Walking up the street, I didn’t exactly know what to expect. We got to the intersection, where Nathan and Hakeem remained in prayer for the rest of the night. Meanwhile Brittany, Sam, Maryah, Emily, and I went with our ministry contacts towards the girls standing on the opposite side of the street.
To my surprise, we were greeted with warm smiles, kisses on each cheek, and laughter. They welcomed us into their space as we set up a table filled with cookies, bread, fruit, juice and water. Despite being a place filled with so much darkness, these girls were filled with an inherent light that is hard to explain in words. Having researched human trafficking, I had a lot of head knowledge about the subject; however, this was my first time seeing it up close.
We laid out the table and invited the girls to come eat and drink. They told us their names, shared their beautiful personalities with us, and yet there was also a very clear guard up in our conversations. After a few minutes of eating and chatting, we opened our Bibles to Luke 11, where Jesus teaches his disciples the Lord’s Prayer. They all knew it by memory and recited it back to us as we read it.
We then read further through the passage:
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of your fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Our ministry contacts taught these girls about how God is a Father to each and every one of them, and how He desires to give good gifts to his beloved daughters. We then asked them what they wanted to ask God for. Some asked for protection and favor, and some asked for papers to get them out of their situation. We then held hands in a circle, and one of our contacts asked if one of the girls wanted to pray.
This woman was shy at first, but before beginning her prayer, she asked if she could worship first. She and her friend then began to sing a beautiful west African worship song to us. It was such a moving moment. Their worship was passionate, endearing, and filled with so much love and hope. Then she went on to say one of the most powerful, Spirit-filled prayers I had ever heard. She spoke to God her Father. She thanked him for his goodness. She asked for his protection. She thanked Him for His Word. And with every line of her prayer, I could feel the genuine love she had for God and for others.
The night continued on, as we invited more girls to come eat with us, shared our passage of scripture with those who had yet to hear it, prayed over those who wanted prayer, and continued to have more conversations with them. They were all beautiful inside and out. Though many of them wanted out of this work, they also had so much hope and love living inside of them. When I looked at each of them, I saw beautiful daughters of God, dearly loved by him, and He wants them to know it so badly. He desires their hearts so much. He desires their freedom so much. He is pursuing them passionately.
As we talked until sun down, they taught us one of their favorite worship songs. I am posting it below and ask you all to listen to it and pray it over each and every one of these beautiful women. I can’t share too much for their protection, but I assure you that they would capture your heart in a moment’s notice, just as they captured mine.
Pray for their protection, pray for the protection of our ministry contacts as well. The men and the pimps in the area watch the girls closely and are not particularly happy about our presence there. One of our prayers for these girls is Psalm 91. We read and pray it over these girls every time we go see them.
When we go there, I can’t help but think of John 1:5 – “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Though there is so much evident darkness in this place, I also can’t help but see His light shine through each and every one of those girls. He is working there!
Thank you so much for investing in this journey and in this ministry. This ministry is mentally, emotionally, and spiritually exhausting. I find myself in tears at some point during the night after we get back, but it is always so incredibly worth it.
We only have a few days left in Paris before we head into our next country. Pray also that we may finish it well! I am still fundraising in order to remain on the race. If you would like to support me and the ministries I am taking part in this year, please click the “Donate” button above! My next deadline is $13,000 by September 23rd.
Thank you for reading and for all of your prayers and support!
