Sunday, August 30, 2009

The Brothel as a Pulpit?!

I witnessed the most amazing conversation while I was on outreach with my partner from Scharlaken Koord a few weeks ago. (If you’d rather not read the back-story, you can scroll down to “The Conversation”, which in and of itself is quite an amazing story.)

I was so happy when my partner told me I could choose the area we would go in the Red Light District that evening. I’ve been volunteering with this organization for 9 months now, and I realized in my partner’s giving me the responsibility to choose our route for the evening, that I’ve earned the trust of my more seasoned colleagues. I knew exactly where I wanted to go – to an area on the outskirts of the district, the area where Ghaith used to work in a small hostel. He and I walked those streets many times during the 6 months he worked in the area. I would often pray silently over the women as we walked. I was even blessed to have developed trust and a friendship with Maria (of Bulgaria), who worked the day shift at the brothel next to Ghaith’s hostel. I have yet to write about that development, which was so inspiring to be a part of. So, choosing to go to that familiar area with my partner meant I’d have a chance to look for Maria, Rita, and a few other ladies I’d connected with earlier in the year. I have prayed for those women specifically over the months while I was back home in Portland, and then this summer while I took a month off for my mom’s visit to The Netherlands, my wedding, and honeymoon.

So my partner and I set out for the Spuistraat in hopes of finding a few familiar faces. We spoke with quite a few girls from Hungary, as well as Bulgaria, Poland, Holland, and Columbia. When we turned the corner of Rita’s street, I was hopeful to find her in her window and unoccupied. Sure enough, there she was, beautiful as ever. Rita is the Nigerian Christian I wrote about back in February. She has a strength and radiance about her that I don’t see in most of the women working the windows in Amsterdam. Her deep brown skin is flawless, her shoulders and arms strong, her teeth bright, and her eyes sparkle and shine – even when speaking of the pain and turmoil that is often her life.

Rita looked happy to open the door when my partner and I approached her. As my partner introduced us, and the organization we represent, it was obvious that Rita didn’t remember me… but I remembered her. I told Rita I’d met her before, asked how her son (7 yrs) is doing, and if they’d made the trip to Nigeria this summer as planned. She, looking pleasantly surprised, answered my questions and complimented my good memory. I told her there are a few people praying for her back in the U.S., and that I have continued to pray for her since we met earlier in the year. She thanked me deeply. I asked if she was doing o.k., and if there was anything she needed. She said, “Just keep prayin’ for me.”

As we continued our conversation, a man approached the three of us. He was average in height, almost bald on top, wearing wire-rimmed glasses, conservatively dressed in slacks, shirt and tie, carrying a briefcase, and speaking to my partner in Dutch. When he realized I didn’t understand Dutch, he switched to English and introduced himself as Mijael (Michael). The following conversation transpired that evening while standing in the doorway to Rita’s brothel room, mostly between Rita and Mijael.


The Conversation:

Mijael to my partner and I: Can I ask what you are doing here on this street, talking with this lady?

My partner: Well we’re here from the Scharlaken Koord. It’s an organization that helps the women in the Red Light District.

Mijael: And I supposed you’re a religious organization?

My partner: Yes we are. We’re a Christian organization and all of our volunteers and employees are Christian as well.

Mijael: Do you force your beliefs on others?

My partner: No, we don’t force anything on anyone.

Mijael: Well that’s good, because I’ve had things forced on me from girls like you before.

My partner: I’m sorry to hear that.

Mijael (in an annoyed tone): Yeah, this group of Christian girls approached me one night a few months ago, asking what I was doing on this street. I told them I walk these streets every day. They asked why, and I told them the truth. I like to look at the women.

Mijael (Looking at Rita): I must have walked this street 50 or 100 times over. I know every face. I know your face. I know your body, but I’ve only ever looked at you. I’m sorry I’ve never stopped by your window. I hope you’re not offended.

Rita: Please. Me? Offended? I don’t care if you visit me or not.

Mijael (looking surprised): Oh, o.k. So these girls that were questioning me asked if they could pray for me. I said sure, then they surrounded me. There were like 10 of them standing in a circle around me. It was strange and a little intimidating. Then they started to pray for me. They prayed things I didn’t ask them to pray, or want for my life. They prayed that I would stop visiting the women, that I would repent from my sin, that God would forgive me, and that I would turn to God for love. They said only God can fill my heart the way I need. I didn’t like that they prayed those things for me, things I don’t need – especially in front of so many people on the street. I was so embarrassed by the whole thing. I even felt angry with them. I don’t need what they say I need. I’m fine the way I am.

Rita: Well why are you still talking about it then? It must have meant something to you, what those girls said, otherwise you wouldn’t still be thinking and talking about it.

Mijael: Hmmm…

Rita: You need God.

Mijael: Excuse me?

Rita: That’s right. You need God! This place is nothing but a bunch of lies and emptiness. You won’t find what you’re looking for here. You look at the women, you do what you do with them, and you are still empty. It’s all B.S. No love, just emptiness.

Mijael (after a few moments in thought): You know, it’s like I can’t get enough. I come here because I’m hungry. I have hormones, you know? I can’t ignore that. I’m only human. But it’s so strange because when I come here, I get what I want, I feel satisfied, I go home and I feel hungry again an hour later. It’s like I can never get enough. I’m hungry all the time. It never goes away. My appetite is insatiable. It’s a vicious cycle. I just keep coming because I don’t know what else to do.

Rita: I’m telling you, you need to go to God! Only He can give you what you need, in your heart. These women can’t give you what you need.

Mijael: I can’t believe this. YOU, a prostitute, are telling me that I need God? Isn’t that a little bad for business? You provide a service I’m willing to pay for. You need to make money don’t you? You need my money. How can it be that YOU are telling ME to go somewhere else for what I would come to you for?

Rita: I don’t need your money! YOU need God. I’m telling you. You won’t find what you’re looking for here. Go to God. He can help you. He’s the only one that can help you. I see you. You are sad. You are lonely. We all are without God. You can come here and feel comfort for a few minutes, but if you go to God, you will never be lonely.

Mijael: And YOU believe this? I can’t believe that a woman on this street believes in God, and would turn away business if it meant turning someone toward Him. I just can’t believe it.


What an amazing conversation to witness! Mijael displayed such raw honesty and vulnerability... and Rita sounded like she could have been speaking from the pulpit! If you are moved, please lift up Rita and Mijael in prayer.

Rita is a believer who continues to work in prostitution. She says she prays every day on her way to work, for God’s protection and Jesus’ forgiveness. She doesn’t see another way to earn a living for herself and her little boy. I pray that she will truly trust in God, that she can leave this work that she hates every minute of, and that she comes to see that God will provide for her needs no matter what.

I pray for Mijael that he will continue to open his mind and heart toward God, and that he will in turn trust God to fill that aching, insatiable desire in his heart.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

This is an amazing story- thank you for sharing!