October 31, 2007

Last night we went to the strip clubs and gave gift bags to the girls. The gift bags contained John's Gospel (thanks to Amanda for making the connection with Karen Robinson of Nicky Cruz Ministries who provided John's Gospel free of charge. Thanks, Nicky Cruz Ministries!), a "God Allows U-Turns" tract, the "need prayer?" card with a phone number, directions/invitations to church, and chocolate candy. Thanks to Spring 1st and Consuming Fire for providing the funds to purchase the gift bags and contents. Last night was simply amazing. This will be a very long email but (hopefully) worth reading. God is crazy cool.

The first club wasn't very busy. Amanda ran into Pamela in the cashier area and talked with her the whole time. Several of the team have spoke with Pamela in the past. Her brother is a pastor. Pamela says she is pursuing God and seems quite sincere. She wants prayer for finances so she can get out of the business and also wants family relationships restored. She says she is hiding her true occupation from her family. Amanda encouraged her to come clean with her family because that will stop/limit satan's control over her. Get everything into the light. Satan doesn't like the light. Please pray that her family will accept and love her in spite of what she has been doing. That would be a kick in the devil's teeth.

There was a girl sitting in a patron's lap. The girl had a bag and said, "He wants a bag." I said, "Okay." He said, "I want to give it to my wife." "Oh. Okay. How are you going to explain where you got the bag? I'm not responsible for what happens to you when she finds out where you've been." (I think I've worked in the legal group too long.) He kept laughing and hugging the girl on his lap. It broke my heart.

Debs and Wendy talked for quite a while with the valet/security guy in the parking lot. He's from Chile, has 5 kids and is a believer. Said he's Baptist. He was telling them about a girl who needs help when she actually walked up. Her name is Sophie. She used to dance at one of the clubs we go to but quit because she didn't like being "forced" into prostitution by the customers. She has 4 kids. The girls prayed with her right outside the front door. One of the patrons came out of the club, looked at the circle of girls praying, did a double-take and scurried on out to his car and left. Too funny!

The next club was pretty dead. Found out James (our alcoholic manager friend) is working in construction and going to AA meetings. He still struggles with the addiction.

Then we went to a club I had spotted last week when I pulled up to an intersection, looked to my left, and there it was. I knew we were supposed to go there the next time we went to the clubs. As we pulled up to the club, the parking lot was full and several HUGE guys were standing outside. Everyone was doubting my judgment about going in at that point, but they were troopers and followed me in.

As we were walking up to the door, a woman got out of her car and said to me, "You found us! How did you find us?"

"I saw your club last week and knew I was supposed to come."

"You found us! I can't believe you found us! It's good to see you again. You used to visit us at (old club that burned down)."

I squealed and said, "Yes! I thought you looked familiar! How are you doing?"

We talked for a bit. I told her we found Kevin but had been wondering where all the girls were. She updated me on various whereabouts of people. I asked if she would vouch for us at this club. She said, "You know everyone here already." Sure enough, the guys who had been standing outside were guys we knew from the burned down club. It was like old-home week -- a reunion. It was so cool! Everyone seemed glad to see us. We were thrilled to see all of them again (well, relatively speaking. We prefer they be totally out of the business, but at least we know they are still alive. There's still hope.)

The next stop was the modeling studio where the girl who answered the door gave us $11. I told her we didn't want her money. She responded, "No. I insist. I want you to have this for whatever you're doing." I took the money and thanked her.

As we were walking up to the front door of the last club, a girl came outside and started yelling (in a good way) about wanting a bag. Then she said, "That book you left -- it's AMAZING. It was THE PERFECT book for us. I loved it! I wasn't here the night you gave it out, but several books were left lying around because these girls are illiterate. I picked one up, and oh, my God, it was awesome! Thank you so much!" She turned around and looked inside the club and said, "Oh, my God! You got inside!" Then she proceeded to ask me what style of dress was appropriate for church. I told her she could come casual. She said she might show up. (Note: She was referring to "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers.)

Norma spoke with Angie (the one who had cancer) who was looking at the church map and said she would come to church. One of the other girls compared club dress/etiquette to church dress/etiquette -- meaning that each club has their own "rules" for dress and behavior just as churches do. Quite interesting...

As I walked inside, there was a manager-type person talking to the cashier. He ushered me inside and asked me who was responsible for organizing this event. I told him I was. He asked to talk to me privately. He took me inside his office where we sat at right angles from each other while he stared at a panel of tvs on the opposite wall from him. He proceeded to tell me that he was trained as a civil engineer, worked as a bartender to put himself through school and never left the business. He has 30 years of experience in the clubs. His name is Tony. Tony said that I was doing this all wrong. He said if I really wanted to reach these girls that I need to send MEN in to the club to spend 2 hours with them at least twice a week. Tony said, "If I know they are with your group and you vouch for them, I will let them in for free and serve them water all night long. I will tell them which girls are really worth helping. You see, I help these girls myself by giving them cash out of my own pocket. Not related to the business." I asked if the women could sit for 2 hours instead. He said, "It won't work. The girls think you are better than them. They won't respond to you. But they will respond to the men. IF you can find a man you trust." Then he made a comment that was intended to scare me but was said in a very calm manner, "Your people have left you. You're all alone in here. How do you feel about that?"

"They didn't leave me. They wouldn't do that. They're here."

"No, they're not."

"Yes, they are."

(He was watching the security monitors on the opposite wall the whole time we were talking.)

Then he casually went back to telling me how his way (using men) is the right way to reach these girls. I thanked him for his insight and said I would think about it. He continued conversing and then said, "It's time to go. There's a commotion in your van. I think they are concerned about you. Let's go." It was a very surreal conversation, however, it confirmed something that's been in my spirit for several months now. There has to be a way to spend more time with these girls.

The team brainstormed in the van about ways we could possibly reach the girls: pizza before work, mom's evening out, taking the girls to dinner, catering an event just for them, etc. We don't know yet. Each club has its own personality. God has a strategic way to reach each club and each girl.

God knows where each person is and will send us to find them -- if we are willing to go. He's not searching for the lost sheep/person. He knows where they are. He's waiting for us to be part of the search and rescue team to go look for them and reach out to them. I am humbled, in awe and speechless (in spite of this lengthy email). I really don't have the words to describe how it feels to see God's unfailing pursuit in action. He has given me an INCREDIBLE team who put it all on the line. They do it scared. They do it when it's inconvenient. They do it because Christ's love compels us.

Thank you for your prayers and support. God is up to something!

Piercing the Darkness,
Drenda

P.S. Upcoming outreaches: 11/9, 11/27, 12/18