This month we have been working with an incredible organization called Remember Nhu which focuses on the prevention side of child sex trafficking. The ministry is named for a young Vietnamese woman who was living
in Cambodia. At the age of twelve Nhu was in the care of Christian missionaries
but while her caretakers were away her virginity was sold by a family member to
an adult male who later “bought” her again.
We were fortunate
to meet Nhu during our time here… she is a beautiful young lady who is now
working for this cause. She represents the one million children who are
trafficked into sexual slavery every single year, all of whom are precious
lives, fashioned after the image of God. Her story is the reason for this
organization, which takes girls out of high risk family situations in which 90% of them would be otherwise sold into slavery (for various reasons such as poverty, violence, lack of education, etc). It gives them an amazing community, education, and biblical foundation which they would never have received if not for God’s intervention!
For every 20 organizations that focus on sex trafficking rescue
there is only 1 ministry that works in prevention. Sadly 9 out of 10 women who
are rescued from a life of prostitution end up back in it for one reason or
another. That is why it is so important to reach them before it’s too late.
In this part of the world there are prevalent attitudes that
continue to see women in a negative light. There is little compassion for girls
sold into sex slavery in Thai culture. 95% of Thais are Buddhist (the national
religion) and because of the belief of reincarnation we are told that many
might feel as though the girls deserve what happens to them because of their
bad karma from previous lives. The girls may also believe that they can gain
good karma merits by earning money for their family in this way and alleviating
financial pressures, thereby honoring their parents.
The average age of girls living in the brothels is age 12. The
youngest girls rescued have been as young as 3 years old. As is true in Africa,
most men here believe that if they have AIDS they can sleep with a virgin and
be cured. This is a lie that the enemy has convinced them of to keep the cycle of slavery going.The majority of the girls will die by age 18…some girls even say that if
they die young of AIDS the sooner they have the chance to be reborn as men so
it is okay.
We spent time each day with the eighty girls that are cared for
here… playing games with them in the evening or helping them with their English
homework. They are so sweet and precious in God’s sight, I can’t imagine what
their lives would have been like if not for His hand rescuing them.
This week I felt led to read through the book of Psalms and the verse
that stuck out to me the most for these girls is Psalm 72:12-14 which says:
“He will rescue the poor when they cry to him;
he will help the oppressed,
who have no one to defend them.
He feels pity for the weak and the needy,
and He will rescue them.
He will
redeem them from oppression and violence,
for their lives are precious to Him”.
Praise God for people who are carrying out His rescue mission every day! For more information about this ministry or to sponsor a
child, go to: http://remembernhu.org/
