A Child.

6/8/13: Laguna, Philippines

On Thursday, we left Quezon City and headed south to the province of Laguna to visit a woman by the name of Edna.  Edna is in her mid-forties but has the heart and passion of someone half her age.  She loves Jesus and loves taking care of His children.  Just three years ago a vision was cast for her to lead an outreach program to the urban poor and street kids in her community… the vision was that of a Chinese couple who own a market in town and were willing to supply food and school supplies for the kids who came to hear the Gospel.  Edna agreed and started with just 13 children… today she and her student leaders ministers to more than 70 kids and she is now discipling 10 parents (mostly single moms) who also attend.

We went to this outreach with her on Friday, and I was overwhelmed by the presence of Christ in the school yard as kids laughed and played, sang and danced… and learned about Jesus.  Edna was in her glory – I have never seen a more beautiful smile and joyful spirit as she sang with the kids and poured out Christs love to them.  For almost four hours these kids were the center of our world… and in that time they changed my world forever…

I met Edna the week prior to our trip at an ECC retreat.  It was there she approached me about the ministry of HOPE61.  We shared a burden.  We shared a passion.  She went on to tell me about a young girl – who at just 11yrs old was one of the first children in her ministry when it started.  Within the last year though the girl stopped coming and Edna lost contact with her… only recently finding out that she was “working in the plaza”.  Edna explained that the plaza was where the prostitutes worked and that she believed the girl had been trafficked.  She asked me to help - to come to Laguna and train her and her leaders.  The following Thursday we were on a 3 hour bus ride to her home.  

God orchestrated that moment at the ECC retreat when Edna and I would meet, and He orchestrated the days we would spend with her in Laguna so soon after… because on that Friday, the young girl Edna had told me about showed up at the school yard.  She hadn’t been seen in months – but that Friday at the end of our time with the kids, she sat off to the side watching.  Edna grabbed my hand and took me over to her (trying to hide her excitement).  When I saw her… when I looked into her eyes, it was all I could do to not start sobbing right then and there.  Only 14 years old… she was a child.  She didn’t look older than 11yrs or 12yrs… but was dressed in a way that tried to hide her youth.  God broke my heart.  She was beautiful – her face radiant and as she sang to herself I listened to a small but amazing voice.  

She was a child… a beautiful and innocent child. 

I invited her to hang around after we were finished but she shook her head and quickly went off to talk to some kids her age.  After the food and new school supplies were handed out she was gone again, but Edna was determined - so we went to the plaza to look for her.  As we walked across the dimly lit, yet busy square… Edna took my hand once again and said, “there she is”.  I started to pray silently as Edna approached her, gently putting her hand on her back and leading her over to where I stood… speaking in Tagalog I could hear her explaining who I was and asking if she would come sit with us for a minute.  She agreed, so we sat on a bench and Edna talked as I prayed fervently for Gods wisdom and power to move.  

Every now and then Edna would stop and ask me a question about what to do, translate for me what the girl was saying, or translate for the girl what I was saying… and for about 30 minutes I saw a young girl aged by the evil of this world tell her story of pain and desperation.  A young girl whose life of abuse and neglect left her vulnerable to exploitation.  She wanted to feel loved… she felt the pressure to provide for her family.  And soon she found herself being recruited to “belong” with the girls who worked in the plaza and to sell herself to feed her family.  Four nights a week, this 14-year-old worked for $10 a day. Four nights a week, this 14 year old would “work” in the plaza for only 500 peso/day.  My mind converted the amount immediately and my heart sank deep inside me as I thought, “for 10 dollars a day a child is being used and destroyed”… I felt the tears again swell and the words of Zechariah 11:4 echoed in my head – shepherd the flock marked for slaughter. 

“So what now?”… Edna was asking me.  I didn’t stop praying as I listened…  I couldn’t stop praying as I answered.  I never imagined I would be sitting face to face with an actual child victim and being asked this question so soon after arriving on the field.  We had so system in place yet – no protocol to implement – I was totally reliant on God… just the way He liked it.

Edna explained that the girl agreed to not go back to the plaza… that she would go to school and start coming to church and the outreach again.  She agreed to meet with Edna regularly for aftercare and mentoring, BUT her family still needed to be fed.  Edna explained that if she followed through with staying out of the plaza and the other things they discussed, then we would help find another source of income for her family.  Whether it was through the church or through us – we were going to trust that God would provide and we would not let “lack of” be the reason this child was on the street.

When we were done talking and praying, some kids from the ministry earlier came by and started to talk to the three of us.  I asked if they were her friends and she said yes… I then watched her posture slowly relax and her face light up as she smiled and laughed with them like kids are supposed to; and as they began to play tag and run around the plaza that on other nights was a place of darkness and bondage for her – I couldn’t help but smile at the childlike innocence and freedom she appeared to have, even if just for that moment.

I know the road to recovery is hard.  I know the statistics on recidivism.  I know the reality of this childs (and so many others) situation – the poverty and desperation – the lack of support – the abuse and trauma already experienced.  I’m not ignorant to these things and I don’t expect this to be easy – but that night was a victory for the Lord.  A relationship was reestablished… a connection made… hope given.  The God of justice and redemption is mighty, His healing sufficient, His power unmatched, His Gospel penetrating… He is sovereign and He planned that Friday night before the beginning of time - when Edna and I would sit and share life with this young girl.
 

… In this ministry there is no wading waste deep… you will always jump in way over your head.  There is no 99.9% when investing in the lives of these victims… it will always require 110%.  And it doesn’t matter that we weren’t “ready” for what we would encounter that night… because God is always ready and will always equip and sustain us as we seek simply to be His hands and feet to those who need Him.

 I talked to Edna in the days that followed and the girl did not show up in church on Sunday, but I believe that God will be victorious in saving this young life.  I met with Edna and her student leaders to do some training that weekend, and plan to go back in the weeks that follow so that I can work closely with them going forward.

There is a definite need in Laguna, and where there is need and no one to meet it – there the Churchs ministry of sharing Christ’s love, freedom, and redemption will lie.

Please pray for this young girl as we attempt to establish a relationship of healing and trust, that God would deliver her and give her strength as she begins the road to freedom. 

Please pray for Edna and her leaders as they begin a long and difficult journey in walking alongside this girl in the healing process, that God would give them wisdom and endurance.

Please pray for the family who financially supports the urban ministry.  That they would come alongside this new vision and be willing to offer support, both in this child's situation, and in the broader picture of God's ministry in Laguna... and that He would continue to bless them.

Pray that God would raise up leaders within the Church with a burdened heart and vision to transform and protect their communities by sharing Christs love and hope with those most in need..

… And please pray for me.  That I would be sensitive to the Spirits leading and that God would give me clarity and wisdom on when and how to develop Gods ministry in this area.

There is nothing too big for God… and I believe He has big plans for us here – may we always be willing to trust and obediently follow wherever He leads!