Into The Heart of Darkness

Into The Heart of Darkness
by Christie Weehunt, 23
India Office Liaison for Sower of Seeds International

In the summer of 2009, a group from SOS dressed in Indian attire and entered Asia’s largest red light district to pray for the prostitutes working inside. Guiding us were several Indian women who minister daily to these forgotten daughters. What we saw on the streets and in the brothels was dark and horrible, but deeper still were the seeds of Christ, shining like lamps of hope.

His eyes are on His precious ones, and He is hungry for their redemption.


The Darkness

A few facts…

• Human trafficking: The act of recruiting, transporting, transferring, harboring, or receipt of persons by use of force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or vulnerability, or giving of payments to a person in control of the victim. Victims are purposed for sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery, or removal of organs.

• In India, there are over 3 million sex trafficking victims, 1.2 million of them are children. Girls between 10 and 12 fetch the highest price. They are thrown in cages for up to 3 years while they are repeatedly raped, beaten, and tortured until they lose all of their will. Then they are sent out on the streets as prostitutes, making money for their captors.

I was told we were dressing up in Indian outfits to minister in the darkest, dirtiest corner of Asia: the largest red light district. I had no idea what it would be like, but I knew I would never forget the day.
As we walked down the crowded, narrow lanes, we had to step carefully over the heaping piles of trash and sewage at our feet. Rats scurried everywhere. It was late morning and the district was slowly waking up after a night’s work. Women were playing with their children and doing each other’s hair. Street vendors were making breakfast and selling tea. Tables full of pimps were out playing cards and relaxing.
Walking into that first brothel was like walking into a slum house. There were probably twelve women my age crowded around our team as we entered. We squeezed into the front room–as many women as could fit. A curtain blocked the entrance to their “rooms.” Small children mingled all around. An occasional customer came by, but the madam turned them away at the door. Her girls had special visitors.
I was mesmerized by the place, the faces. I looked at each of the women present, captured by what I saw in their eyes. Some blankly stared outside, others cried. I wanted to know each woman’s story, where she was from, how she ended up here.
But for a little geography, it could have been me.

The Victims
Trapped in the darkness…
• In Asia’s largest red light district, three square kilometers are home to an estimated 40,000 women working its 24 lanes, earning at least $200 million a year in revenue for their traffickers. They service up to 25 clients a day and make around $1.50.

Although young, the women carried ancient heaviness. As we prayed, each face expressed something different. The girl to my left was dressed in the classic skirt and tank top that many of the young prostitutes wear. She was from east India, maybe Nagaland or Shilong and looked to be around twenty-two. She cried the entire time we were there, but when we prayed for her, she sobbed. Looking into her eyes I could see both desperation and hope.
I thought about some of the stories I heard before we came—a girl with a large scar on her forearm where a client had paid to cut the skin off with a razor. Another whose pimp sent man after man to rape her until she gave in to his demand of walking the street for him. Girls kept in secret cages, beaten, starved, abandoned. The poverty in India is horrendous. Most of these women were from the poorest, most desolate slums where their families could not imagine a worse fate for them than the one they were born into. And yet, here they were…
One woman really caught my attention. She was about nineteen and had a black scarf with brightly colored stripes pinned tightly along her hairline, covering her hair. As she gazed, her eyes, lined with thick black cagel (coal eyeliner), revealed years of abuse and neglect. There was openness about her, but also the oppression of a seductive spirit. I could feel the spiritual battle going on for her soul.
I thought of the woman with the Alabaster jar–how overcome she must have felt when Jesus looked at her with love. In the midst of this brothel, with its curtained “rooms” and hollow inhabitants, I have never before felt a more real, tangible presence of Jesus. Even in the dark-stained eyes of this forgotten daughter, He was with her, like a warm, bright light. It was like He was physically standing next to her saying “This is my daughter. The world has forgotten about her, but I haven’t forgotten. I’m right here with her, right here as everyday she is mistreated. I see it all and I don’t leave for one second.”


Born Into Darkness
Sexual slavery: a legacy none want to leave…
Ninety-five percent of children of prostituted women will become prostitutes themselves.
–Sheela Remedios, Project Child (via Robert I. Freedman, “India’s Shame: Sexual Slavery and Political Corruption are Leading to an AIDS Catastrophe,” The Nation, 8 April 1996

On our way to the next brothel, there was a prostitute lying on a cot under a tent with her pimp at a table next to her. She had white medicine covering the open wounds all over her face. We couldn’t get details, but apparently something happened the night before. She lay in the fetal position while her child crawled around next to her.
In another brothel, a woman sat next to me on the floor, wearing a beautiful blue-flowered sari. This woman had sent her daughter to a home for children because she didn’t want her to grow up as a prostitute. When we prayed for her, one of our team (a mother too) hugged her and began wailing as the woman cried. They grieved together for her deep loss, one mother to another.
Children are everywhere in the district. I learned from our guides that the mothers often hide them under the bed or drug them to keep them quiet and safe during “work”. If not given to a home, most of the children will end up sexually abused themselves or trafficked into another brothel. The mothers are forced to raise their children in depravity, or give them to a home. For most of the women, their children are the only ones who have ever truly loved them. It is a painful dilemma.


Hope for the Darkness
He will help the oppressed, who have none to defend them…
• “73.7% of all girls trapped inside the brothel system must be rescued if they are to ever reach the outside world again.” –Kamala Sarup, Nepal correspondent with Lys Anzia, Women News Network

If the story were to end when we walked out of the district, I would be hopeless. I don’t want to see a need just to be better informed. I don’t want God to break my heart just for the sake of breaking it. I believe that there is a bigger purpose–that God allows us to see things not only for awareness, but because He invites us to be the solution.
God is moving in the red light district. He is rescuing, saving, healing and transforming. He will redeem the helpless. One way or another, His justice will cover them. He is already raising an army:

Former prostitutes.
Former madams.
Former pimps.
And you.

Vast darkness may seem overwhelming, but He is a very Big God. When His beloved shields the powerless, even nations quake with His glory.

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

To learn more about Red Light Rescue visit www.sowerofseeds.org/rescue.

Sign a pledge to help the forgotten daughters here: http://sowerofseeds.org/project.php?id=25&tab=16

Glorious Day

Love this song and thought I'd share. Have a blessed day full of HIM!

Fatigued but staying Focused

For a month or longer, my body has essentially checked out on me. Fatigue has set in and instead of operating at 50% I seemed to have dropped to 25%. I began to despair, going back to thinking that I just couldn’t do this anymore. This is, of course, a goofy thought because when you are physically struggling you still have obligations and appointments. You just carry on because you have no other choice trying to maintain a positive outlook and keep your focus on trusting God.

A few weeks back, Cecil, a new twitter and blogger friend, asked me to do a guest post on his blog and I said yes. Ever since I have just been blank. I don’t know if it was the fatigue, the stuff going on in my family or warfare, but nothing was coming. I felt incapable, insecure and ill-equipped to impart wisdom to anyone. I had many thoughts on what to write about but everything just seemed so scattered.

So, I finally wrote a post for Cecil at www.godsgreenfields.com. He is hosting TWEETWEEK this week with entries from twitter friends. Please check his blog out and leave him some feedback.

My post is to appear on Wednesday, August 12th. I'm writing about God's Amazing Love. Even when we go through periods of what feels like setbacks, HE is faithful. Hope you enjoy. :)

Heal Me, Lord!

As a disabled person of almost 4 years now, I often wonder why God does not fully heal me. I think of all I could do for Him if only I could move faster, endure longer, just be fully functional! I'm reading a classic book on prayer called "The Kneeling Christian". Chock full of encouraging words about prayer, I am so enjoying the time spent devouring it. As you might imagine, one of the chapters is about unanswered prayers or those that seem to go unanswered.

Perhaps God knows me too well. He knows I would just go back to old frazzled super busy me. Getting caught up in the business of life, the woman who had time for Him after her list was finished.

My communion with Him now is so much sweeter and yet, it is only natural that I'd like to be healed. The more I study, the more I know He is able. So, I don't know the why to this unanswered prayer which, for me, is just one of many and is not even my top prayer request.

Somehow, because of my disability, I am able to tell others what God has done in my life. It opens doors for his glory. A strange and wonderful mystery unfolds when you know, you just know that is by grace you make it through your day.

In this book it says "Is it not a comfort to know that we may bring more glory to God under something we are apt to regard as a hindrance or a handicap, than if the undesired thing was removed?" Just like St. Paul who asked for his thorn to be removed three times, his prayer was answered with "My grace is sufficient for thee: My power is make perfect in your weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9.

Lord, I thank you for the grace to make it through the day. I thank you for healing me both now and in the future. You are all I need. Help me to glorify you today through my weakness. Amen.

Powerful Dependence?

Good morning to you! Obviously, I've not been updating lately I've just been busy with life. I'm excited about getting my cast off tomorrow and praying I'll get more "normal" use of this right leg.

Considering that it was completely without movement for so long, please know that I am profoundly thankful for what I do have! I have to remind myself of what a miracle I am. Only 3 years and 10 months ago i was told I'd be in a power chair forever. Not that being in a chair would have been all bad because there are some incredible people living life to the fullest in their chairs! For some reason, I've regained use that was not expected. I will never know why but I do know that because of my injury I have found a powerful dependence on Christ that I did not have before. Powerful Dependence is not an oxymoron for followers of Christ. It is however, counter cultural. So, in some crazy way, this whole thing has been an incredible blessing. Only God!

I wonder often to myself about how to get people to REALLY fall in love with Christ...not just go to church, utter goofy prayers, or say a prayer to keep themselves out of hell. There is no easy believism. Deceived is he who claims to be Christ's but shows no evidence of life change. Works and obedience do not save but a life changed by a living Christ alone shouts to an unbelieving world. What is my life shouting? Yours? Let's go shout.......

Father, may we be made completely aware of our disobedience. Break our hearts for others and show us how to disciple them. Shower us with your transforming power because we are so deceived. Forgive us for not following you. Thank you for your love for us even when we did not love you. You are amazing!

Col 3:12-17: 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Prayer- Just Do It!!

Like most prayer enthusiasts, I became profoundly interested in prayer after my car accident. While desperately seeking answers from God like "Why me?" or "How am I going to do this?" During that critical period, I distinctly remember feeling his presence and comfort. It was a true test of faith for me, a chance to live out what I had professed to believe. While my accident was certainly not a path I would have chosen, it has been an incredible life changing experience for me. It is hard to explain just how my heart has been slowly radically changed. This change has come through prayer and time reading and understanding this amazing treasure called the bible. He has opened my eyes and softened my heart to see and feel as he would in some small way.

As I've experienced life with other Christians, I've noticed how uneasy and inadequate we feel when we pray. Always hoping someone else will speak up and save us from that awkward moment! Prayer is just plain overwhelming for many of us. We don't know where to start in establishing a prayer life or the right words to say. We try hard but often miss the mark sounding like a kid in Santa's lap. In this fast paced culture, most of us give little priority to prayer time until we are hit with a crisis and our eyes see our need for an intercessor and savior.

What is prayer to you? I urge you to take the time to start making your prayer life priority. Without prayer, you cannot grow spiritually. If you aren't deepening your vertical relationship with Christ, you cannot overflow his grace into the lives of hose you so deeply care about. When you really come before God, not just with a list of requests for him to fill, but with a heart to know Him, your life will begin to radically change.


So, I write this to you just a few days before the National Day of Prayer which is this Thursday, May 7th. Check out their website to see how you can pray for our nation at this pivotal time in history.

Embracing the Sinful Child

Being now in the midst of parenting adult children and getting advice that has run the gamut, this blog post gave me reassurance and comfort. It is from Mark Gregston at Heartlight ministries....

"Parents across the country are faced every day with the challenge of older children who are living out choices that are far different from what the parents desired for them. The children don’t want to change, and are determined to continue along their chosen path.

Some may not understand the need for my encouragement to continue loving their offspring regardless of their actions, thinking it impossible to do anything else. But for others who are dealing with a rebellious and hateful older child, they know exactly what I am talking about. It’s all you can do to keep from ringing your child’s neck!

Suppose you learn your child is having an affair, or has been convicted of a crime? What about a child caught in a same-sex relationship, or a daughter who is pregnant out of wedlock. Maybe it is a child who is using drugs, or whose choices always seem to be the opposite of what you hoped for.

To embrace them in the midst of their disrespect, anger and rebellion can be difficult, yet to write off or shun the relationship as a result is a violation of what God would desire from parents. We still need to show them God’s love every day.

God calls us to love our offspring in the midst of their sin, so we can be there to offer guidance and speak the truth to them when they do come around to better thinking. That way, should they long for something different in their life, there is a path back to Him, an open door that offers a place of rest when they are ready.

I know what Scripture says about sin. And I know what lifestyle choices are counter to God’s plan. But I believe it is also a sin for us to turn our backs on a wayward child because of their sin. God has called us to be a part of our children’s adult lives, not to be their judge and jury, but to offer a relationship that would offer a glimpse of something that can ultimately only be found in God. We don’t have to like them in their sinful state, as much as we need to love them.

You may ask, “Where is the hope?” The hope is found in God, “being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). God has not finished with your child, no matter how old he or she is! He will continue the work He started and He’ll often work through us parents. The challenge is to make sure we don’t get in His way.

Be a parent to children for as long as they are under your care. Set boundaries and enforce consequences. Be sure you know what you believe, and teach it to them when they are younger. But should they make poor choices as they get older, don’t reject them. And don’t allow their bad choices make you feel as though they have rejected you as well. Keep in touch and love them regardless, for God has placed them in your life, for the rest of your life, for a reason."

Never give up on your child. Christ did not give up on you....