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Thursday, December 10, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Prostitute Outreach - 12/04/09
Last night's outreach was amazing! God definitely prepared the hearts of the people who would be there on the streets. We didn't talk to *a lot* of people, but for the one's we did talk to, we had long meaningful conversations with them. It was as if, in their brokenness, they were just asking us to speak truth into their lives. It was so great!
Our team last night was Jen, Johnny, Lindsay, and I. Laurie had a procedure done on her feet so she had to stay home and rest. Poor thing!
We first came across two girls who were nice and took the bags, but you could tell they were being watched, so we didn't talk to them too long. But it was when we were talking to them that we noticed two men, A****** and H***, across the street. I'm not sure if they were runners or just some guys hanging out, but we decided to go talk to them and give them some pimp tracts.
They both didn't seem super interested in talking, but they didn't seem to mind us being there so we made small talk with the taller one. The other one was really quiet until Lindsay realized he spoke Spanish so she starting talking to him more. (I NEED to learn Spanish!) They talked for a good fifteen minutes, including when she praying with him. I told her afterward that I didn't know what she said, but it sounded good. lol She said that he didn't give a lot of specifics but said he had a lot of things in his life that needed prayer.
One thing that I have struggled with in this ministry is having compassion. I have been able to have compassion for the girls, and even for the pimps, but it is the Johns that I have had the hardest time with. I keep telling myself that if they would just go home to their wives, if there wasn't a 'demand,' there would be no need for the supply of girls. It was last night that I had to confess to God that not only have I never attempted to have compassion for the men, but I have never prayed for it or ask for God to open my eyes to the brokenness in their lives.
One thing Lindsay said that H*** said when she asked him what was on his heart is that he just wants to be loved and to have someone there with him. I thought back to the sadness in his face and all of a sudden, God gave me compassion for these men, without condoning the sin in their lives. We all have God-shaped holes that tell us our lives are meant for more than what they are and that we are meant for love, but as long as we fill that hole with anything but Christ, we will never feel complete.
We took turns getting out of the car to talk to a few other people. Jen and I (yes, the two Jens hehe) got to talk to J**** who had been working the track since 1984! We had never seen her before but she said she just gets out there, makes some money, and then gets out and heads home. She doesn't have a pimp and doesn't like to talk to anyone on the street, but for whatever reason, she felt like she wanted to let us talk to her. She said that, just as people have addictions to gambling, she had an addiction with prostitution. (She mentioned they should have a "prostitutes anonymous" class to help with the addictions... what an idea!) Her sister and her son both sound like they are walking with the Lord and they pray for her and encourage her to leave this life style, all the while loving her. She said she wants out, but needs the strength to do so. She was so sweet; very affectionate and we got to pray with her too. We got her number and gave her Laurie's number. I hope she calls!
It was a really great night. Sometimes I think I am more blessed by it all than anyone who we are reaching out to, but I guess that's how God works... blessing those pouring love as well as the ones being poured into.
Please pray for the team as we try to catch up on sleep (I only slept a few hours last night... too excited?), for Laurie as she is being healed, and for the people we met. Pray that God would continue to work on their hearts! God is so good!
Our team last night was Jen, Johnny, Lindsay, and I. Laurie had a procedure done on her feet so she had to stay home and rest. Poor thing!
We first came across two girls who were nice and took the bags, but you could tell they were being watched, so we didn't talk to them too long. But it was when we were talking to them that we noticed two men, A****** and H***, across the street. I'm not sure if they were runners or just some guys hanging out, but we decided to go talk to them and give them some pimp tracts.
They both didn't seem super interested in talking, but they didn't seem to mind us being there so we made small talk with the taller one. The other one was really quiet until Lindsay realized he spoke Spanish so she starting talking to him more. (I NEED to learn Spanish!) They talked for a good fifteen minutes, including when she praying with him. I told her afterward that I didn't know what she said, but it sounded good. lol She said that he didn't give a lot of specifics but said he had a lot of things in his life that needed prayer.
One thing that I have struggled with in this ministry is having compassion. I have been able to have compassion for the girls, and even for the pimps, but it is the Johns that I have had the hardest time with. I keep telling myself that if they would just go home to their wives, if there wasn't a 'demand,' there would be no need for the supply of girls. It was last night that I had to confess to God that not only have I never attempted to have compassion for the men, but I have never prayed for it or ask for God to open my eyes to the brokenness in their lives.
One thing Lindsay said that H*** said when she asked him what was on his heart is that he just wants to be loved and to have someone there with him. I thought back to the sadness in his face and all of a sudden, God gave me compassion for these men, without condoning the sin in their lives. We all have God-shaped holes that tell us our lives are meant for more than what they are and that we are meant for love, but as long as we fill that hole with anything but Christ, we will never feel complete.
We took turns getting out of the car to talk to a few other people. Jen and I (yes, the two Jens hehe) got to talk to J**** who had been working the track since 1984! We had never seen her before but she said she just gets out there, makes some money, and then gets out and heads home. She doesn't have a pimp and doesn't like to talk to anyone on the street, but for whatever reason, she felt like she wanted to let us talk to her. She said that, just as people have addictions to gambling, she had an addiction with prostitution. (She mentioned they should have a "prostitutes anonymous" class to help with the addictions... what an idea!) Her sister and her son both sound like they are walking with the Lord and they pray for her and encourage her to leave this life style, all the while loving her. She said she wants out, but needs the strength to do so. She was so sweet; very affectionate and we got to pray with her too. We got her number and gave her Laurie's number. I hope she calls!
It was a really great night. Sometimes I think I am more blessed by it all than anyone who we are reaching out to, but I guess that's how God works... blessing those pouring love as well as the ones being poured into.
Please pray for the team as we try to catch up on sleep (I only slept a few hours last night... too excited?), for Laurie as she is being healed, and for the people we met. Pray that God would continue to work on their hearts! God is so good!
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