Less than 3 weeks ago, Emma was sitting in the front row of the church, listening to women on a mission team as they shared how God had brought them through some very difficult times in their lives:  physical abuse, unwed pregnancies, divorce.  Theirs was a message of encouragement for immigrant women.

In the worship service earlier that day, I was delighted to see that Emma had joined the choir.  How ironic that she sang a verse of “One Day at a Time” as a solo during the choir’s special.  She was wearing a black blazer and slacks and a white blouse.  It was a conservative, “take me seriously” outfit…not what we have come to expect from a young woman who works in prostitution. 

Then, during the prayer time last Sunday, Gide asked us to pray for Emma, and then he prayed that, wherever she is, God would bring her peace and courage.  Wherever she is…the nightmare of young people without residency papers has hit our little congregation. 

Having finished work, Emma was waiting for her bus when she was arrested for being in Italy without residency papers and taken to jail. 

I was able to visit Emma yesterday at the Center for Identification and Expulsion, and I was thankful for her positive attitude.  She said that maybe this is a chance for a fresh start for her.  She said she knows God does not want her to be doing “that work” anymore.  Despite her hopes to be released with residency and work papers in Italy, she will probably be sent back to her home country.  How do you send a person back: As a letter marked “Return to Sender”?  Like "postage-due” box? 

In her home country, Emma faces a high likelihood of being trafficked again.  Having been in Italy for a period of time, many will correctly assume what sort of work she did here, and she will be shunned.  With no education, her work opportunities are very limited. 

If Emma gets the word that she is going to be deported, I will put her in touch with a Catholic sister here in Italy who has connections with a shelter for trafficking victims in Emma’s home country.  If she can get into that shelter, she has a better chance of a fresh start. 

We rejoice that you, as our supporters, have touched Emma already in one of these ways:
-You gave money we used to buy Bibles for Emma and her friends.  Her little blue paperback Bible was in the bag of things Emma asked her sister to send with me.  Emma had written along the edge of the Bible her name and “God will take care of me and my family.” 
-Many of you have provided small gifts that I can give to women like Emma.  You, Laurie, made beautiful ribbon crosses. The red one I gave to Emma when I gave her the Bible weeks ago was inside the Bible when I took it to the prison.  We used it there to mark Jeremiah 29:11:  “I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm…to give you a future with hope.”
-You came to Italy and told your story to young women who needed hope.  
-You prayed for us and for the immigrants with whom we work. 
-You or your church gives financial support that enables us to minister in Italy.
 
Please continue to pray for Emma.  Pray for good legal counsel and the courage to tell authorities her whole story.  Thank God for her ministry to her fellow detainees.  Emma had her sister send with me artificial hair for braids.  I thought it was for Emma, but she said, “No, there are five girls here who just crossed ‘the river’ (actually the Mediterranean Sea) from Libya.  You know, they need their hair done!  They don’t have people here to help them, but I do.” 

I am glad to be one of “Emma’s people.”  And, I thank you for being her people and God’s people, too!
 
Pray for others still working the streets.  Pray that their exploiters will not succeed in hiding them in order to protect “their investment and profit centers”.  Pray for authorities to be merciful to the young women they arrest.  Pray for Emma’s friends within the church to have the courage and long-term vision to enter the social protection program for victims of trafficking and to denounce their exploiters. 

Serving one day at a time,
Debbie (along with Jim, Luke and Ben) Kelsey

Remember to give to the World Mission Offering through your local ABC-USA congregation or online at www.internationalministries.org.  You can designate your giving for “the support of the Kelseys-Italy” or to other missionaries.