March 25, 2008
Last night we went to the strip clubs and took gift bags to the dancers. We had 2 new team members with us last night. One is from Ireland and the other is from Holland. Naomi & Karen (from Ireland) are back with us until May. They are in Houston ministering with Josh & Debs Walker of Young Hope/Teen Street/Operation Mobilization. Our girls always love hearing the foreign accents. It was an interesting night because there were few to no men in most of the clubs. It allowed us to talk to the girls more.
Most of the girls expressed an interest (and asked for prayer) in getting out of the business. Some have felonies on their record so this presents a challenge and also allows unscrupulous people to take advantage of the situation and tell them they can't work anywhere else due to their record. We know where that lie comes from. Yes, it will be more of a challenge to find a job because of their history and record, but God...
A waitress said the owner told her to come talk to me about how she could get a social security number and become "legitimate" to work. I referred her to legal aid but also have an attorney with whom she can speak if legal aid doesn't work out.
Roxie is facing surgery on 3/31. If this surgery doesn't work, she will need a hysterectomy. She loves kids and wants more (she has 3) and is only 25. She's scared. Wants to come to church but is scared. Her 6-year-old son is asking about God and talking about being afraid to die (his friend's dad died recently). She wants him in church and says she may go to church during the 2 weeks she is off from work. She gave us her phone number because she "feels better when I talk to you guys." We've known Roxie for about 6 years. She started in this business when she was 17.
The totally nude club (that rarely lets us in) let us in last night. No one was dancing. There might have been one guy playing the video machine at the bar. The girls were glad to see us and talked for quite awhile.
We also met a young man last night that says he is the janitor for one of the clubs. He attends 2nd Baptist and brings the girls books and other things to read. He said he wasn't sure why God had him working in this club but thinks he is able to do a little bit of ministering after the club closes. Please pray for this young man -- especially that he doesn't get drawn into that world.
Thank you for your prayers! Not only do we need protection while in/around the clubs, we need protection while driving to/from the clubs. We had a close call on the road last night, but God...
If you think about it, please pray for Roxie, Felicia, Alejandra, Stacy, Nicole, Samantha, the girls at the "Castle" and the girls at the totally nude club.
Piercing the Darkness,
Drenda