The other night, we had a successful rescue.
The stories here are both horrific and terrifyingly familiar, like some sick variation on "once upon a time." Usually, they go something like this: A girl meets someone while waiting for a train. They talk, often about how the girl is seeking work in the city to support her family. They board the train, but it is sweltering, and when the kind stranger offers her a sip of water, she gratefully accepts. A few moments later, the world turns black, and she wakes up in a brothel. She opens her eyes in Hell.
It happens all the time.
Once in a brothel, these girls are beaten, threatened and abused until they break. Then, their lives become an endless stream of serial rape. They are beaten if customers' appetites are somehow unmet. Most girls do not retain their earnings, and what they do get, they are often forced to spend on condoms, or on food to supplement whatever meals their brothel keeper gives them.
Many of these girls do not know where they are - what street, what building, what floor - because they are never allowed outside the brothel walls. Any life or ambition they once had dissolves into an existence spent in filthy sex rooms from 6 pm to 3 am. And no one comes to save them.
But the other night, four girls imprisoned in a brothel got to come out, and we are so thankful that tonight, they can sleep in freedom. That said, it really is only the beginning. The rescue itself is the product of hours of meticulous, patient, thorough work, but the road ahead is much harder. Like so many other girls, they will now have to deal with the trauma of what they suffered, from deep psychological scarring to lifelong disease. For many, medical tests will reveal HIV.
The trial will take years, but that is another story for another time.
We are amazed at the courage, skill, and enormous faith of the team. In a week that has not held a lot of personal good, we have felt deeply blessed to have been witness to and a very small part of what God is doing here.
If any of this is even remotely interesting, I have a book for you. I'll lend you it when I get home, but if you want it now, get in touch with any of my family (I left them a stack) or Mark's parents, and they'll be more than happy to let you borrow it.
The stories here are both horrific and terrifyingly familiar, like some sick variation on "once upon a time." Usually, they go something like this: A girl meets someone while waiting for a train. They talk, often about how the girl is seeking work in the city to support her family. They board the train, but it is sweltering, and when the kind stranger offers her a sip of water, she gratefully accepts. A few moments later, the world turns black, and she wakes up in a brothel. She opens her eyes in Hell.
It happens all the time.
Once in a brothel, these girls are beaten, threatened and abused until they break. Then, their lives become an endless stream of serial rape. They are beaten if customers' appetites are somehow unmet. Most girls do not retain their earnings, and what they do get, they are often forced to spend on condoms, or on food to supplement whatever meals their brothel keeper gives them.
Many of these girls do not know where they are - what street, what building, what floor - because they are never allowed outside the brothel walls. Any life or ambition they once had dissolves into an existence spent in filthy sex rooms from 6 pm to 3 am. And no one comes to save them.
But the other night, four girls imprisoned in a brothel got to come out, and we are so thankful that tonight, they can sleep in freedom. That said, it really is only the beginning. The rescue itself is the product of hours of meticulous, patient, thorough work, but the road ahead is much harder. Like so many other girls, they will now have to deal with the trauma of what they suffered, from deep psychological scarring to lifelong disease. For many, medical tests will reveal HIV.
The trial will take years, but that is another story for another time.
We are amazed at the courage, skill, and enormous faith of the team. In a week that has not held a lot of personal good, we have felt deeply blessed to have been witness to and a very small part of what God is doing here.
If any of this is even remotely interesting, I have a book for you. I'll lend you it when I get home, but if you want it now, get in touch with any of my family (I left them a stack) or Mark's parents, and they'll be more than happy to let you borrow it.
- Lauren
we're praying for you back home Wittens. Your courage and determination are gifts from God, and so we hope you will touch those who need to know the same.
ReplyDeleteDon says: I like the pictures and the stories. I am also sort of glad I am not there. It is hard to know such poverty exists still in the 21st century. Sticking it out for over 2 months is admirable. I am sure sometimes you just want to be home. Praying for you both. Don
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