I like how God always surprises me. I expected my last week in the Philippines to be sad, yet it’s in the running for my favorite week of the Race. I thought I would be sad because it was the week of the Parent Vision trip, where our parents could come and do ministry with us for a week. Unfortunately, my parents weren’t able to come, and that’s obviously sad because I love them SO MUCH and miss them a ton. And it was hard to hear other Racers talk about how excited they were to see their parents when I knew I wouldn’t get to see mine. I felt like the last week would be meh.
But God had a purpose in my parents not coming, and looking back, I’m glad they didn’t come (still love you guys and it would have been great to see you but let me explain).
I had the opportunity to go with 7 other squad mates from three different teams and be a part of Team Goose for the week in the city of Angeles. Team Goose had so much fun together. We partnered with Bella Goose Coffee (that Team Goose name is sure creative, huh?) and it was incredible. Our hosts were former World Racers themselves, which is a huge blessing as they understand things other hosts don’t. We loved hanging out with them in the coffee shop while drinking delicious coffee and eating way too good cinnamon rolls.
We did a variety of things during the week. One day we went to an orphanage that was hands down the most peaceful and inviting orphanage I have been to. The love of Jesus was SO CLEARLY PRESENT there that though I’ve been able to confirm this year that kids ministry is not my thing, I still left feeling so full and joyful. Another day, we did a kids community event where we played games, gave out school supplies, and fed the kids. We went to church with our hosts and even a Pat Barrett concert in Manila!
All of that was wonderful, but the thing that really got me this past week was bar ministry. Bella Goose Coffee is only a few blocks away from the red-light district in Angeles, and we walked through it a couple times a day just to get from where we were staying to the coffee shop. We went into the bars two nights and prayed for God to show us who to talk to. We would order our drinks and then look for a girl on stage who we felt led to, and call her down to sit with us. It’s a whole lot more simple than you would ever think but also difficult at the same time. Awkward? Uh, yeah kind of a little bit. There aren’t often groups of four girls walking into brothels, ordering pineapple juices, and sitting down with a bar girl to talk about her life. So it felt pretty weird. Yet it is such an incredibly important thing.
Guys, I am about to get fired up about this. There are over 15,000 girls being trafficked on this one street, some of them tricked into being there and some of them there out of fear that it’s the only way they can provide for their family. It’s sickening how blatantly obvious all the bars are about the things that take place every single day even though prostitution is illegal in the Philippines. I still can’t comprehend how it can be so established and accepted!
A college degree is so important in the Philippines to get a good job, and that’s where Bella Goose Coffee comes in. They are partnered with another organization that provides free education and housing to girls rescued from sex trafficking. Our hosts go into the bars, talk to the girls and invite them to Bella Goose (it’s WAY too loud to have any decent conversation in those bars, hence some of the awkwardness). And many of the girls come because they want out, but it can take months for them to actually build up the courage just to go to the coffee shop.
God is cool though. After only two nights of going into the bars, some of my teammates talked to a girl in the bar who had been working there for five months, and the day after we left, she came into the coffee shop very interested in pursuing an education and getting out of the bar!!!!!! Wow God!!! JUST ONE NIGHT OF BAR MINISTRY!! And for all we know, the other girls we talked to will come eventually.
I’ve struggled a bit on the Race trying to figure out where my passions lie. In Malaysia, I discovered a huge passion of mine, but it wasn’t even through any ministry we had done on the Race. This year, I’ve been with orphans, in extreme poverty, and among the sick. These things make me sad, but though I somewhat hate to admit it, I simply don’t get fired up about those things. God calls me to love all people, so I will, but I had really wanted a ministry I just connected with and where I really FELT something on a deep level. I had hoped we would do something with sex trafficking on the Race but was starting to think it wouldn’t happen. But God knew it would. And he knew I would connect with that ministry.
I don’t currently feel God’s call to move across the world or work specifically in red light districts, but God revealed yet another passion of mine and another little tidbit of what I will likely do when I return home. I know you’re probably wondering what that is, but I’m not looking into any specifics yet, and I’d much rather tell you when I have a clearer idea myself. But the week at Bella Goose was just so so so good. I’m thankful we had awesome hosts, a really cool variety of ministry, good coffee, a great team, and the chance to give hope to girls who feel trapped and to pray for all people on Walking Street.
If you remember them, pray for our hosts Laura and Josh and pray for the light of Jesus to shine in the darkness. Pray for freedom for the mamasans (basically the pimps), bar owners, bar girls, and all the men who go to the red-light district searching for fulfillment that can only come from Jesus. ALL of them need Jesus desperately, and I’m so glad I got to be a part of such an impactful and freeing ministry. What a wonderful end to Asia!
