Have you ever been pinched in the butt by a father and son duo while waiting to rent snorkel equipment at the beach? It gives new meaning to "turn the other cheek."
I can cross that one off my list.
I was in complete shock... all I knew to say was a stern "no!" as I turned around to meet the young man's eyes. He and his father (I presume his father from the age difference) had tried flagging me down earlier on the beach but I knew they were on the hunt for a "good time" and ignored their advances... I also don't speak Dutch.
If I rebuked them in English, they wouldn't understand, so I tried Spanish... that didn't work either. So, I chose to ignore them and found a different spot to snorkel as they thought it'd be fun to meet me out in the water.
For real. That just happened.
As a single woman, I've gotten the occasional "no tengo una esposa... soy soltero..." (I don't have a wife... I'm single) from neighbors and moto drivers. I've been given unwanted flattery, flowers, candies, and marriage proposals while living here, too... but there's nothing like an unwarranted pinch in the butt to stir up some righteous indignation.
I learned a valuable lesson through this interaction, though... it's not only the men of this country who don't respect women... and oddly enough, I needed that.
After the snorkeling excursion, my friends and I went to grab a bite to eat, and wouldn't you know, there was propositioning going on at the table behind us. A gray-haired man in his late 60's was discussing when and where to meet a young Dominican woman who had just recently sat down beside him.
I confess there can come a point where, when driving through Sosua, the sight of scantily clad women and dirty old men sitting at bars becomes part of the "norm."
But it isn't normal at all.
The friends I was with were asking me, "is she a prostitute?," pointing to different women passing by, and I realized, first of all, how much I dislike that certain beach, and second, how detached I allowed myself to become concerning this area.
My answer? Most likely.
The thing is, even if these women we saw aren't prostitutes, they are inviting the attention of men and not helping the situation at hand. I felt so disgusting sitting at this beach, knowing the transactions occurring all around me and seeing vacationers, young and old, partaking in this over-sexualized culture.
For crying out loud, I was modestly dressed and still molested by perverted men. Nothing about that day was normal.
Things, as they are, are not ok.
So where am I going with all this?
Besides being enraged by such debauchery, I realized something...
Though God has placed a burden on my heart for the young girls here, my particular calling in life is not to save or prevent them from entering the "sex trafficking business" or to keep them "off the streets." There are great humanitarian efforts that do this all over the world.
No, my calling is to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all that Jesus commanded me. (Matthew 28:19-20)
That's it, plain and simple.
I just so happened to be planted in the Dominican Republic as the first of (I hope) many nations. I don't think it's because of the prostitution down the street either... it's because God loves His creation.
How has what He created strayed so far from Him? Instead of chasing and pursuing God, our world is chasing and pursuing money, sex, drugs, and fame. For what? To feel purpose and significance?
If only the world knew how loved and significant they were created to be!
This is the truth that burns in me. That God sent His Son as propitiation for our sinfulness so that we could enter into the Holy Place and meet with our Maker who created us for significance and purpose... the chiefest of which is to love and be loved by Him!
This is why I'm here. And by here, I mean earth.
If people only knew Jesus, truly knew Him, they wouldn't mistreat others. They wouldn't go searching for love or a "good time." They would love well because they would be loved well.
Creation groans for this...
That pinch in the butt, though not from God, was used by Him to ignite a new fire in me. I will not be shaken or discouraged, but I will rise up and invite others to arise with me, to hope with me, and to groan with the whole of creation for the freedom of God's children.
There's a new prayer movement in Sosua that I believe has already begun to purge the city of its wickedness and stir up a revival. As worship, prayer, and intercession arises and pours out to the main street here, I am confident that God will draw hearts to repentance and restore Sosua to its former days.
I am hoping for what I do not yet see here, but I'm waiting for it with patience...
I can cross that one off my list.
I was in complete shock... all I knew to say was a stern "no!" as I turned around to meet the young man's eyes. He and his father (I presume his father from the age difference) had tried flagging me down earlier on the beach but I knew they were on the hunt for a "good time" and ignored their advances... I also don't speak Dutch.
If I rebuked them in English, they wouldn't understand, so I tried Spanish... that didn't work either. So, I chose to ignore them and found a different spot to snorkel as they thought it'd be fun to meet me out in the water.
For real. That just happened.
As a single woman, I've gotten the occasional "no tengo una esposa... soy soltero..." (I don't have a wife... I'm single) from neighbors and moto drivers. I've been given unwanted flattery, flowers, candies, and marriage proposals while living here, too... but there's nothing like an unwarranted pinch in the butt to stir up some righteous indignation.
I learned a valuable lesson through this interaction, though... it's not only the men of this country who don't respect women... and oddly enough, I needed that.
After the snorkeling excursion, my friends and I went to grab a bite to eat, and wouldn't you know, there was propositioning going on at the table behind us. A gray-haired man in his late 60's was discussing when and where to meet a young Dominican woman who had just recently sat down beside him.
I confess there can come a point where, when driving through Sosua, the sight of scantily clad women and dirty old men sitting at bars becomes part of the "norm."
But it isn't normal at all.
The friends I was with were asking me, "is she a prostitute?," pointing to different women passing by, and I realized, first of all, how much I dislike that certain beach, and second, how detached I allowed myself to become concerning this area.
My answer? Most likely.
The thing is, even if these women we saw aren't prostitutes, they are inviting the attention of men and not helping the situation at hand. I felt so disgusting sitting at this beach, knowing the transactions occurring all around me and seeing vacationers, young and old, partaking in this over-sexualized culture.
For crying out loud, I was modestly dressed and still molested by perverted men. Nothing about that day was normal.
Things, as they are, are not ok.
So where am I going with all this?
Besides being enraged by such debauchery, I realized something...
Though God has placed a burden on my heart for the young girls here, my particular calling in life is not to save or prevent them from entering the "sex trafficking business" or to keep them "off the streets." There are great humanitarian efforts that do this all over the world.
No, my calling is to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all that Jesus commanded me. (Matthew 28:19-20)
That's it, plain and simple.
I just so happened to be planted in the Dominican Republic as the first of (I hope) many nations. I don't think it's because of the prostitution down the street either... it's because God loves His creation.
How has what He created strayed so far from Him? Instead of chasing and pursuing God, our world is chasing and pursuing money, sex, drugs, and fame. For what? To feel purpose and significance?
If only the world knew how loved and significant they were created to be!
This is the truth that burns in me. That God sent His Son as propitiation for our sinfulness so that we could enter into the Holy Place and meet with our Maker who created us for significance and purpose... the chiefest of which is to love and be loved by Him!
This is why I'm here. And by here, I mean earth.
If people only knew Jesus, truly knew Him, they wouldn't mistreat others. They wouldn't go searching for love or a "good time." They would love well because they would be loved well.
Creation groans for this...
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know the the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees. But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience."
Romans 8:18-25
That pinch in the butt, though not from God, was used by Him to ignite a new fire in me. I will not be shaken or discouraged, but I will rise up and invite others to arise with me, to hope with me, and to groan with the whole of creation for the freedom of God's children.
There's a new prayer movement in Sosua that I believe has already begun to purge the city of its wickedness and stir up a revival. As worship, prayer, and intercession arises and pours out to the main street here, I am confident that God will draw hearts to repentance and restore Sosua to its former days.
I am hoping for what I do not yet see here, but I'm waiting for it with patience...
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