Hatred

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven

Matthew 5:43

Hate

Day one.  We hit the streets early today. Breaking up into teams,  our goal was to saturate the downtown brothel area with prayer.  We would be returning to most of these streets later in the evening but it is really important to begin any outreach effort with prayer to the only one who could possibly have any power to change this situation.  My team was given the assignment to walk the territory where the kiddie brothels are located.  This is a street known for the trafficking of young children and a gathering place for pedophiles. In order to get to it you have to first walk through an area of brothels that is known not only for the the trafficking of humans but other things such as guns, drugs, etc. It is rough to say the least but you must walk through it to get to the place where the children are. As it was the middle of the day, there were not many tourists out on the streets but there were several men sitting in the doorways of each establishment smoking their hookah pipes and glaring as we went by.  It was clear that we did not belong there. The moment we entered this area I could feel pure hatred like I have never felt before.  The eyes of these men were fixed upon us in angry stares and I was certain that the intent was to intimidate and frighten us.  As  I looked at these men knowing what they do and seeing first hand the cruelty they inflict on so many innocent people, indignation rose in my spirit and I wanted so badly to stare right back at them with the most hatred I could muster.  I knew however that to partner with them in their hate would make me as much of a prisoner of it as they were.  I chose to walk straight down the middle of the road returning smiles for glares and blessing for cursing.  I sent up quiet prayers not only for the women and children held captive  inside the walls of these buildings but for the ones who have made themselves prisoners to the execution of unthinkable violence, and hatred.

We passed through that neighborhood  and rounded the corner to the place where the child brothels are.  This is a group of buildings that house room  upon room of children both little boys and girls who are sold to pedophiles for sex.  Some of the buildings even post pictures of the children for sale and as I see this,  the battle for my emotions rages.   It is difficult to seek a God who IS all consuming love while you are consumed with hatred so I had to make the choice to walk through this nightmare of  a place with my eyes firmly fixed on Jesus remembering that the sin of man such as I saw today was enough to kill Him but not enough to hold Him because Love will always triumph over evil. 

I hope to get back to this area at night.  I have learned that very few people are willing  to go there to pray or to help.  It is a dark pit of a place and something must be done.  Pray for our team as there are a few of us who  are willing to go!

Love from the road

Julie