Human trafficking is more popular per capita in Nepal than it is anywhere else in the world. Girls are sold by their parents. Sometimes they are taken out of Nepal, often to India, and they never see their families again. Sometimes they are kidnapped. Sometimes they are promised a job. But they all end up in the same place.
Looking at all of these facts it’s easy to let your heart break. And it should; it’s awful. All of it puts a pit in my stomach so big I can’t help but consider why I am so passionate about stopping it. It’s not fair that being born a woman means you are a burden to your family until you turn 12. Then you become a financial blessing. It’s not fair that my parents love me more than they love money and these kids are sold by their parents. It’s not fair at all.
But today I get to give you all a different insight into the world of human trafficking. The ministry I work with goes into dance bars and cabin restaurants every week to rescue women. Nepal doesn’t have brothels, rather they have cabin restaurants. Here, a man (or a man and his girlfriend/wife) comes in and pays for a meal. The more the meal, the more that is given from the “waitress.” Apparently it works as a kind of code- a person would go into the restaurant and order the most expensive thing on the menu and would receive more sexual pleasure than simply buying a snack. All of these sexual acts actually take place in the restaurant, which is divided into sort of cubicles (they are actually much smaller than the cubicles I have worked in).
On Monday, September 11th God told me to go into one of these cabin restaurants. To share my story and share His truth. He told me I wasn’t only going to be talking to the women, but myself. Excited, and very confused, I went to our ministry host and told him what the Holy Spirit told me. Our host just said, “We rescue women weekly. Next week you will go.” I felt a little frustrated that he wouldn’t just let me run off to a cabin restaurant right away (patience isn’t my virtue and I’m not sure safety is ever my priority- sorry, mama). My few of teammates and squadmates told me that it isn’t about my timeline, but God’s. Holding on to this truth I continued with the squad for ministry (until I was hospitalized).
But on Tuesday, the 19th our host told me that our team and one other would be going to do ministry at a cabin restaurant. Before leaving our base our host’s wife took us to a small room to debrief us on what ministering to these women would look like. She told us that we may not be able to meet anyone and may just have to walk around outside and pray. “Be careful to always spell out ‘Jesus’ and ‘amen’ while speaking aloud. People around there won’t understand you are praying if you spell these words and don’t bow your head.” She said it all with hesitation, explaining how much she did not want to go. Prostitution ministry and trafficking rescue has gotten to her, and the previous month she told God she was done with it. Nonetheless she was commanded to take us so she obeyed.
It was dangerous where we were going. Regardless, because of the week before I felt at peace, confident God was placing me there for a reason.
After a bus ride and a little walk, we split into two groups- 14 white girls isn’t exactly discrete, and with only one translator it would have been too much for us all to go together. So one group went into a restaurant (a real one) and the rest of us continued to walk a ways to a cabin restaurant.
There we were able to enter the restaurant, no men were there at the moment so they ushered us in to one of the cabins and gave us Mountain Dew. We sat with the 3 workers and began chatting about the little things- hobbies, family, and other surface level things. We all became fast friends, and the conversation began to get deeper.
All were fairly new to the establishment, two of them having only worked there for a month. The other had started two days prior. For safety reasons, I will call this woman Carrie. Carrie told us about how she left her village after getting married 3 months before. He just left her and that’s why she was working at the cabin restaurant- she didn’t have any other options.
After talking for about an hour, the women told us how much they enjoyed spending time with us. We told them the same and asked if they would like to get coffee with us on Friday. They said yes, but that we should come to their house for coffee instead. Side note: this is a huge deal in Asian culture. To be invited to someone’s home for coffee, rather than meet at a shop, means you are considered a close friend- almost family. We made arrangements to meet them the next day.
Yesterday at their home was incredible. They asked us to come back on Friday morning, so I will wait to post about Wednesday and Friday.
Here is the inside of a cabin- it is about 5 ft x 5 ft. During our conversation 12 of us squeezed into one.
This is the entire restaurant. The cabins are only about 6 feet tall (if that) and right next to each other. Privacy is nonexistent.
This week our squad is in a competition for blog writing. So that’s why I’m writing another one- because, winning. Also because I know you all just loveee hearing from me. But for real, God has been doing some awesome things in Nepal, my squad mates lives, and my heart. And He is chasing after these women. Hard. Get ready for more this week- I’m just getting started.
