As I walk down the streets of Bangla Road in the Red Light district I am surrounded by women everywhere caught in trafficking situations, the commerical sex trade industry, darkness and oppression.
There are thousands of women that are bought and sold. They expect to be treated like an object, to be abused and used night after night. Most of them hate their job. Most of them do this because they feel like this is the only way to live and provide for their family.
I've walked through this month with many ups and downs. It hasn't been easy to see the things I have seen. It's not easy talking to one of the girls and her saying she is worth $3000 bhat ($150 USD). It isn't easy to hear her say that she went home with a stranger last night. It isn't easy to see guys my own age out on the streets looking for 'love.' It isn't easy to hear that she hates her job but has no other choice. It isn't easy to hear they aren't ready to leave because of fear. It isn't easy to hear that she never gets to see her children.
My heart hurts. But I have so much Hope! Jesus loves these women. They are not objects- they are His precious daughters. They have worth. He has eyes to see them not for what they do, but who He created them to be. He is coming for them and has been using us to help. Just today, we got a phone call from one of the bar girls we met on the street the other night. She said she was done with the business and ready to see what we could offer her through the SHE organization.
So through it all God has been steadfast and faithful reminding me of His heart and how he really sees them. There is love, hope and redemption available. He has them. He loves them. And He's for them. Revolution is coming.
Not only are the 11 of us reaching out and loving on the women in the red light district- we are also loving eachother. We live together in community, fight for Hope, family time and freedom. Every day we sit down together as sisters and process what we're going through and where we're at in the journey of life. Being here and working with the women on the streets has definetly brought to the surface some very intense emotions and personal struggles that we have each experienced and are still walking through.
By coming together, sharing, being vulnerable, open, real and transparent we have experienced more of our Daddy's love, grace, forgiveness and redemption.
So we decided in the name of Daddy's unconditional love, freedom and redemption to put together a video that would communicate some of the beautiful testimonies of what God has done in our own lives to shine light and hope to those who are still trapped in bondage.
The heart of this video is not to incriminate or shock anyone rather, advance The Kingdom, display the power of God and reveal His heart for redemption. I am so proud of you Ruth, Stephanie, Daniela, Emily, Krystle, Marissa, Emily, Vanessa, Kaitlyn and Angela. I am so blessed to be apart of your team for the month. You are my sisters and I love you dearly.
For those of you who do not know MY full story- It's coming. This month, this video, the women I've met and the team have opened my eyes to an even deeper revelation of forgviness, healing and freedom to me personally. I am currently in the middle of writing out and inviting you into the part of me that I kept hidden for so long. The full story to come soon.
