Minimalistic.

These past couple of days have been interesting, tough, and lovely all at the same time. We sat down yesterday with Bonita to talk about what to expect and how to react to the outreach ministry. Her details were intense. That is all I feel needs to be shared on the matter because of the knowledge that you all already have of these girls. They are exploited. Plain and simple.

Upon receiving this information, it was time to put these years of longing to be here, and times of training into action. Stepping into the bars for the first time.

During my walk to the bars with one of the outreach-able girls from Beginnings, I was not sure what to expect. I did not want to "lose face," I did not want to shame these girls or make them feel bad, I did not want to react...I just wanted to show love. I prayed the entire time. I have been praying for months now about this specific initial reaction to being there, and still felt as though I was not sure of how I would respond. I just had to trust. We met Bonita, and entered.

God is so very faithful to prayer! I thank you all for your commitment to pray for us, yet again. He hears and answers. With His strength, He gave the ability to have conversations with some of the women, to have an inviting face, and to actually smile and laugh with them. It was a blessing far beyond the requests in prayer. God is so incredible and amazing. To Him all credit is due always and forever. How His beauty can shine through any and every situation blows me away, and my heart rejoices at His power and majesty.

**"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

The first conversation I had was with a women who radiated with happiness, yet was so eager to be cared about. She loved conversing with us and was so sweet. I was not sure of how much English she knew right off the bat, but before I knew it, we were discussing our ages, nationality, family, and jobs.

I ask her how long she has worked there specifically- she says, "8 months." I ask if she liked her job- she says, "it's so-so...not really." I ask her why... She said some things that capture all of this in such a true, yet dark and somehow hopeful light...

"It is nothing. The men...no one cares about heart. All they want is you. They want that. To do things. They do not care about your heart. It is not for love (as she motions her hand to heart and then to mine)..no heart. They are drunk and they crazy (she imitates) They just want look...pretty face...body...but no heart."

This is real. The hope is that can we pray and love with no limitations, and ultimately hope that they would let the Lord fill that void. I pray that you do not take this information and use it as you will, but to just pray over it and these women and children involved. There are things I will only share with the girls I am here with, and some things I may only take to the Lord. On whether to share any of this or not, I have prayed so much...and I think you need to know this depth. Let it cause you to pray all the more, to be aware, and to love all you come into contact with.

This is war

at its best

on its finest day.