Reflections on reaching prostitutes

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=120 BGCOLOR="#FFCCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0443f781egdyul.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#009900" FACE="Arial" ><B>Proclaim His Praise in the Islands - the Hallowells</B></FONT> <B> </B><B>|    </B><B> </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Proclaim His Praise in the Islands the "><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <div>                                                   </div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=360 BGCOLOR="#CCFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Reflections on reaching prostitutes</div> <bR> <div> Jay's Impressions about Ministry to Quezon City Prostitutes</div> <div> (Sorry - no photos.  Cameras were not allowed.)</div> <bR> <bR> <div> These were included in the prayer letter:  (Click here to <A HREF="#here_are_additional_reflections" TITLE="Reflections on reaching prostitutes"><U>jump to Jay's additional impressions</U></A>, not included in our prayer letter.)</div> <bR> <div> There are around 300,000 prostitutes in Metro Manila (conservative estimate - likely more).</div> <bR> <div> We didn't meet a prostitute who didn't have children.  One we met “on the job” had her three year old son with her.</div> <bR> <div> We personally met prostitutes from age 14 to 54. </div> <bR> <div> The ministry we worked with has observed it takes about 4 years to get a prostitute out of prostitution and settled in the faith and in another viable livelihood.  </div> <bR> <div> Men in this ministry must not be alone.</div> <bR> <div> The best approach is to contact them on the street or in the bar, earn enough trust to get their home address, and then visit them at home where one can talk longer and in more depth.  </div> <bR> <div> It takes a lot of contacts and visits to gain trust.  Most prostitutes have never been treated as people.</div> <bR> <div> The trip helped us to pray and to be motivated to do more to reach the marginalized of Manila.</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div>  <A NAME="here_are_additional_reflections"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>Here are additional reflections, written by Jay for his journal, so not polished</div> <bR> <div> The system of prostitution - it is big business (third largest in the world after drugs and arms) (Buyer, bought, business as three major components of the business)</div> <bR> <div> 80% of prostitutes in Manila from the provinces, most haven't finished high school, many from broken families, under a lot of pressure to provide for families, including men without jobs</div> <bR> <div> The diversity of prostitution in the metro area - in many forms and in many places.  Not concentrated in a few “red light” areas (though there are some areas with concentrations of prostitutes).  This means that churches all over need to think about how to reach prostitutes in the bars, etc. in their area</div> <bR> <div> Those prostitutes around the longest have the hardest time thinking there are options for them; their lack of education, low self esteem, and lack of skills make it difficult to find viable financial options</div> <bR> <div> Disease rampant, drug use, violence, exploitation by many, not least of all the police and government (very unequal laws - the ladies always are arrested, not the customers)</div> <bR> <div> The prostitutes dress pretty normally on the street.  In fact, unless Tina knew them, I would not have been able to guess which of the ladies were prostitutes.  How to tell: the prostitutes hang around while those passing through for legitimate reasons weren't there long and the prostitutes talked to a variety of guys.  (Had I been alone I would certainly have been approached by several-being with Jamie and Tina kept me “safe”.)  But, if one didn't know, one could pass through the area in normal life and not notice the prostitutes (I know-I've done it!)  Too often we Christians refuse to see what is actually going on.  Good to have open eyes.  There seemed to be quite a number of prostitutes and not nearly as many customers.  We were told that some nights the ladies are not able to get anyone, though on other nights they have multiple contacts.</div> <bR> <div> The conversations with the prostitutes were about normal things - life, family, etc.  They are people, an important thing to remember, since they are considered “objects” (Sex objects) by almost everyone.  When treated as people, they respond as people.  They have lives also.</div> <bR> <div> Other NGOs are out on the street with their own agendas.  Kabalikat had a big force out distributing condoms, offering free pap smears, and doing medical training.  They were considered “peer counselors”.  I haven't worked out what their goals were.  My impression is that it wasn't so much that they were trying to help them get out of prostitution and to get their lives straightened out in relation to the Lord, their families, and society (Samaritana's goals) so much as teaching them to be more health conscious prostitutes.  That is a good thing, I am sure, but quite incomplete.</div> <bR> <div> It is demanding ministry.  Quite sad and discouraging.  Lots of contacting.  Lots of complicated problems.  Too much watching people destroy themselves.  Poverty seriously contributes to the problem.  </div> <bR> <div> We saw one prostitute who was clearly high on drugs.</div> <bR> <div> The trip was well worth it.  Got back home at midnight... </div> <bR> <div> The ministry we visited is called Samaritana.  They have their own web site, <A HREF="http://www.samaritana.faithweb.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.samaritana.faithweb.com"><U>www.samaritana.faithweb.com</U></A>, if you want additional information.  Their page, "Prayer For Our City at Night" is particularly moving and helpful.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> by Jay and Amor Hallowell</div> <div> March 21, 2003</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>