women at the Well

Not really sure I have the words right now to what I'm feeling about our experience last night. I guess that enables me more than ever to refer to scripture.

The passage in the book of John chapter 4 takes on a whole new meaning. Jesus stops to rest at Jacob's well outside a town in Samaria. What takes place is an unlikely exchange with a women whom we discover is "damaged goods", having had five husbands and living with a man who was not currently her husband. Jesus offers this women "living water" that will allow her to never thirst again, which sets in motion this story of transformation in her life.

Jim Larson is living this passage. God has called him in the deepest sense to bring the abundance of Christ's love to these women who sell themselves night in and night out. He said most of these women work 12-hour shifts and have 1 or 2 days off a month! Amazing things are happening though, really, truly. Women are being transformed. There facility, where we'll be tomorrow, is actually too full now.

The scene is like nothing I've seen before, with women lined up at each different bar waiting to be had. I spent a good portion capturing the scene the best I could, though had to fight back tears as I saw these men degrade these women to the lowest common denominator.

I think the entire team is in a state of shock to be honest. I'm not even sure where to direct my prayers right now, except that this issue became a reality to me this evening. It was amazing to see Jim and how many of these women he knew. Even that night, he sat and talked with a girl who was really wanting out and he was offering her the chance to be free from all this.

This time we'll have will be proof that our influence has reached the margins and it's the spirit that has to take over for any real possibility of change in any of these women.

We're not naive enough to assume that 11 americans can do a whole lot of good in our short time, but we're not naive enough to assume that the Lord is capable of using us in incredible ways. We're at the bars every evening for the next few nights. Jim has asked us to walk in pairs, guy and girl, and just begin meeting with these girls, asking them questions, loving on them.

I loved what he said, "we're just here to love them, Jesus can do the rest."