And so the journey continues...

not so much a prayer letter, rather an expression of my fears, insecurities, sense of failure...an accountability to you, who so faithfully support Emma and I (whether you want to or not...ha!) and the ladies and men involved in prostitution in Belfast...

Have been numb to the reality of prostitution these past months...have struggled to pray and have struggled to ask others to pray, yet yesterday morning, when I should have been at church, allowing my heart to filled with adoration of my Salvation God, this image made me sad (found it on a wonderful blog of a wonderful lady whose words also express my heart )...have I just realised that the human condition still has not changed???...this picture continues to be the reality that suffocates our ladies...

"...feeling as naked and vulnerable as this desperate woman bent on her knees, sobbing and crying in the middle of the street at night as her mascara is running down her face and a malevolent cold breeze is blowing her dress (which feels like dirty rags) away.

There is no pity in that wind, yet do we believe that the cool breeze is a wispy awakening call of an inner sense of Hope that speaks Life even in the lowest pits?

Most of my life I have been an idealistic day dreamer who believed that if you work hard and honestly and honour God in all you do, life will be good.

And, I suppose you could say that I haven't changed an inch over the past year and a half. Despite an increased sense of cynicism and sarcasm, a natural defence mechanism perhaps, I so desperately want to believe that 'there must be more than this'"...

so in this sticky community of prostitution...
"for all the failures, can our ladies want to learn to stand up again more and more quickly?
For all the disillusionment, can they want to become even more loving?
For all the tears, can they seek to smile their hearts out?"


...will Emma and I be able to continue "to love even what is lost, because it is only things which break beyond repair?"
...can we be women who strike a different emotional tone for His glory?
...and even when we can't see Him moving, can we be women who continue to love?

"hearts and emotions can be mended, can't they?...lets continue to pursue beauty and pant for grace"...please pray that when these girls are no longer able to change a situation, that they would embrace their unique human potential to change themselves...recognising more and more that freedom is not necessarily freedom from conditions, but actually freedom is to take a stand toward these conditions.

God provide your girls with the appropriate conditions for growth...

"those who have ears...let them hear"

Thanks guys, we love and appreciate you, your prayfulness and your support...
s and em