We entered into worship with songs and prayer. We laughed, left the house filled with joy. I’m not talking overflowing, oozing, going everywhere kind of joy. With each step I would make eye contact or look at each person with a smile on my face. Every step we took as a group we were interceding over walking street.
Walking street is an area in Angeles City, Philippines. It was started as a response to the demand of the nearby military base. The town is filled with older white men from Australia Europe, the United States, and Asian countries.
We walked into the bar and walked upstairs to the available seating. Our waitress, Joan greeted us and took our drink order. As Joan came back with our drinks. My teammates Meghan and Nicole began talking to her about Wipe Every Tear. One of my teammates asked if she knew of any girls would be interested. She walked downstairs, and called over an extremely shy girl name Ella. Nicole began telling Ella about Wipe Every Tear in Tagalog so she could better understand. Ella was terrified, she did not want to be there, let alone go with any man who tried to purchase her. Meghan and Nicole continued to talk to her for the next hour.
I began speaking to Joan. Asking her about her life, wanting to know more. She instantly opened up. Joan is 33 and has two kids. She was married and her husband passed away three years ago. In july of 2016 her cousin told her that he found her a waitressing job in Manila. She was tricked, her family has no idea where she works. She has the stereo typical story of how she wound up working in a bar. She makes around $2-5USD a night to pay off a bar tab that is less than $100. She has been working there since July of 2016 and has dreams of going back to school and continuing her education in becoming a midwife. She believes there is no way out, that because of the debt that she owes she has to stay to work it off.
We sat alone on the second floor of the bar for almost two hours. A group of 5 foreign men began walking towards us and pointing at each of the women. We had bought each of them a drink to sit with us. They wanted us to move, because they believed we had the best spot in the house. They began to try to intimidate us. They began pointing at the women and each woman would deny. Another man would walk over and would attempt to pressure the Ella to come with them. Each of the four girls we had sitting with us, it was their first night working at the bars. One was a virgin, two of them were sisters. All of them were filled with so much fear and were so, so, so shy. As these men began getting more and more persistent, I had a rise of justice come through me. I couldn’t allow this girl to go with them if she didn’t want to. I thought we have to buy this woman. She cannot go with them tonight. She is not going with them. I jump up and go to my track leader Meghan. I tell her I need the rest of the money to cover her 3,000 php the equlivant of $60 USD. Before I knew it. She had pulled out the entire amount and before we knew it the waitress that I had been talking to all night was taking the money to pay for the girl. The Lord literally intervened. The other waitress that was helping the foreigners began stalling the men as she saw that we were getting ready to pay for the girl. They were PISSED. I’m not talking the kid of pissed where they just walk away, I’m talking they threw a fit, talking to each mom manager and still trying to purchase the girl. I watched her go put a shirt on and walk down stairs. Right after the foreign men walked down. I thought to myself, “OH HELL NO. I am not letting these men take her home”. I booked it outside. All power walkers would have been proud with how fast I booked it. I went outside with Meghan right behind me. Ella stood behind her mom manager with the the girls that worked the door. I couldn’t understand what the men were saying. But from the tone of voice, their body language, arm movements, and energy. I knew they were upset. They were persistent and wanted Ella. They wanted the one girl they couldn’t have. I stood there, ready to fight these five men, thankfully Meghan ran and got the man of our group Derek. Having a male presence really helped diffuse the situation. I was ready to have one or two things happen. 1. I was ready to fight for this girl physically before i would let them take her. 2. I was ready to get hurt or knocked out to protect her. 3. I was ready to go to jail to protect her. Plus it would have been a funny story(sorry mom). Thankfully the mom manager knew that we were not going to back down from this situation.
Ella walked back inside after the Korean men walked away. I couldn’t just leave without knowing that she actually left. I went back inside and asked Joan where she was. Joan went and made sure she was gathering her things to leave for the night. As we walked outside together we told her that she didn’t have to work anymore tonight. That she could go home. We watched her walk away.
It was so hard to save someone from a situation, but not sure if she was actually able to go home. It’s hard knowing that we couldn’t just take every girl out. It’s hard to not be sure if every girl we talked to will actually come to check out the safe houses. We don’t know if the girls will actually come and stay with Wipe Every Tear. It’s the releasing of these girls into the hands of God. It’s the releasing and saying God, I know I have no control of this situation. I know that you are not only with me, and are walking right next each woman. But I know that He has been in each of those bars. It’s hard to not be angry with the Korean men who got so aggressive. But Jesus is with them, Jesus also died for them- as much as He did for you and I.
Papa, thank you for each and every single woman and men who are on walking street. Thank you that you bring healing into even the darkest and most broken situations. Lord, bring love, joy, and redemption to the women and men who are buying or selling. Papa, may your glory come, your will be done as earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
