Heads up: The following guest post is rated PG-13. The content is more graphic than we usually include in this blog, but the subject matter merits our attention.
By Lisa Hicks
“My mother decided that she wanted to start a little business of her own … so she asked me to buy her a noodle cart. As a dutiful daughter, I gave her the money. After a few months, she grew tired of the work and threw away the cart. She didn’t fully ‘get’ what it cost me. You see, I had to give sexual pleasure to ten old men to pay for the noodle cart that she so carelessly threw away.” Lon – age 15
In our country …
• There are more than 430,000 prostitutes – many ages 13, 14, 15.
• 80% of them come from the northeastern and poorest region in the country.
• The oldest daughter is responsible to financially care for the family.
• Moms actually pimp their own daughters in many of the major cities.
• The value is placed on the income rather than what the girl feels forced to do.
“When I was barely 14 … I sold my virginity. His name was Hans and he looked to be about fifty. At first, I was excited thinking about the money I could send my family, but as we drove closer to his hotel, I started getting scared… thinking about what I’d have to do for the money. In his room, I remember when he removed my clothes, I tried to cover myself with my hands, and he laughed. I have chosen not to remember anything else about that night.” Lon *Quotes and statistics taken from Only 13 by Derek Kent.
At a very early age, these beautiful young girls are subjected to the most degrading, disgusting, vile acts known to man …
• A common term for these precious girls is LBFM (little brown _____ machines).
• Most of the men they service are old, sweaty and have been drinking.
• Some of the men are pedophiles desiring very young girls.
• Some of the men are into S&M … urinating on the girls, hitting their tiny bodies, and/or making them say, “I’m a piece of _____.”
A common expression in our country is “keep a cool heart” … and there is nothing much more effective in killing a young, tender heart than the degradation of being used sexually time after time. My heart goes out to these little girls … at age 13, 14, 15 instead of going to school, dancing to Justin Bieber singing on the radio, giggling about boys … they’re dancing nude and/or performing several kinds of sex on old men night after night. It makes me sick. It makes me weep. It makes me angry.
It makes me want to help …
Concerning the overall problem of prostitution … there is no easy, quick solution. Often, churches in the States, with good intentions, try to come up with answers …
However, they don’t understand the culture, the economic complexity, the spiritual darkness, or how utterly hopeless these people feel.
What the people of our country need is the renewing of their minds and the transforming of their hearts … which ultimately comes through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
There is a local proverb that says “women are pawns in time of need” … that’s how these precious girls are seen. This is how mothers justify forcing them into prostitution to meet the family’s financial needs. Something needs to be done about the poverty, the corruption, the lack of education…
However, without the power of the gospel, it’s like putting a band aid on cancer.
• Change needs to come from within the hearts of the people.
• Sin needs to be cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus.
• Lies need to be challenged by the Truth of the Word of God.
Real change rarely happens, without the people having long-term relationships with global servants who live out the love of Jesus day in and day out, year after year after year. After trust is established (which takes time) some do accept Jesus Christ as their Savior … then in turn, witness to their families and friends …who accept Christ and witness to their families and friends.
What can you do?
Pray …
• Pray for the global servants who are faithfully reaching out to their villages with truth and love.
• Pray for us as we encourage and counsel global servants living in this region.
• Please pray for these young girls, working as prostitutes, to find the strength (from Jesus) to quit and healing (from Jesus) for their wounded hearts.
• Pray for our country’s new prime minister … she’s a woman. There’s hope here that she will work to bring about good changes.
Give …
• To long-term global servants out there fighting prostitution at its very core … reaching into the very heart of the people with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• To long-term people/organizations who encourage global servants.
• To well established organizations working to bring about change.
*For specific information you may write to Lisa at hicks@barnabas.org.
Our country is known as the “land of a thousand smiles” … however, this is a very spiritually dark place that desperately needs to find real joy and truth and love through Jesus Christ.
Lisa Hicks