In Thailand (month 2), I had the privilege to go out and love on prostitutes. There was a team on my squad whose entire ministry during that month was in the red light district, however they let all of us to go out once. There would be people who would stay back at the hostel, interceding and worshiping, while a team of 6 or 7 went out to the red light district. When I went, I just talked with one woman. For about two hours, we talked and it was incredible because for a couple hours this woman got to chat and not worry about having to do what she is out there to do. She shared her story, and she told us that she didn’t want to be there. All she wanted was for her children to have a better life, so she was doing what she could to provide and give them a different style of living. Her kids live with her mom and her dream was to go home, which was hours away, and be with her family. I had never experienced anything like it before. I learned so much about Jesus through interceding and going out and loving on the women. I saw Jesus do so much through our squad.
Fast forward to month 8 in Costa Rica. We didn’t directly do ministry with people in prostitution/trafficking, but the town that we lived in had it. We weren’t allowed to be out past 8pm because it could get dangerous and we were exposed to a lot of drugs and prostitution at night. There were rumors that went around about a specific building that women were trafficked in. Everyday I’d see the building and pray. One night I looked up and saw a woman just sitting there staring out the window and I had tears fill my eyes. I stood there, out past curfew to buy lice shampoo, and stared at the woman and prayed for her. I wasn’t 100% sure that’s what she was there for but that’s what we had heard and it broke my heart. I think Jesus wanted to show me that moment and break my heart for what breaks His. I prayed so often for the women in the city we were in. The atmosphere changed completely every day at around 6pm as soon as the sun went down. It went from a fun beach town to a town that you wouldn’t even recognize as the same. You could feel the atmosphere shift.
Now lets talk about last night. Thailand the women were very exposed and you knew exactly what was going on. Costa Rica was similar to Thailand, but it was a little more subtle. Last night we got to go to the red light district in Ecuador and it was pretty hidden. Women/transgender men were very spread out among the streets and they were pretty hidden. The people we went out with had built relationships among these streets and it was beautiful. Here in Ecuador it is about 40 degrees at night. They are freezing, and we got to go out and bring them warm tea and a sandwich. It was so much fun. We talked to them and about 95% of them let us pray for them. They lit up a whole bunch. It was so beautiful and so sweet.
So here was my favorite part of the night…
WE GOT TO SING WITH A PROSTITUTE. We talked to this transgender man and prayed for protection, warmth, truth, etc. and then afterwards continued talking. For a while the conversation was being translated but then they stopped for about 30 seconds. After that time one of our friends looked at us and said, “Do you want to sing Good Good Father with us?” We immediately said yes. Then half of us in English and the other half in Spanish started singing Good Good Father with the prostitute. It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. In that moment I heard Jesus say, “Look what happens when you love.” But seriously… Look at the unity that happens when you solely love, when you put all expectations and judgments aside and love. I got to take this person, this sweet and incredible person, a sandwich and tea and it led to praising our Father together. I was incredibly honored and humbled that the Lord sent me there and let me be apart of that moment.
Experiencing these things and hearing the stories of human trafficking all around the world has given me a heart for the people in these situations. God has broken my heart for human trafficking. I care. I see them.
I see them as children of God. I see people trapped and lost. I see hearts. I see people searching for something and finding value in the wrong things. I see how loved they are. I see them.
And I want to sit there, here their stories, see their tears, hold their hands, bring them a warm drink. I want to look in their eyes and tell them they are worth so much more than they believe they are and that Jesus loves them through it all.
