Vindication

I met a Nigerian woman today who was trafficked and left prostitution. I'll call her Lisa.

Lisa was sold into sexual slavery by her cousin. Yes, her blood relative. She came to Athens hoping for work . . . and was immediately locked up. She met women from Nea Zoi shortly after arriving - in fact, she met Emma on the street while working one night. Emma said she was clearly distraught - had been through much suffering and was very unhappy. She wanted help - and Emma asked her to come to Nea Zoi during the day.

"I can't," she said.

"What do you mean, you can't?" Emma asked. It was in the early days of the ministry - before it had been uncovered that many women are trafficked in much the same way as Lisa, through family members. In fact, Nea Zoi did some of the first gound-work to reveal that trafficking is a cultural issue in Nigeria - which is ironic, because I just read about it in a book by Kathryn Farr (and thought to myself - I know who to credit for some of that research!) In the past ten years, we can rejoice that the Lord has done so much to uncover, expose, and lay bare the things hidden in darkness - to expose so much of the trafficking scene and arise a rage within the global community over the injustices it perpetuates.

Anyway, their relationship began - and continued - from there. Emma explained to her that she didn't have to stay in prostitution - that 'there are those' who can help her get out. Through a series of events, Lisa ended up in prison and back on the streets several times (which happens often to the girls - but they are too afraid to testify against those who hold them in bondage). Finally, during one prison stay, she called Nea Zoi and told Emma she was ready to testify against her trafficker. She did - and the case was brought to court. The case was dead before it hit the ground - the police had seen her return to the streets so many times after being released from prison that they had little ground to believe her and much evidence against her, but didn't understand the role of fear and voodoo in all of this.

In the court case, Lisa was brought into a room with her madam and two other girls that worked out of the same hotel - and asked to acknowledge in front of them that she was trafficked. Of course, she denied it - it's like asking a girl who was raped by a drug dealer in front of him and two of his (cronies?) to testify against him. FEAR - there is no trust of a "justice" system that seems so much less powerful than organized crime networks!!

And then, Emma got connected with a strong lawyer from somewhere up in Northwestern Europe - perhaps Holland if I remember right. Apparently, he has a chip on his shoulder and is good at making enemies - but he's also good at winning. He showed the foolishness of the former court case - and all of the holes in the background research that had been done. He brought to light the Nigerian crime circle . . . and he stinking won the case.

The Lord vindicated Lisa . . .

She got a residency permit and a legal job as a dishwasher at a local restaurant. And she loved her job . . . which I think is so beautiful.

Sad news: she was on a TV interview shortly after proclaiming the atrocities of trafficking and pleading with other women to leave the life. Her network of Nigerian friends - most of whom work in prostitution as well - found out about it and ostracized her. They won't speak to her - they've written her off and hate her. They've sent the video all throughout their community. She's alone.

But she found a solid church - and she's strengthened and encouraged by the community there. And by the strength that is found in Jesus when we make difficult, righteous decisions. Unfortunately, she's won herself a lot of enemies - It's so interesting the way that the suffering still desire to hide their abusers. Fear is a mighty weapon. - Unfortunately, her passport was recently stolen (perhaps by her Nigerian room-mate) . . . and so she lost her job.

But she's determined to stay on track - she came in to meet with Emma today to brainstorm about how to find another job as a house-cleaner . . . a pretty popular (if low-paying) job in Greece.

And someday, she dreams of advocating more for girls who are locked in the bondage that she chose to face. Already, her cousin in Nigeria was "being sent" to Paris to work - just as she'd been - and Lisa said, "No, no . . . don't go! You don't understand where they're sending you!!"

It's fear that bounds them. I heard of another girl today who was thrown out of a second story window by her madam (Madam's are similar to pimps here - they watch and control the girls in brothels, taking their money and paying off the pimps) and still refused to testify against her trafficker - though she was paralyzed from the waist down by the fall.

Jesus, let Your perfect love cast down fear in this place - and show these women that Your love is not just the soft and feathery kind. Your JUSTICE is strong - Your wrath is real - You are STRONG to deliver, and bigger than injustice - You reign over organized crime networks, pimps, and the negligence of national justice systems. You are God - and Your love is big enough to vindicate these women! Hallelujah!!