feeling lead, we called down one girl who changed my heart. After having a long conversation with her, we became friends. She told me how her and her 4 cousins all work in the same bar, they all hate it, but they all do it because they need the money to provide for their family. I sat there now with my girl and 2 of her cousins as they opened up to me and I opened up to them about what Wipe Every Tear would offer them. I explained how they could pack up their things and come live in a safe house for free and receive a free college education. Jesus was there– there is no other way that they would have agreed to getting breakfast with us the next morning.
The next night of outreach I was so excited. I visioned Jesus walking down the street with us and all of His angels crying out to him with an incredible joy & love & laughter. I saw the customers as being broken & filling the void that only the Lord could fill. My eyes were changed and I felt honored instead of obligated.
Our huge group of Americans talked to so many girls over the course of the 2 nights who were so excited and promised they would come to look at the houses.
Saturday morning we patiently waited for the ones who said yes to meet us at our hotel so the bus could take them to look at their potential new home. How many girls showed up? Less than 10 (Praise God though!). Did my girls, who were so ready for this new life, show up? No.
But in this I learned that trust needs a long time to be built when broken so many times. I learned that even if I saved them from work for one hour, that was a victory. I learned that the men buying these young girls needed Jesus just as much as you and I, that our God provides light and hope in e v e r y single dark situation, and that the Lord’s plans are so good and so perfect even when they don’t match up with mine. Most importantly, I learned that Jesus rejoices with these girls in The City of Angels and never leaves their sides.
We left the Angeles City a different place because now in every one of the bars we walked into & didn’t even mention the name of God, those girls are being protected by someone so much greater than us.
I pray with my whole heart that these girls will tangibly feel the truth in this opportunity of a new way of life but I leave with a peace knowing our God’s timing is so perfect.
