Report from the Street

Our colleague Elaine Wyler tells of our recent experience during street outreach to women in forced prostitution this summer. I was with my partner on the Angel Squad in this encounter:

As usual, we were visiting the streets very late at night (or rather, very early in the morning) meeting with our Treasures – talking and sharing with them, and offering needed sundries, Bibles and Bible stories in their native languages. We were in the midst of talking with some Treasures when a police vehicle pulled up and began asking us questions about who we are, what we’re doing and such. While one of our team was talking with a treasure, another Angel Squad (AS) member was answering the official’s questions. As it turns out, these officials are very well informed about the whole trafficking issue and are quite interested in finding ways in which to partner with us when we are on the streets with the Treasures.  They recognize that we have a relationship with many of these girls that would be difficult for them to attain.  We discovered that we each have a common goal in reaching out to help the treasures.  The officials expressed an interest in helping us in any way they can, while we continue to strengthen our relationships with the women and girls.  We don’t know where this cooperative effort may lead, but it is a joy to watch God work in this ministry, using any and every resource He chooses to.
During the month of August we’ve had to suspend our trips out for a number of reasons but primarily because most of our Angel Squad has been unavailable for our bi-monthly visits. So we are planning on getting back on schedule starting in September. Thank you everyone for your continued prayers for us as a team but more so for our treasures who don’t have the luxury of getting “days off.” Please keep them in your prayers for their safety. We recently heard of an attempted rape of a Treasure whom we reach out to. She was not badly hurt and managed to get medical care. Her attacker was caught and arrested, thank the Lord. But this is the type of fear they live with continually. Pray the heart of God for them — and that heaven opens and pours out mercy, healing, rescue and comfort.