My heart thudded in my chest as we walked up the narrow dark stairway leading into the brothel. At the top of the stairs we turned into a small room where several women sat, just waking up from work the night before. Boxes of condoms lined the wall by the door. They welcomed us in, and took the gift of lunch we brought. We sat down on 2 dirty straw mats they put down on the old wooden floor. Wadded up clothes and dirty dishes crowded the already small space. Looking around the tiny room, I noticed the girls hesitated to look us in the eye. They wore shame like a heavy blanket, but we came in and sat beside them. I reached over and put my hands on the arm of the girl beside me. It took some time, but slowly she let her guard down.
As Crissie started to share from the Bible, more girls came in the room. They sat down in a circle, at their lunch and listened. She told them of God's love, how we are all unclean but Jesus can live inside us and take away our shame.
The reality of the situation, of what really goes on in this place hit hard when two of the women jumped up all of a sudden and left the room. We asked where they were going, only to find out that a client had come up the stairs.
We met two sisters Priti and Sanju. Priti is extremely beautiful. She asked us to pray for her. This life is hard. She is having to work extra hours to help pay for a third sister's wedding. We prayed and cried. We asked our guide how these women end up here. He said no girls choose this life. They are either sold by family members or they are tricked into coming to the city from villages on the promise of marriage only to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Then their life of prostitution begins. They can never leave till their debt is paid off, and that never happens, because they are forced to pay interest. They are slaves for the rest of their lives.
At the end of our time one of the girls thanked us for coming. She wanted us to know it made them feel special that we would come all this way to see them.
As we got ready to head back down the stairs, I wasn't prepared for the young girl who came down from upstairs and reached out her hands in the darkness. She had a desperate look on her face. I reached out & touched her and started to pray for God's peace, His joy, His presence in her life, for freedom, for Him to be with her when she was lonely. She clung to my hands and was weeping as I prayed. She was so tenderhearted, and so young. I am guessing she was about 16.
It's hard to even type these words, and tears are close as I think of where she is today. I don't even know her name, but the Lord does. Lord, set her free. Change her life.
The girls asked if we would come again and bring nail polish so we can do nails together. I told them I will be back later this fall and I would bring some polish with me. They smiled.
Check back later today for Wednesday Part 3 & pray for freedom for the girls we met today and that they would know the love of God.
Photos by Jen Price
