Heavy Hearts...

November 8, 2009

Well Trav just about summed up our time in Santo Domingo. We got so much accomplished and we received good news after good news with our business. The head honcho at the ‘Civil Aeronauticas Department’ gave us the okay to fly; now we just have to find a company to insure us and nail down the location. Many of our headaches are no longer an issue and all the puzzle pieces are slowly beginning to connect. Needless to say, the light at the end of the tunnel is slowing becoming more luminescent and promising. We are undoubtedly seeing Gods favor on our lives.

Despite all the wonderful news, my heart is very heavy and I’ll explain why.

This evening we were blessed to spend some time with some American friends who live here. They are always so sweet and hospitable to us. We enjoy quality time and conversation with them. After a fantastic dinner we sat around and talked about various topics. One topic, in which my husband joyfully participated, was the current state of the U.S. and how much turmoil we are all in. If anyone knows me well, they’ll know that I don’t talk much about politics and how the world coming to an end. The stock market crashing, the spending deficit being unsustainable, and health reform don’t send me into any sort of frenzy. I have no absolutely no interest in it. Yes, Travis says I’m burying my head in the sand, but to me I find no importance in dwelling on the negativity and being consumed with worry and fear, for I have absolutely no control over it anyway. Maybe I’m naïve, but I believe the Lord is in control regardless, I trust He will take care of us. So anyways I heard all about how the US is quickly coming to ruin, and of course get uneasy. Its not exactly comforting news ☺.

On from there we talked about prostitution, brothels, human trafficking, and child sex slaves. We didn’t just talk about it in a broad spectrum, but we were talking about the problem it is here in the Dominican Republic. Our friends informed us that all the little places around that look like small motels, but are labeled “cabanas” are actually brothels. We were already aware of all the prostitutes that linger around the car washes, trying to lure customers in. But, I wasn’t aware of the amount of brothels.

Our friends showed us a book they are reading regarding sex and prostitution in the Dominican Republic. Apparently, it is a massive business run by Dominicans but made possible by sexually hungry tourists. For most of these men and woman it’s been a way of life ever since they were small. Perhaps it’s not enjoyable to them, but in their eyes it is their job. It’s merely their means to an end; it’s the only feasible way for them to survive. To give themselves to paying customers as they so please.

And then my heart breaks a little more.

You see it’s one thing living in a nice home in the States with luxuries, security, and safety at hand. Yes Americans have heard about sex slavery and prostitution, perhaps some have witnessed it. But, my guess is that most haven’t. The majority of it is foreign issues that only exist in poverty stricken lands and/or third world countries. Well here I am, in the middle of it. Surrounded by poor locals who give of themselves to survive. The problem is that it’s almost impossible to set them free from this torture. We are in a third world country with only a handful of jobs, if you take them out of their “job” how are they going to make enough to survive. Realistically they make more in one night than they do in two months. How then is there a remedy for them?

I still don’t know, and my heart hurts even more.

You see, the DR is on a tier three-watch list for child sex slave and human trafficking. Which means it is a huge problem here, but the government is choosing to not do anything about it. They turn their cheeks and ignore it. It’s one thing to hear about it occurring in other continents, but it’s another to witness it from a close distance…

The other day (In the middle of the day) I saw a young Dominican girl, probably about 11 years old, dressed in a very small mini skirt with an open back tube top on. She was holding a small bag and was waiting outside an apartment. She was looking down timidly while waiting for a middle-aged non-Dominican man that was digging through his car for something. The man made his way up to his apartment and the two entered his house. I lingered around for a little while, playing with the puppy and about fifteen minutes later the little girl came out of the apartment and made her way through the parking lot. She turned around twice and just stared at me. Since then, I can’t get her precious face out of my head. She looked broken and hopeless. She should be running around playing like every other 11 year old in the US, worrying about what Barbie she should play with, but instead the cards she was dealt left her here. (Yes, I admit I am assuming what was going on, but with what I observed it’s hard not to.) All I keep thinking about is “Why Lord?”. Why was I so blessed to be born into my amazing family in the States and presented this chance at life and success when these poor children here have nothing and are nearly forced to sell themselves just to still be in poverty?

Now you see why my heart hurts?

It’s like I’m now living amidst this terrible and astronomical problem. Yet I’m utterly helpless and don’t even know where I can begin to revolutionize this. Everything inside of me desires to give the children, sex-slaves and prostitutes freedom. But, how can I do that when there are no other jobs available to sustain them?

I’ll let you know when I figure it out.

But, until then... I believe the Lord with present me with opportunities to show them the love of Christ, even if it’s one person at a time.

Love and Miss you all.
D&T