Last Friday was my first time leading mobile during our late nigh outreach to women in prostitution.  I walked around with one of my teammates looking for new girls that we had yet to meet who might not know about our corner.  Instead we were propositioned while talking to a new girl (I found this to be quite interesting seeing as how we were completely covered from head to toe and wearing enormous jackets).  A block away from our corner where we hand out supplies we found pimps hanging around waiting for girls to pass them by.  Two of the pimps were especially aggressive, "sweating" whatever girl came their way.  These pimps would follow a girl around and yell at her, only inches away from her face.  This game, although illegal, has a lot of rules that must be followed, such as "pimps are not to touch another pimp's girl".  Thus they are yelling at the girls--harassing them, calling them names, telling them they are worthless, yelling at them to go make more money--all the while their hands are behind their backs so that they don't break the rule.  

As my teammate and I watched from across the street, praying that the girl being harassed would be able to escape and find refuge, the pimps would finally let her go, only to begin harassing another girl a few seconds later.  One of the girls got so fed up with their abuse that she actually slapped one of the pimps on the face.  In my head I was shouting out "hooray!  That's what you get sucka!  Finally a little justice from all the abuse these girls must endure!"  That pimp pulled her hair, but then let her go and she got away.  

Since then I have been thinking about violence.  Violence is so prevalent in our culture especially on the streets and in this lifestyle.  I always wonder how long our young women will allow this violence into their lives.  Will they let it continue until they are in their 50's, sitting in my office of the residence for homeless women and children I work at and crying over all the abuse and pain they've lived through?  When will they seek freedom?  And how will they even know to seek freedom when they don't even know that it is missing from their lives?  

Prayer is such an important part of our ministry to women involved in prostitution.  One of my prayers for our women is below:

"Deliver [our women], O LORD, from evil men;

Preserve [them] from violent men,

Who plan evil things in their hearts;

They continually gather

together for war.

They sharpen their tongues like

a serpent;

The poison of asps is under

their lips.

 

Keep [the women], O LORD, from the

hands of the wicked;

Preserve [them] from violent men,

Who have purposed to make

their steps stumble.

The proud have hidden a snare 

for [them], and cords;

They have spread a net by the

wayside;

They have set traps for [our women].

 

I said to the LORD:  'You are our God;

Hear the voice of our supplications, O LORD.

O God the Lord,

the strength of our salvation,

You have covered [their heads] in

the day of battle.

Do not grant, O LORD, the

desires of the wicked;

Do not further his wicked

scheme,

Lest they be exalted...'

 

I know that the LORD will maintain

the cause of the afflicted,

and justice for the poor.

Surely the righteous shall give

thanks to your name;

The upright shall dwell in Your presence."

 

~Psalm 140: 1-8, 12-13