Stories

Instead of giving you all the usual details about the past month, I thought I would tell you a couple of stories. The following three scenarios are the real stories and lives of girls that I work with, yet I am sure their stories are similar to millions here in South Africa. They are in no way exaggerated or made up. I changed names in some cases for confidentiality.

Angela:

Angela found out she was HIV+ when she gave birth to her daughter Lalitha. Her husband had left her months before Lalitha was born. He had undoubtedly given her the disease. A year and a half ago Angela’s condition worsened to the point of being bed-ridden. She had tuberculosis and could barely catch her breath to talk. Angela and Lalitha moved in with Angela’s mother so she could take care of them. Angela’s TB went away for awhile but is now back. The doctors say her condition is not good. Angela’s mother carries her from the bed to the toilet because she is too weak to walk. Lalitha calls her grandmother “momma” and it kills Angela to not be able to mother her child. Angela often breaks down in frustrated tears because she is not ready to die yet, but her body will not cooperate with her will.

Rebecca:

Rebecca is a street worker. At night she walks to where the white men live so she can sell her body. Her child stays at home with her mother. She is addicted to crystal meth and will do whatever the men want for R30 ($5.00). She knows she wasn’t made to do this. When asked why she doesn’t stop, she gets quiet and puts her head down. She is afraid to talk. Her boyfriend is waiting for her and watches her every move. Talking to you may get her in trouble. He forces her to do this every night, and if she doesn’t, he threatens to harm her or her family. She wants to go to a place of safety, but fear and addiction hold her back. What if she runs and he finds her? What if he harms her child and mother?

Thandi:

Thandi thought she got a house cleaning job. The lady she was working for suggested that she work at her friend’s restaurant instead. Thandi agrees and lets the lady take her over to her friend’s house. There is a man waiting for her and her previous employer leaves. The man says that he owns Thandi now. He rapes her because that’s what happens to the new girls. Filled with fear, she submits now to whatever she is told to do. She is forced to take drugs so she will always want to come back for more. She is forced to work the corner from dusk till dawn. If Thandi doesn’t make enough money, she gets beat with an aluminum bat or raped. She tried to run once, and they came and found her. She ran a second time, and she got away….

Thandi is now off of drugs and off the streets. She is in school and working towards becoming an active part of her community. She loves the Lord with all of her heart. She knows that she is lucky to be alive and that God must have some amazing plans for her life.

All of these girls could use your prayer. In many cases the odds are stacked against them, but as you can see in Thandi’s situation, there is still hope for freedom and for peace. Will you pray for their hearts, their healing, and their safety?

I could use your prayer as well as these are just three of the lives I am in contact with. I know I am called to fight for justice for people here who have little to no voice. It can seem overwhelming, but cases like Thandi’s remind me of why I do what I do. I could use prayer for the following:

1. Wisdom to know how to handle many of the different situations that arise. The situations with human trafficking are complex and the decisions for people involved are life changing.

2. Energy and strength for everyday

3. I am at about 10% with car funds

4. Favor with law enforcement

5. I love it here, but I miss home too

Love you all. Thank you for letting me share my life with you! I am an extension of you!

Christina