A few of my squad mates went on a walk through the red light district in Phnom Penh, Cambodia the other night. Their stories of darkness and the sensing of evil spirits reminded me of my first week of the race. My team was in El Alto, Bolivia where we volunteered with a mission organization that rescued women from the throws of prostitution and the sex trade. Our host took us on a prayer walk through the streets of the red light district. I journaled about it right afterward and in a moment of reflection, I stumbled upon what was written in raw and real emotion, and nearly illegible red ink.
Dark.
Cold.
Chills up and down my body.
That’s what I felt during our prayer walk through the red light district. 15-20 brothels line the streets, offering a gateway to sexual exploitations. My contact Ali said that most men have their first sexual encounter at a brothel, brought here by their dad or an older uncle.
Sadness.
Tears.
Nothing but praying in the Spirit.
There is no joy here. There is no light.
Oppression.
Darkness.
Evil corruption.
How many are there, Lord?
Aching.
Crying.
Pain.
This hurts me, Lord. How much more does it hurt those who are affected by it physically.
My heart aches.
My mind aches.
My heart is tugged.
Why? Why? WHY?
This reality. Oh how it hurts….
I remember those feelings like it was yesterday – emotions so real and are it would be impossible to shake my mind from them or pretend they don’t exist. I also remember giving my burden for these people to Papa, and he took it from me, never to have that weight on my shoulders again.
I don’t know the best method to fight the sex trade; I am far from an expert. But I do want to expose the horrors of the industry, and raise awareness that it’s all too real. So spread the word. Talk to people about these dark horrors. Pray for the women and children who are being trafficked. Pray for the pimps and the Johns who are trading these women as if they are cattle at a trade show. Pray for the consumer, the men who are buying the women and children for sex; a few moments of fleeting pleasure. Pray that they can open their hearts to the love of Christ so they may know that He alone can fill our needs and desires.
And pray for the men and women who are in the field, fighting for the innocent and the broken and the lost. They are the ones in the trenches seeing the filth and the stink of this evil trade every day. They need your support and love so that in turn, the trafficked and the sold can be saved from this horrific life they’ve known.
Talk about the sex-trade instead of turning your cheek.
Spread the word.
Be the difference.
