- Philippines Recap 2. - It Starts With The Men

 One thing that was very difficult in the Philippines was understanding the men. Not the Filipino men, but the foreigners. The ones who were there running away from something for a little "fun." It is absolutely gut-wrenching to see a 50+ or 60+ year old man, balding with a beer belly, walking down the street with a young Filipino girl on his arm. I tried to dig deep and figure out how on earth a man could honestly feel entitled to one of these precious girls. What has to take place in someone's mind for someone to think they deserve to treat another person with such disrespect?

     In some of the bars, a set of girls in matching costumes will be paraded out on stage for the men to decide who they like best. Then another group will come out with a different set of outfits and this selection process happens multiple times until the stage is full of the women who were chosen as the prettiest.


     Do these guys think that this is okay because most of the girls smile and pretend to enjoy it? But if that's the case, then what about the ones who obviously look cold and miserable?

     Do they think it's okay because they're from a richer country and these girls are getting paid to do a job, so why question it? (I actually heard someone say this.)

     These twisted morals have to come from somewhere...a childhood of abuse? An unhappy marriage? An addiction to pornography?


     That's a big one I've been thinking about because I'm seeing how harmful porn can be because it's creating a culture that allows - even encourages - mean to look to women for nothing but pleasure. Porn just conditions the mind to look at the women as a mere object. Not that this is breaking news, but I've seen this played out right before my eyes with real people in real time. Some of the activities that go on in the bars seem like a live porn scene and it's just so awful.

     But it made me realize that this battle has to begin with the men. The bars aren't going to go out of business if we get enough girls out.  The truth is, the bar owners usually don't care if a girl decides to leave...it's not like they're held hostage. The reason is, the poverty and desperation for any job is so great that no matter how many girls we bring home, there will always be another taking her place.

I wish I could share pictures of the girls lovely faces - but to protect their dignity and privacy this photo will have to suffice!

     Wipe Every Tear is absolutely amazing and the fact that they have over 70 women in safe houses is wonderful! But the bars won't shut down until the men stop coming.

     It's hard to explain how hard it is to look at an older white guy groping a young bar girl and not go scream at him. More than that, how do you look at someone like that and forgive them? That was hands down the most difficult part about this whole experience. Of course what the girls are doing to make their living isn't exactly honorable, but once you understand the circumstances that drive them to it, how can you blame them? It's easy to look at them with compassion and want to extend God's love and grace. 

     But what about the men?

     They are God's children too. They were created in His holy image just like the girls. He died for their sins as well as mine. He longs for them to come home. His love is greater than any sin. Any.

     Oh my goodness, I can't even fathom it. So much evil, pain and perversion and He still loves. 

     He's too good not to. 

     So as a Christian, I have to be willing to pray for their hearts if I want to be like Christ. That's a tall order. I have to be willing to forgive. I don't like that very much. But revival has to start with the men, otherwise the cycle will never end. 

What a broken world we live in. Thank goodness for the hope that Jesus brings! 

~ Rebecca Rae