Skip to main content

White snow in the red light district.

I can’t believe it’s Wednesday already. The past few days have been so busy it feels like I’m only stopping to sleep and then it’s morning again. But it’s been good, and hopefully I’ll get into a bit of a flow (and then suddenly the course will be over).

The course...it’s been a fantastic week. All about prophetic justice and focus and foundation having to be in God. A lot stuff I’ve believed and am passionate about, but also some tweaks that have been really good. God is a God of justice and true justice can only come from Him. The speaker was brilliant in what and how she shared and I have lots to process and go deeper in, and it’s only Wednesday!!! Apart from the teaching, there are work duties to do, coffee breaks to be had, small group, walking, bonding with people...it’s busy. But good, but I need to pace myself and use wisdom as well (note to self to not forget this point).

This afternoon I went out to visit the women behind the windows in the Red Light District with the women’s ministry. We go out in pairs and bring coffee and tea for the ladies and men, and if some want to chat we chat with them. It’s very powerful, yet so respectful of their boundaries. These people have had their boundaries broken and distorted so much we want to show so much respect to them. Today was my first time and I really could feel God’s heart for the women and men we interacted with. What they do and where they are does not define who they are. They are real people with real stories and are just going on this journey called life the best way they know how. I am still processing this afternoon...but I think that even from the small glimpse I got today, I know a little bit more of what God feels when He looks at the Red Light District, not just as a place of darkness, but as a place of people who are really broken and really lost who He loves so much.

As we were leaving the Red Light District it was snowing, and I just thought of how the red blood of Jesus washes all our sins white as snow.

Then this evening a group of us went to a cafe next to where we’re living for one of the girl’s birthday and I’ve just gotten back from hanging out and laughing a lot. I love that I don’t have to carry what I saw this afternoon, but that Jesus carries the burden of the brokenness and darkness in the Red Light District. And I love that God is also a God of joy and even created laughter.

I love how diverse God is and that today I have lived experiencing different facets of who He is.

It’s been a good day.

Popular posts from this blog

Taking in the familiar and a heart connected.

Amsterdam. It still has that muggy feeling in Summer, and a constant flow of people which if you stop to think about it, it's quite amazing that there would even be space to accommodate them all. But then I guess they are not all staying. Just passing through on their way to or from somewhere. It's always good for the heart to visit somewhere that was once home. The familiarity of streets and customs makes it easier to embrace what might be new as well as the joy of being reacquainted with old friends. Friends. So many of them to be found in this city, ready with hugs and good words that are uttered when seeing someone who was away again. Friendship. A treasure that cannot be bought. Cobblestones trodden by many, including myself. Sitting on a bench. Praying. Remembering the first time I stumbled upon this area lined with windows with red lights and curtains. An area which has come to represent no longer windows, but people to me. Some still behind a window. Others who have ...

Getting to know the local culture.

Life is a strange thing. Last week went…not much happened, and then it was over. The weekend was quite calm without too many wild and exciting things happening. Except, of course, a wee outing to watch the National Championship for Veteran Ploughing. Now, like me, you might be sadly lacking an understanding of what this actually means. So I am delighted to be able to enlighten you in this respect. It’s basically (for the “farm-language-illiterate” like myself) a competition where you use old (hence the name “veteran”) tractors and ploughs, and plough up a stretch of field which is then evaluated and the one scoring the highest sum (accuracy, depth, how well the soil is turned is all given points) wins. I must admit that this information I got by eavesdropping on a conversation next to me where a man was explaining to some of my friends how it all works. So that was a fun adventure….although we only stayed for a bit. What is sort of occupying my mind at present is my upcoming travel abr...

What was your dream?- scraping the surface of the heart of Albania

“What was your dream when you were 20?” That was a question our guide asked us as we were standing outside a huge derelict cement monument in Tirana, the capital of Albania. We’d spent the day touring and hearing a lot about the history and journey of Albania, a young country with more Albanians living in other countries than in Albania itself. A country where tourism has only really been built up the past 30 years. It was eye opening to hear more of the history, and it made me realise that this country is so much more than meets the eye. A country where the beaches and tourist area of Durres Riviera was packed with tourists, mostly from the Balcan area. A country where hospitality is ingrained in the culture, and where the friendliness of the people was noticeable. After a pause to let us reflect over the question of dreams, for some thinking further back than others, our guide told us that for him it had been to own a pair of jeans. That simple fact said so much. Both of what he...