-
dieselbergnov1.jpg
-
dieselbergnov2.jpg
-
dieselbergnov3.jpg
Are you free?
"Are you free?" An Arab man had just approached the table where I was in conversation with two Uzbek women. His hand was demanding a greeting. I shook his hand and asked, "What do you mean?"
"Can you go for short time?" The Uzbek woman next to me shook her head and put her head down embarrassed.
"I'm not free and I am not for sale." I answered him.
"Why are you angry?" He asked.
"I don't like the way you are looking at the women," I told him.
"I'm sorry. These women they come here for this." He attempted to justify his actions.
"This is not a market." I told him. These women are precious, good women; they are not objects."
"So now you judge me?" he asked. The women spoke to each other in Farsi. The man stood there awkwardly. "Am I in court now?"
I told him "There is a higher judge you will answer to. Let your heart be your judge as well."
Not for sale
I turned my attention back to the Uzbek woman. She was hiding her face from him, embarrassed. The man did not leave. He insisted on buying our drinks and sitting with us. I feigned temporary interest as he told me about his eye condition and the doctor's report. I asked him what his business is in Dubai and listened briefly before turning my attention back to the woman.
"I really like you," he said.
"Thank you." I answered without looking at him, uninterested (and not the least bit flattered!) and I continued my conversation with the woman at my side. She said, "Sometimes I go crazy here with these men."
"I'm sure you do many times," I told her.
The man and the other woman exchanged words in Arabic, while looking at me.
"He really wants you!" and she shook her head embarrassed for me. "We tell him he cannot but he doesn't go."
"Oh well, his bad luck. Tell him I'm a missionary - he'll change his mind." She laughed and we went back to our conversation about her life and Uzbekistan. The man finally sighed, shook our hands and left.
Amina, the Uzbek woman was being very open with me. I didn't know how she would feel about my rejection of a customer but maybe my words reminded her of who she is. She told me she has a teaching degree from university. She speaks 5 languages. She was a music teacher for 15 years before her marriage broke up and she ended up doing "this work." Teaching in Uzbekistan just did not bring in enough money to make ends meet. Amina loves playing the piano especially Mozart and Beethoven. As I listen to her, I realize that Amina and I might have been friends if we had gone to the same school. My degree is also in teaching and I too love classical music, piano and languages.
It was getting late. They were tired but their night was just beginning. I was tired and it was time for me to go to my bed. As I said goodbye, she asked for my phone number.
I walked away and the difference between us became blatantly obvious. The man's attempts to purchase my body rolled off like water on oil. I don't know what it feels like to be a commodity available for bargain and purchase. I don't know what it feels like on the inside to accept this as my identity, my reality. No matter what he said or how hard he tried I was not for sale. I could turn him down and I could walk away. Amina could not. In spite of my insistence that this was not a market, the truth is that it was just that. Amina's body is for sale and when an offer is made for her "short time", the words cut deep because she is not free and unlike me she does feels reduced to an object. The injustice of it all invades my thoughts and dreams as I go about in my freedom.
The caged and the free
What is it that separates us, the caged and the free? What is it that enables one of us to get up and walk away, humanity intact; while the other stays in an invisible cage waiting to be bought? What will it take to turn the tables on injustice? What will it take before governments, societies, churches, religions, people stand up against injustice and demand that all human beings have the right to good jobs, education, safety, respect, dignity, and freedom? In Galatians 5:13-14, I read, "You my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
What will it take? Maybe the tide will turn when we who are free begin to recognize that our neighbor is one who sits in prisons of sexual exploitation, of economic injustice, of abandonment and abuse. Maybe it begins with us asking the question once again, "Who is our neighbor" And if we are willing to see, maybe we will discover that our neighbor is the one who longs for the freedom we already have. And maybe we will begin to understand that we can all turn the tide on injustice when we truly live by the command, "Love your neighbor as yourself!"
All of us at NightLight are grateful for all you do in demonstrating love to us and the women yet to come. Pray with us that there will be many more laborers for the harvest with a passion to "Love our neighbor." We appreciate you prayers and support and pray God's blessings on each of you this season.
Annie Dieselberg
NightLight
"I really like you," he said.
"Thank you." I answered without looking at him, uninterested (and not the least bit flattered!) and I continued my conversation with the woman at my side. She said, "Sometimes I go crazy here with these men."
"I'm sure you do many times," I told her.
The man and the other woman exchanged words in Arabic, while looking at me.
"He really wants you!" and she shook her head embarrassed for me. "We tell him he cannot but he doesn't go."
"Oh well, his bad luck. Tell him I'm a missionary - he'll change his mind." She laughed and we went back to our conversation about her life and Uzbekistan. The man finally sighed, shook our hands and left.
"Same Same . . ."
Amina, the Uzbek woman was being very open with me. I didn't know how she would feel about my rejection of a customer but maybe my words reminded her of who she is. She told me she has a teaching degree from university. She speaks 5 languages. She was a music teacher for 15 years before her marriage broke up and she ended up doing "this work." Teaching in Uzbekistan just did not bring in enough money to make ends meet. Amina loves playing the piano especially Mozart and Beethoven. As I listen to her, I realize that Amina and I might have been friends if we had gone to the same school. My degree is also in teaching and I too love classical music, piano and languages.
It was getting late. They were tired but their night was just beginning. I was tired and it was time for me to go to my bed. As I said goodbye, she asked for my phone number.
"But Different"
I walked away and the difference between us became blatantly obvious. The man's attempts to purchase my body rolled off like water on oil. I don't know what it feels like to be a commodity available for bargain and purchase. I don't know what it feels like on the inside to accept this as my identity, my reality. No matter what he said or how hard he tried I was not for sale. I could turn him down and I could walk away. Amina could not. In spite of my insistence that this was not a market, the truth is that it was just that. Amina's body is for sale and when an offer is made for her "short time", the words cut deep because she is not free and unlike me she does feels reduced to an object. The injustice of it all invades my thoughts and dreams as I go about in my freedom.
The caged and the free
What is it that separates us, the caged and the free? What is it that enables one of us to get up and walk away, humanity intact; while the other stays in an invisible cage waiting to be bought? What will it take to turn the tables on injustice? What will it take before governments, societies, churches, religions, people stand up against injustice and demand that all human beings have the right to good jobs, education, safety, respect, dignity, and freedom? In Galatians 5:13-14, I read, "You my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
What Will it Take?
What will it take? Maybe the tide will turn when we who are free begin to recognize that our neighbor is one who sits in prisons of sexual exploitation, of economic injustice, of abandonment and abuse. Maybe it begins with us asking the question once again, "Who is our neighbor" And if we are willing to see, maybe we will discover that our neighbor is the one who longs for the freedom we already have. And maybe we will begin to understand that we can all turn the tide on injustice when we truly live by the command, "Love your neighbor as yourself!"
All of us at NightLight are grateful for all you do in demonstrating love to us and the women yet to come. Pray with us that there will be many more laborers for the harvest with a passion to "Love our neighbor." We appreciate you prayers and support and pray God's blessings on each of you this season.
Annie Dieselberg
NightLight