Daegu Journal Entry: Volume 1 Issue 2

Daegu Journal Entry: Volume 1 Issue 2

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Today was the second time I went into the Red Light District in Daegu, South Korea.  The team consisted of 4 members that went inside and 3 who stayed outside the RLD, praying in their car while we handed out the gifts.  We handed out mittens and QT sheets to the madams. The verse on the gift today was Psalm 20:4, which reads, “May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!”  We prayed that God would give them the desire to come out.  We prayed that God will provide all their needs and that when they do come out, they will be thankful and not want to return. 

This is what we prayed for them however, the next verse, verse 5, is what really stood out to me.  It says, “May we shout for joy over your salvation and in the name of our God set up our banners!  May the LORD fulfill all your petitions!”  This is why I go in to the RLD, to bring salvation to these precious ladies.  God loves them so much but they don’t see their value or worth because the voice of the world is louder than the voice of their Creator.  I can tell this by their empty, blank, stares that they don’t feel valued.  They look out the glass windows, into the streets, but it’s like they are staring into an empty abyss, sitting like Manikins in a shopping window.  They may be alive physically but there is not life inside of them.  Only one thing can bring them life and that is the salvation of Jesus Christ.  I want God’s voice to be louder than the Worlds and so I go.

As we walked around I could see the girls in the windows applying makeup, doing their hair, and getting ready for another night of work.  There were many spots that had the shades pulled down still, unlike last time when everything was open and ready for business.    As always, I try to make eye contact with the girls in the windows who are already sitting and waiting for customers.  Usually when we make eye contact I will smile and bow to show respect.  I don’t like just giving things to the Madams and then walking away, ignoring the girls.  This time most of the girls ignored me or just stared blankly at me.  One girl smiled and waved.  She was really happy for me to acknowledge her.  I recognized a few that were there last time but most of the girls were different to me.

We handed out gloves with the verse and QT sheets from the daily bread, written in Korean.  The madams were extra smiley tonight and so happy to see us.  When Pastor Choi asked the madams about sharing the QTs with the girls, they said they would give them to the girls for sure!!!  Praise God!!!  Normally they tell us no or say yes with some hesitation.  Today they said yes, and a full on one at that!  Pastor Choi’s hard work and dedication is finally making its way into the girls.  Before we left Seoul we prayed that God would open the Madam’s hearts to be open and cooperate with us, sharing what we bring with the girls.  We gave so many that we ran out of QTs this time!!!  This is such an improvement from when Pastor Choi first came, even from when we came 2 weeks ago! 

A lot of the madams felt they didn’t deserve to receive these gifts we brought them.  They recognized we are doing such a good thing and expressed their guilt to us.  One madam shared a little of her story with us.  She said she grew up going to a Christian church.  When she was young she received Satan while experiencing some sort of witchery meeting with friends.  She said she hates going to church but would accept our gifts.  Pastor Choi invited her to church and said she could still visit even though she hates the church.  She said, “When the right time comes I will go.” 

I have a new friend.  She calls me American Friend.  She lights up the minute she sees me and tries talking to me in Korean.  (I gotta work harder on my Korean).  A lot of the madams wanted to hold my hands tonight.  Pastor Choi says it is because they cannot believe an American is coming all the way here to visit them regularly.   I’m happy to know my presence is appreciated.  I was a little worried about how they would accept me at first. 

There were many men walking around tonight and many cars driving through.  The madams are pretty aggressive, going up to moving cars, knocking on the windows, and pulling on the men’s arms to get them in the doors to see the girls.  I didn’t see any go in this time.  I wonder what they are doing walking through that place.  They have to know what it is! Maybe they have intentions to visit the women but are detoured by our presence.  Maybe they just want to look.  I don’t really know.  One thing I can say is that I pray for every man that I pass, that God will convict them of their lust.  That the conviction would burn so badly inside of them they repent and then fight for justice.  These men are driving the sex industry and keeping women in bondage to this sort of life style. 

As I mentioned at the beginning of my note, there was a group sitting in a car outside the RLD praying while one of their members joined us in the RLD.  This is a group from Masan.  They have expressed a desire to serve with Pastor Choi.  One of the girls in the group heard about him when he spoke at her church and she told her friends.  They want to be trained by Pastor Choi so they can go and do these same things on their own.  They will join us the third week of every month, praying outside and sending one team member in with us.  Hopefully they can prepare the gifts for the third week to help alleviate some of the cost Pastor Choi’s mission uses toward purchasing the gifts. 

Prayer Request: 

Pray for the girls and the madams to escape this line of business and never have a desire to return.

Pray for the Masan team’s training and involvement with Pastor Choi over the next year. 

Pray for the Korean church to be more involved and speak out more about justice issues.

Pray for laws to be established in Korea that would make prostitution and human trafficking more difficult.  There are laws in place but police don’t enforce them the way they should be enforced.  In fact, they frequently visit these places.    

Pray for God to protect the team from the spiritual warfare that we may encounter because of this ministry.  Already I have been attacked at work.  It got so bad that I actually looked into booking a flight back to America because I was so frustrated.  Then I remembered what I was doing in Korea and why I was here and I prayed for strength.  Also, another member that will be joining us after his application process, fell down 2 flights of stairs a month a go, cracking his skull, breaking his nose, and having some minor brain damage.  Please pray for his healing so he can join us as soon as the application process is complete. 

Pray for Pastor Choi’s ministry, that God would continue to provide finances, man- power, and continue to bless it.

(Below is a picture of Vanesa, Pastor Choi, and Me decorating his office for Christmas.