December 19, 2006

WOW!!! Last night (12-19-06) we went to the strip clubs, and it was AMAZING! We had 6 ladies and 2 men from both Spring 1st and Consuming Fire go out last night. The men were our chauffeurs/intercessors/security detail. We prepared over 100 bags containing a handmade scarf, invitations to both churches complete with a map, encouraging scripture, Christmas tract, "Need Prayer?" pen, and chocolate candy. We had gifts for the girls, the male patrons, and the managers/bouncers/bartenders. Every club had a FULL parking lot and was busier than I've ever seen them in six years. It seems everyone in the clubs had the "holiday spirit". From various conversations we had with the male patrons, it appears they had told their wives they were going Christmas shopping.

At the first club, Tony (James' brother) met us in the parking lot. He's back working as a parking lot attendant. He's still sober. Yeah, God! He said he needed to get into church. We affirmed that. He opened the door to the club and said, "The church ladies are here!" As we entered the club, we were overwhelmed by the number of people milling around. The patrons were asking for bags. I gave a bag to the manager (who says he's a christian), and he thanked me. Debs immediately got into a conversation with Rosa. Rosa said she worked at the club a couple of years ago. She said she quit to take care of her kid. Now she's back. Rosa's sister was also working at the club. Debs talked to them about coming to church. Rosa talked like she would come and gave her phone number to Debs. The male bartender greeted with me a hug and kiss on the cheek. I gave him a bag and wished him a "Merry Christmas". He tried to give me money for the bag, but I refused to take it. He said he wanted to give back to us. I told him not to worry about it and to have a great Christmas. He thanked me. I told him we loved him, and he said he loves us, too.

Our favorite female bartender (from the club that closed down) was working last night. The last time I saw her she was pregnant, and now she wasn't. I asked her if she had the baby. She said she had miscarried at 4 months. She said the baby was a "full baby" and showed me with her hands how big the baby was. She said she really needed prayer. Things got busy and the manager came behind the bar so we weren't able to talk anymore. I was able to ask her about the club that closed down. She said someone had started a fire inside the club so it is being remodeled. They expect to open up in 2-3 more months. Everyone who worked at that club is working at various clubs in the area until it opens back up. When they reopen, we'll be there.

We didn't bring in enough bags, so a couple of ladies had to run back outside to get more bags. This gave Debs more time to talk to Rosa, and several other girls walked up to thank us for the bags. One tall, skinny girl named Micah came up to me and told me her name and hugged me. I told her we were praying for her and loved her. She said she wants to cover up when she sees us. I told her not to worry about it. Some guy dressed in black walked up to my mom and gave her a dollar. It was just a crazy night...

As we left the club, Tony said his girlfriend is in jail and asked if we would send her some literature and a care package. I told him we would. He gave me her info. He also said that James' girlfriend was hit by a car and is in ICU. I told him we would see James at the next club and would get more info from him.

Pulling into the second club's parking lot, the valet came running over to us and said we could park anywhere as long as he gets his bag. Too funny. This club has always been the slowest of all the clubs, but it wasn't last night. When we walked inside the club, I stopped to talk to James while the other girls went to the dressing room. James told me Debra is in ICU at Ben Taub with a knot on her head, broken knee and broken hip. He said Ben Taub is talking about releasing her already. Debra is the one we requested prayer for 2 months ago because of the cornea transplant that didn't go well. She's had a rough few months.

Debs, Anne and Norma were in the dressing room talking to a young girl named Hannah. She is from Israel and is Jewish. Hannah said she sends all of her money back home because she wants to buy a house in Israel. She said she is lonely here without her family. Debs and Anne were able to minister to her because Debs is from Ireland and Anne is from France, and neither have their families here either. Hannah cried a little. Anne hugged her and was able to speak into her life. Hannah said she met a guy about 3 months ago. Debs asked if she had been hurt while in America. She said, "Yes." Hannah sounded interested in coming to church. The ladies spent a lot of time in the dressing room talking with Hannah. It was really cool.

At the last club (where the dj & manager don't want us to go beyond the cashier) the cashier was new. He let us go in. Debs, Anne and Nancy went in followed by Norma. I was standing at the door and saw a manager approach Anne and Debs. He turned them around so we left the club. We went to a spanish club in the same strip mall and gave out the remaining bags. As we left the club, I noticed we were short a person. I said, "Where's Nancy?" Everyone started looking around. About that time Nancy came walking down the sidewalk with a HUGE grin on her face. She had been in the club where they had turned Anne, Debs & Norma around. Nancy had gone towards the back of the room. As she handed one of the girls a bag, Nancy asked her where the girls (meaning our team) was. The girl thought she meant the dancers so she said, "Come on back. I'll take you to the dressing room." Nancy followed her into the dressing room thinking that's where we were. She got to spend time in the dressing room talking to the girls. Isn't that great? God is sneaky, isn't He? We got such a kick out of that.

If you have any suggestions for literature/care package or would like to make a donation towards the care packages for Tony's girlfriend, please let me know. She gets out in April so we have many opportunities to pour into her life between now and then via a care package.

Please keep Hannah, Rosa, Micah, the female bartender and all of the others in your prayers. Many expressed their loneliness.

Thanks to everyone who was praying for us and who give towards this ministry. We definitely knew people were praying last night. It was incredible!

Thanks to everyone who sent encouraging notes after last month's email. You refreshed a tired spirit.