I can't stand the sight of others crying in distress. It just tugs at my heart and all I want to do is help. That's how I feel about Raquel. She stole my heart the other day and I can't stop thinking about her and how much I want to help her.
Raquel was standing on the road outside of the bar/brothel and she just had tears streaming down her face. So Jeremy and I went over to talk to her. We found out that she was 15 years old and that her parents both died last September and she was now living with her 17 year old boyfriend and his mom. She says that her boyfriend hits her sometimes, which was obvious by the fear in her eyes and the scowl he had on his face while we talked to her. They were fighting about something, and he wanted to send her to San Salvador to live with her step-grandma, who she doesn't like a whole lot. We also learned that she walks the streets during the day trying to sell clothes and shoes to make some money. However, she hadn't eaten breakfast or lunch that day and probably wouldn't eat dinner either because she hadn't made any money. So here she stood in the street not knowing what to do or where to go.
Then the boyfriend's mom wanted to talk to us, I think mostly because she didn't like us talking to Raquel. So we crossed the street to speak with her just outside of the brothel where she worked and while we did that, the boyfriend walked off with Raquel. We asked where they were going and they said she would be right back. So we talked a bit more with the boyfriend's mom, who made it very obvious she didn't like Raquel. Then we saw the boyfriend coming back – without Raquel. I looked at Jeremy and immediately we knew that something was wrong. He said that she wasn't coming back, that he put her on a bus to San Salvador and wouldn't be back until noon the next day. We asked if we could come back a speak to her then. They agreed and we left.
I was devastated. I knew that something wasn't right. They definitely didn't want us to talk to her. So we came back and one of our contacts helped us to look for a home or orphanage for her to stay at. We just wanted to help get her out of that situation. So we went back the next day to see her….and she wasn't there. They said she would now return on Sunday at 3:00 in the afternoon.
My heart hurts as I write this story out. You see, I know that there are girls like this all around the world. I know that there are kids like this that deal with situations that I cannot begin to fathom. She is definitely not the only one going through this. But she was there…right in front of me. I watched her wipe the tears from her cheeks. I saw the hurt and fear in her eyes. I saw her desire for something more. I knew that she needed Jesus and I also saw that she needed a way out. Yet right now, I feel helpless. But I'm praying. I'm praying for another chance to see her. I'm praying that she'll be there on Sunday when we go back. I'm going to keep fighting for her because she's worth it. She's God's precious daughter who is in desperate need of a Savior. So I'll keep praying for Raquel and I hope you will too.
