You know those packages that look beautiful on the outside, wrapped so nicely, tied with a gorgeous bow. You are just waiting in excited anticipation of what the contents of the package are. However, you don’t want to ruin the beauty of the package, so then you wait and just relish the beauty of it all, but excitement reigns and the package is opened.
This week I experienced this beautiful package…
It was definitely a piece of a paradise, and yet I knew a little of what was inside…
We traveled an hour north into the mountains, where many of the girls from the children’s home families live. It is here where many refugees from the Burmese genocide have fled to, that has been occurring over the last 50 years (You can read more about this at: www.freeburmarangers.org). It is here, you are lucky to finish the 6th grade. It is here, where 12 year olds are now expected to financially contribute to their family’s income. Resulting in two options: get married or choose to head to a bigger city and get a job. Unfortunately, with the lack of education, adequate paying jobs are hard to come by. The only work readily available, unbiased to education is prostitution. If she doesn’t choose, the likelihood is, she will be sold and still enter the world of prostitution. Because that’s just the way things are here, its the reality of this nation.
I saw darkness when I see “beetlejuice” a mixture of opium and tobacco staining the teeth of the women of the community who looked to escape the darkness, if even for a short time. I saw darkness when dogs are sometimes more well-dressed than the people of the community. I saw darkness when I looked at an intricately designed home, knowing just by looking, their daughter was in the world of prostitution and money was being sent to them. I saw darkness when we met a 12-year old girl, who was soon to be married to an old widower, but because his business was bringing in money, the girl would be bringing money to her family through this connection.
And yet…
I saw beauty in the eyes of the children, as they cautiously took lollipops from our hands. I saw beauty in the works of art woven by hand by the women of the community. I saw beauty as a child ran into the arms of his mother. I saw beauty in the work the women took part in to make their house, a home. I saw beauty in the eyes of one of the children’s home girls who came with us to visit her previous home. It is because of Remember Nhu, she had been brought into the home when her parents had died and her eldest sister, believed she had no choice but to sell her. I see beauty every day in the eyes of each girl here at the home, because without this home and the amazing people working with this organization, 95% of these girls would be on the street, their virginity sold, when they are as young as 2 years old.
Prevention is the key here, with only 10% of people in prostitution getting out of prostitution and staying out. Remember Nhu is one such home whose focus is on preventing children from ever being sexually abused. It is here the children receive 3 meals a day (never before experienced), an education (through college or vocational training), and learn about the love of God through the actions brought forth simply in love by their house parents.
I am so grateful you (God) have brought these girls here, and led them out of these high-risk environments. I am so thankful you allowed me to play a part in this ministry that makes a lifetime impact by preventing young girls and boys from entering into the sex trade. I am so grateful that you have opened my eyes and that I am called to walk up and out of my ignorance of this injustice and share it with you, my family.
