single step away on either side
I don't usually write long posts, in fact I've gotten good at being brief. I've tried to keep it real brief, but this one requires a little more depth:
One of the most powerful aspects of this trip which has been somewhat incomparable to any other experience has been seeing both sides of these women's lives.
Each morning and afternoon, we have spent time with women who have recently gotten out of the sex trade, been transformed through Christ's love, and are actively seeking a renewed lifestyle and participating in a new family. It really is just that, a family of girls that are living and breathing the Gospel and complete life change.
This translates in practical ways: learning english, developing a business that sells a number of products overseas which then goes towards improving facilities and growing the organization; counseling (this is so important as they work through some complex social and personal issues), and discipleship. These women exude joy beyond what these rather empty words can conjure up. Can't describe it, they are just overwhelmingly at peace with a God who loves them for who they are and not for what they produce or sell.
In the evenings and late into the night, we'd go to these red light district, which again unlike anything I've ever experienced. I gotta be honest, I didn't know what to expect with the assumption that we could go down and build relationships with women in the sex trade, but we really did. Our team has amazing stories of what has happened through simple conversations of show love and appreciation for who they are.
I'm tearing up just thinking of some of them as I write this. They're not your stereotypical girl you'd imagine in the industry. They're sweet, adorable girls who don't like what they do (a high percentage and don't let people tell you otherwise), but get stuck or forced into it. It seems ludicrous, but when you actually start hearing these stories directly from the women, you begin to really empathize with how they've arrived at what they do.
What began to happen after a few nights was I began to see the girls at The Well in these women. I saw something they couldn't see for themselves: incredible potential. It wiped away barriers and fears I had for doing something like this and really opened up to a new side of me.
The reality is, these women on either side of the isle are a single step away from doing the inverse. The women at The Well could and have in the past gone back into the scene. Sex slaves have become former sex slaves and been redeemed. The line between these choices is often times minuscule and it can very much take someone to step out and challenge another to take a step forward in their personal journey....get out, be better than that and start living with the potential God has for you.
So awesome to see what is happening here.
One of the most powerful aspects of this trip which has been somewhat incomparable to any other experience has been seeing both sides of these women's lives.
Each morning and afternoon, we have spent time with women who have recently gotten out of the sex trade, been transformed through Christ's love, and are actively seeking a renewed lifestyle and participating in a new family. It really is just that, a family of girls that are living and breathing the Gospel and complete life change.
This translates in practical ways: learning english, developing a business that sells a number of products overseas which then goes towards improving facilities and growing the organization; counseling (this is so important as they work through some complex social and personal issues), and discipleship. These women exude joy beyond what these rather empty words can conjure up. Can't describe it, they are just overwhelmingly at peace with a God who loves them for who they are and not for what they produce or sell.
In the evenings and late into the night, we'd go to these red light district, which again unlike anything I've ever experienced. I gotta be honest, I didn't know what to expect with the assumption that we could go down and build relationships with women in the sex trade, but we really did. Our team has amazing stories of what has happened through simple conversations of show love and appreciation for who they are.
I'm tearing up just thinking of some of them as I write this. They're not your stereotypical girl you'd imagine in the industry. They're sweet, adorable girls who don't like what they do (a high percentage and don't let people tell you otherwise), but get stuck or forced into it. It seems ludicrous, but when you actually start hearing these stories directly from the women, you begin to really empathize with how they've arrived at what they do.
What began to happen after a few nights was I began to see the girls at The Well in these women. I saw something they couldn't see for themselves: incredible potential. It wiped away barriers and fears I had for doing something like this and really opened up to a new side of me.
The reality is, these women on either side of the isle are a single step away from doing the inverse. The women at The Well could and have in the past gone back into the scene. Sex slaves have become former sex slaves and been redeemed. The line between these choices is often times minuscule and it can very much take someone to step out and challenge another to take a step forward in their personal journey....get out, be better than that and start living with the potential God has for you.
So awesome to see what is happening here.
posted by dcschmiddy at 1:17 PM
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