When I'm home in Holland, I volunteer with a Dutch Christian organization which is meeting women in prostitution in the legalized red-light districts in various cities. Yesterday, we visited women who work behind store-front windows which are on boats in a canal! We wave to them, indicating that we'd like to talk, then walk down gang-planks to their doors. Ninety percent open their doors to us. They smile, are kind, enjoy the conversation, accept the flowers and tracts and books we have for them. We let them know in as many ways as we can how precious they are in God's sight, how much they are loved. We give them cards that let them know they can contact our sponsoring organization if they want counseling or help finding another job. Some invite us in and close their curtains so that we can talk without customers interrupting us or looking at us through the windows. We are honored when they do that, because we know that "time is money". In these cases, they often talk about wanting to leave this job.... "but...." We always end our conversations asking them how we can pray for them, and sometimes they indicate they'd like us to pray for them right then.
And in those moments, the insides of rooms of prostitution become Holy Ground.
I'll be really, really honest with you: I feel compelled to visit these women. I feel reluctant to visit them. I feel insecure about going: even after meeting women in prostitution for 20+ years. But God has called me to just "show up" in those places. And to have no expectations other than know that It's God's Work. If I begin to think about my insecurities and my needs to see outcomes and "successes", then I'll lose sight of the fact--and it is a fact--that God is at work. I just need to "show up". God will do the work of redemption and healing.
I left the red-light district with the faces of several of the young women in my thoughts and prayers. I so very much want them to know Jesus, and know how much they are loved by God, created in His image. My doubts that this will ever happen plagued me.
And then God showed up for me: after leaving the red-light district, I went to dinner with a woman who had spent 3 years in prostitution. And then came the day that she cried out for help and God spoke directly into her heart, and brought Hope and showed her His Love. Her testimony of God's healing and faithfulness over these last 2 decades was what I needed to hear in this moment. God showed up for me. I will continue to show up. And Thank You for showing up here and for the many ways you show up in my life, through your support and prayers.
And in those moments, the insides of rooms of prostitution become Holy Ground.
I'll be really, really honest with you: I feel compelled to visit these women. I feel reluctant to visit them. I feel insecure about going: even after meeting women in prostitution for 20+ years. But God has called me to just "show up" in those places. And to have no expectations other than know that It's God's Work. If I begin to think about my insecurities and my needs to see outcomes and "successes", then I'll lose sight of the fact--and it is a fact--that God is at work. I just need to "show up". God will do the work of redemption and healing.
I left the red-light district with the faces of several of the young women in my thoughts and prayers. I so very much want them to know Jesus, and know how much they are loved by God, created in His image. My doubts that this will ever happen plagued me.
And then God showed up for me: after leaving the red-light district, I went to dinner with a woman who had spent 3 years in prostitution. And then came the day that she cried out for help and God spoke directly into her heart, and brought Hope and showed her His Love. Her testimony of God's healing and faithfulness over these last 2 decades was what I needed to hear in this moment. God showed up for me. I will continue to show up. And Thank You for showing up here and for the many ways you show up in my life, through your support and prayers.