After a few attempt to locate each other, I finally met her outside the
McDonald’s (always a good point of reference) and together we walked to the
dinner and Bible study. We chatted about her life as we walked and soon
arrived. Coming into the apartment there was a bustle of life. An outreach team
had come to join us for dinner and worship, and there were people everywhere. We
hung up our coats, and I quickly located our other Spanish speaker and we all
sat down at one corner of the table for dinner which was delicious.
After dinner our small Spanish speaking contingent (including myself)
sat down on the sofa and had an amazing time of Bible study. We talked about
trusting God and how He is our protection and always with us; and we shared the
challenges we are facing at the moment. It was such a precious time of going
deeper. Deeper than the surface “weather and family” talking. Deeper- into what
really matters like: “is God going to provide so I can pay my
bills now that I’ve quit prostitution?” “How am I going to live?” Questions
that are so real. It’s easy to say “trust in God”, but the reality is that
money is needed and it has to come from somewhere.
Yet God is faithful. And He is able. And He is such a practical God.
After talking a while, the three of us joined hands and prayed. Each one
to the Jesus we know and long to know better. To the Jesus we want to follow,
and who we believe is able and willing to enter into our challenges and
situations and be the God who is able.
“I feel really good here.” “I love the worship.” These were some of the
comments the women shared as we were wrapping up. After “leaving” for a while
(many hugs and goodbyes, and “see you next week”s) we got bundled up and walked
homeward.
One of the women we accompanied to her window, and hugged and said goodbye.
She was going to work. And I wonder what it’s like for her heart to come from a
time of fellowship and life to working in a window. Hopefully she will also
decide to stop eventually, but as always we know the story behind is always
bigger and more complicated than we know.
The other one had her bike and was going home. She’s decided to quit the
job. Now starts another kind of challenge, the challenge to pay bills and get a
job. But it’s a journey into life- and a journey with God so present! I hugged
her tightly as we parted ways. Her parting words were: “Come back quickly. I
will keep you updated by message!!” Goodbyes are hard. And it’s when you have
to say goodbye that you realise how connected you have become to someone.
As I cycled home in the cold drizzling rain with one of my housemates,
we talked about how easy it is to take things for granted. And that truly it is
amazing to have the privilege of walking alongside these precious daughters of
God who are so broken. And yet He trust us to be a part of their healing and
restoration.
And so I’m sat here in my apartment. It’s late and my heart is full of
love for these women. I will miss this. I will miss speaking life and praying
life into them. I will miss the weekly contact with them in their joys and
broken times.
And yet, I realise that the love I have doesn’t have to be left here
when I go. I can bring it with me to Brazil and wherever I go. And I can bring
the testimony of what God is doing. He is truly a God of miracles and if He can
meet a woman in a window and bring her out her in Amsterdam, then truly He can
set other women free from their captivity, whatever that looks like.