Love&War

 

"I will fight to follow, I will fight for love."

~Hillsong "Love is War"

The reality: life is hard. People wake up everyday and face insurmountable odds that we were never meant to face alone. The enemy throws his best shot at the strongest and the weakest of us all. Some of us are brand new to the battle, whereas others have waged the war for decades. We come to learn, at some point in life, that this is far too hard to carry on alone. Some marry, some act married, others bury themselves in work or family. Still other pursue higher education goals, trying to escape the pressure or burden of life. Yet it never seems enough. Eventually, we all look at it and say, "Vanity. It is all vanity" (Ecclesiastes). 

I met with a friend Sunday night that I had met during my Red Light District ministry earlier in the year. She is not a prostitute, but a former video store keeper. Recently the business has not been so good, so she closed up shop and moved to another area of Hong Kong. Resting for the month of Ramadan before she begins doing domestic housework around Hong Kong. We will call her "Jewel". 

"My family is dead. I have no one who loves me. My life is worthless. God does not love me."

Jewel has come to the place of complete brokeness. Sitting in a McDonald's McCafe, sipping on some black tea, she began to cry and share the suicidal thoughts that had begun to plague her. She was in the planning stages, and by some miracle, she let me and my YWAM friend in on the secret of her heart. She had fled from India many years ago, due to hard times and torture and corruption. Her family all died- natural death and murder. She has never married, and at 35, is still very alone, in heart and mind.

Tears ran down her face as she pressed a napkin to her cheeks and averted her eyes. She couldn't face me after her confession of death. She wasn't even sure why she had told me. "You are my friend, so I open my heart to you", she says. My heart breaks with hers as my YWAM friend and I begin to pray inwardly and offer comfort to Jewel. Speaking truth and life to her, God reminds her that He sent Issa (Arabic name for Jesus) to take away her burden. He also reminds her of His unending love and that He does, indeed, see her. We reminded her of her beauty and the impact she has had on myself and two other girls who were on my Discipleship Training School- these were the ones who had originally made contact and friendship with her, week after week, until they returned to Canada. 

For a solid hour, truth was spoken to her spirit and into the atmosphere. She soon needed to return home, but her eyes were dry and her face more light than when we first met for the night. Before I left, I grabbed her in a hug and reminded her one more time that God loved her....all night, this had been  the one thing she could not grasp. Suddenly, in the embrace I gave her, she returned it with such a fierceness and said, "Maybe..maybe yes, God does love me. Because He gave me someone like you. I love you, friend."

We parted and my YWAM friend and I ran off into the rain to return back home. My heart was drained, but happy. I could not believe how God had worked out that night. I had no idea what Jewel was struggling with, and had come close to canceling the appointment when she did not show up when I thought she would be there. Praise God for His leading and gracious guidance that night.

Last night, my friends and I went to the Red Light District once again, to see what God had in store for this week. We did pray walks and worship, declaring God's goodness and love over this place. We also declared that this city we are in would become a mighty city on a hill for the world, and to its own people. A light to shine for all to see. Due to the rain, our girls were few and hard to find. My one girl, Deborah, was there. As she arrived, she had come with a friend. I seen her smile for the first time in all these months. When she turned and saw me, I was quick to grab the moment and tell her how besutiful she looks when she smiles. She said, "really?" She had no idea of her beauty. We exchanged the normal pleasantries, but once again, she was not interested in building a friendship beyond that. I spoke with another one of my girls, and one of the local guys who I have befriended. Maybe an hour later, I stood there speaking with one of my YWAM guys. I told him I should try and speak with Deborah again, one more time. I felt it on my heart, and I hoped that maybe she would let me in, like she had so many months ago.

The beginning of the conversation sunk like an anchor- I had nothing to say and she had no reason to say anything. I prayed silently for God to reveal something to me. Something to go off of, how to minister to her the way she could receive it. How, God? What do I do? What do I say? 

Within moments, I felt it laid on my heart to stand in the gap for those who have hurt her and forced her into the position she is now in. Trapped in Hong Kong, a slave to prostitution, with an intense desire to return home to her children. 

I did not feel comfortable saying the words because she seemed so closed off to contact. I prayed for a way to be made...within moments, I had a text from my Red Light District ministry leader that let me know she was around the corner. I decided I would go visit with them quickly, and return and try to talk to Deborah. I looked her in the eye and told her I was praying for her and I would be right back after I spoke with my friends. She says okay...and as I get up and take two steps, I hear her call out to me, "hey! Yeah, um, pray for me now, please." I quickl turn around and sit back down. I would love to pray for you! When I asked her for what, she opened up that her financial situation was not good, and her children needed prayer. I smiled, and touched and so moved by God, held her hands (which she willingly allowed me to do) and prayed for her. Once the prayer was ended, we looked at each other, and I stood in the gap for those who have hurt her and reminded her that God loves her and her dreams. I told her I loved her, and she said she loved me too...we exchanged God blesses, and I left for the night. Next to her was an old man, a sweetheart, and he had heard the entire exchange. He wanted me to have something from the 7/11, so I have made another friend, just by listening. God is so good, He answered prayer, He helped open a closed heart, and He used me! What an amazing God we serve!

Peace & Blessings

Ashley 

~*~Leave a Legacy that will Make a Difference in the World Around You.~*~