Two weeks ago, I and the other summer staff at DaySpring spent an evening at a meeting about trafficking in the Tulsa area. The presentation consisted of the usual - definitions of trafficking, lots of overwhelming statistics, information and anecdotes about how people get caught up in trafficking. Every part of the information given in the presentation we were intimately familiar with. None of it surprised us. After all, we work with it every day.
But some things did shock me.
I was shocked by how naive the general public is concerning trafficking. I know that even with increasing awareness, not everyone is familiar with the issue, but the sheer lack of understanding behind some of the questions ("are adults trafficked too?" "is trafficking a brand new thing?") blew my mind.
I was shocked by how jaded the police officers are. I know this isn't uncommon, especially after 29 years on the job. Especially after seeing the same teenage girl return to a pimp even after being rescued 3 times before, or when a pimp slips away to another city. But it was almost painful to hear the despondency in the officer's voice as he spoke.
When one woman asked how they could help, the officer was struggling not to tell her that there was nothing she could do. He even said that he disliked making these presentations because of how futile it was. He sounded hopeless.
And I wanted to stand up in that room and tell everyone that there is hope. That even when it seems like police officers and attorneys aren't able to make a difference, that even when statistics tell us that things aren't getting better, that even when our prayers seem to change nothing, there is hope.
I know this because I was there when a woman who has been abused and hurt in so many ways committed her life to Jesus as her Savior. I was there when six women were baptized and filled with so much joy for Christ.
I'm there when these women come to us asking for prayer for the struggles in their lives. I'm there when they approach us with genuine questions about the Bible. I'm there when they share their favorite passage of Scripture and how it has impacted them.
And I'm there when they encourage us as fellow sisters in Christ. I'm there when they express how thankful they are for us and for DaySpring, and the changes living at the shelter has brought in their life.
I've been there when women have gotten back on their feet - whatever it takes - and find their own place where they can live with their children. They're free from their abuser with a new life ahead of them.
And I wanted to tell that officer that it is so important that he be there sharing about what he does because everyone needs to know that trafficking is real today. We can not allow it to live in the shadows any longer, because that is how it thrives. And even if one person in that room will be able to help with the knowledge they have been given, then it is worth it. The prayers uttered by the people in that room matter, and they're worth it.
Yes, there will always be people suffering in this lifetime. There will be women returning to their abuser - I've seen it. I know the reality of trafficking. I know how many lives it changes forever or utterly destroys - I've seen that too.
But I believe in a God who has power over it all. I know that He can work change in any life, no matter how devastated. I've seen it with my own two eyes. I know that because of Him, there is hope.
There is always hope in His unfailing love.
