That's it.
That's all God told me when he called me into sex industry ministry at age fifteen.
I was on a short-term mission trip to Guadalajara, Mexico with my youth group at the time (Dan, if you're reading this, a major shout-out to you for being an amazing Youth Pastor and spiritual mentor and for opening my eyes to the reality of the world of missions).
Although short, the trip had been real and intense. From going to the slums of Guadalajara to the wealthy streets--we saw the need for God everywhere. My heart was enlivened for missions, and I had been baptized in Holy Spirit on that trip. I knew after those two weeks my life was never going to be the same.
And I was right.
On the last night, our whole team spent a significant time praying over one another.
Four of us students were called to the mission field that same night.
And within two years, all of us had gone out in obedience.
One friend back to Mexico, two to Eastern Africa, and myself to Southeast Asia.
In the moment I was called, with tears streaming down my face, the Lord gave me a vivid, yet gruesome vision.
And I'm sorry, but I'm not gonna sugar-coat it...
The Lord showed me two Southeast Asian women being violently raped and He simply said, "help them."
Since then, down in the depths of my spirit, I can't seem to shake away this passion for seeing justice come to women working in the sex industry.
I went to Thailand, and my heart for that region of the world grew. I know I'm going back (hopefully this summer/fall for a visit!) for either long or short-term.
But above all else, whether that's in Europe, stateside, Asia--or heck, even South America--I have an unwavering passion for seeing women set free from sex-trafficking and independent prostitution and to help them discover their true identity and priceless worth.
This passion for justice has been reawakened during my time here in Amsterdam.
I left Thailand at age eighteen discouraged about God telling me to go to university and not to stay in Asia, so subconsciously I put my passion for women on the backburner until after school when it was "missions time" again.
My first mistake was thinking university wasn't also a missions field. Nonetheless, through being a ministry leader on campus and leading most campus community outreaches, the Lord kept my flame for active outreach alive.
My second mistake was putting my passion for sex industry ministry on the backburner. Because it's been a journey to reignite it here in Europe.
However, the Lord has been faithful to reignite this passion, and since Christmas, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that working with women and seeking God's heart for justice in the sex industry is something I want to do for the rest of my life.
Funny thing too, because a part of the scripture prophesied over me for my time in Amsterdam goes like this:
"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth
your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday."
Psalm 37:5-6 (ESV, italics added)
And oh, how I've seen this happen!
Jesus has begun to break my heart for what breaks his.
Tears come to my eyes as I think of the degrading violation my friends in the Red Light have to endure day in and day out.
Tears come to my eyes as I think of certain conversations I've had with them; conversations about their personal value and their response being stumbling words and looking down at the ground in shame.
I desire to see these women's righteousness shine as the light. And for justice to be bright in their lives--bright as the noonday.
I desire, and Jesus does too, that they no longer immediately relate the words "light" with "red" and noonday as their time for sleep.
He wants to redeem those words in their lives and to shine His glorious light in their hearts.
And it's such a privilege to take part in Christ's redeeming process here in Amsterdam.
Jesus, my sweet, sweet Jesus. Your incredible heart for justice and righteousness inspires me daily. Thank you for fighting the ultimate fight with death 2000 years ago so we can embrace real life no matter how close to death we come.
Thank you that nothing is too damaged for you to redeem. Thank you that nothing is too dark for you to not make bright again.
Thank you for your light, kind yet majestic nature.
I am so in love with you and so inspired by you.
So every day I will continually choose to respond to your command;
Yes, Lord, I will help them.
Love,
Hanna
Starting this week I will be participating in a six-week seminar on my base called the Shine Seminar. It's about global sex-trafficking and the Christian response. It has a full schedule, and will be intense content--so please pray for me, my classmates and school staff. I'm really excited for it because I know it will be so relevant to the ministry I'm doing in the Red Light District.
Also, above I mentioned visiting Asia this summer. I'm going on a ministry trip to India in August and hopefully visiting/scouting out other parts of SE Asia while I'm there. If you'd like to help fund my trip (because as a YWAM missionary my everyday finances come from private gifts from individuals) please see my YouCaring page:
THANK YOU!
The photographs are captures I took in March during my trips to England and Paris.
I went to England for a womens conference with my Amsterdam home church, and then to Paris for a girls weekend with some friends.
I'm so blessed to have opportunities to travel here!
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