Sex and bars

Well these last two weeks have been very interesting. They have gone by very fast and yet very slow at the same time. Last week we spent a lot of time recovering from Christmas as well as praying for our current and upcoming time here in Nepal. We also prayed on behalf of many of the pastors working here, which taught me a lesson in prayer. I have also been learning a lot on what it means to be both a leader and a student as well as a daughter, sister and friend, it basically means no free time. I know that as tough as it can be it is only for a short time and will be well worth it in the end.

This past week we have had more of a set schedule, except in Nepal nothing is set in stone. Monday through Friday we work with a slum school from about 7am-10am and then do street ministry anywhere from 12:30-3:00. On Monday night we have prayer meetings, Wednesdays we have men/women separate bible studies and Friday evenings we have fellowship with those in the Agape ministry. On Thursday and Friday from around 12:30-5:00 we break up into teams and visit places that are known to have prostitutes working there.

 Yesterday I went with two of my team members Cody and Allyson as well as three Nepali women to a bar. Beforehand we prayed and ask God to show us where to go, he lead us to a “bar” (bars in Nepal are not like bars back home). They sent the three of us North Americans to the door as “bait” and then followed behind us. We were shown a table and then ordered tea. Two women then came and sat with us as they would any other client. We were a little early in the day then most of their customers and so they were not in their normal working attire. We made small talk and then discovered more of their story. They both were there by choice but hated the work they did. They had a bad home life and needed a way to make money. They had no other opportunities and therefore took to the life of prostitution; both girls were under 20 years old. We talked to them about Jesus, whom they had heard of before and one even claimed to be a Christian. We reassured them of their worth in Christ and that we came to Nepal to tell people of Jesus’ love for them. Then I asked if we could pray for them, and we did. Shortly after that we left and tried to find another place to visit. We saw some pretty disturbing stuff but Jesus wanted us to go there to talk to those women, as Christians we have no right to judge those we deem to be living in sin what will that accomplish? Rather we are called to love and to share that love everywhere even if it be to young girls selling their own bodies in order to survive.