Journal #76

Scarlet Hope – Journal #76

The Lord of hosts says this:  “render true justice.  Show faithful Love andCompassion to one another.  Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the stranger or the poor.. Zechariah 7:9-10A

Club 1:   Team: Mandy L., Natalie G., Libby T., Rachelle S.

The ladies weren’t shy tonight.  They ate unbelievably homemade panackes, sausage and egg casserole and almost all of them wanted to sit down and talk for some period of time!   The club actually was sort of busy for a Thursday night as well which was a little unusual.   Each of our team members were able to continue building relationships with girls that have been there for awhile now.    We are continuing to pray that the relationships will grow and we are able to continue that friendship out of the club.    When they are in their working environment it is very hard to see past what they are trying to portray, so we pray that God will continue to open doors in this club with women who desire to change their lives.

Praise and Prayer

Praise that a former dancer from this particular club no longer works at this club and was baptized today, Sunday March 14th!   Praise God!
S– Her mom is still having seizures and the doctors are very unsure what is causing them.  But S is taking care of her mom and having to fulfill responsibilities to take care of her.
M – The bartender expresses the desire to leave the industry and work somewhere different.  She’s beat down and tired and said numerous times she wants to leave, but doesn’t know how.   Pray that our connection will grow with her past what it has been.
L – Single mom of four left the industry for awhile, but is back working weekends.   She knows the Lord, but is choosing to do what she know she ought not do. Pray for her.   She is searching and confused!

Club 2:   Team: Jessica L., Allyson H., Jamie C., Julie W.

Tonight was the slowest night I had ever seen when going to the clubs. Most of the girls weren’t that talkative, because the club was down.    J, the bartender and Julie talked for about an hour though. They discussed Christ and how he recognizes that everyone is wicked and everyone has sin, but doesn’t recognize Jesus as the answer to that problem.  He also talked about his passion to open up his own homeless shelter one day.  He told us that he wants to go back to the Post @ Southeast but is still having problems with his car. It is a blessing that we have been able to connect with J, tonight we were short on security so he agreed to watch over the delivery team.   Spoke with K. who is a mom of 4 – says she doesn’t want to be here.. hates this place.  She talked about how she has trust issues. She wants to go back to UPS.  We talked about her kids and the recent problems in Haiti, i shared with her a story of Russell Moore’s about Adoption and the cry for the Father as expressed in his adopted sons.  My last words were,  “that is the cry for God our Father who can meet our needs”

Praise and Prayer
J – We pray that we can continue to build in a relationship with J and he yearns to know who God is.
K – K expressed tonight to Julie that she continues to hate her job and would be much happier working at UPS. She said no one knows that she works there and no one would ever expect her to. Pray for K that doors will open for her and she can connect to a new job.

Club 3: Team: Sarah F., Elle B., Carrie K., Valerie S.

Sarah’s thoughts: Every time we walk into this club, we leave with more friends. God has confirmed once again that we are in the right place and in exactly His timing. We walked in bearing yummy cupcakes and all of our styling products to a chorus of “They’re here!” – “They are here!” Many of the girls received our free gifts of service with a smile while others kept their distance. The time in the dressing room truly gives us a chance to meet the dancer’s in a more comfortable environment for them – a chance to take their walls down a bit and open up. Who doesn’t love to talk about fashion, music, make-up, life, and of course, boys. 😉

My heart was broken for one dancer in particular. D was passed out on the dressing room counter when we walked in and began to stir as we unpacked our things. The other girls informed us that her boyfriend had died last week and she was having a rough time. She finally awoke and decided she would just go home. As she returned from the bathroom, I offered her a cupcake to which she responded that she wasn’t hungry and hadn’t eaten for a while. She told me through tears about her boyfriend and I told her how sorry I was. I said we would be prayed for her and she was thankful – although she didn’t seem to want to let go of my arms…… So I prayed for her right there in the dressing room and we asked God for comfort, strength, and healing.  She told me that she knows god does everything for a reason but she still didn’t really understand that. (Side note: Rachelle was contacted by a minister that asked her to visit this particular club and look for a dancer that had lost her boyfriend.  The minister was very concerned for this girl and we think it is wonderful how the Holy Sprit works!)

Valerie’s thoughts: So last night was my first night in one of the new clubs.  I was very nervous at first….I didn’t really know what to expect, or how the night would go. However, i need to remember that this ministry has nothing to do with me, and what I’M supposed to do….it’s ALL about God and what HE wants to do through me.  So, never the less, last night was amazing!  We just hung out with the girls all night long! 🙂  we did some hair, some nails, and some makeup.  It was a wonderful ladies night experience!  I can’t wait to go back and get to know the ladies more! God is an amazing God and I can’t wait to see what he does with these ladies!

Carries Thoughts: Thursday was wonderful.  The girls were so sweet and overwhelmed with gratitude .  That made it so much more special.  H and C are two girls I would like to get to know better.  They seemed like they were just stuck doing what they could for the minute.  Beautiful women and mothers.  H is helping to raise her boyfriends daughter.  Her mother is addicted to drugs, so she stays home days and works nights to help with her.  C has two children 2 and 4.  She goes home and sleeps for two or three hours before she has to get up with the babies.  Living on coffee and cigerettes.  I wish she could live on her love of Jesus, and faith in him for her survival.  To be able to raise these babies with the knowledge of a true Loving Father.  But for now, thats not the case.  The light and laughter in their eyes and hearts tells me it’s possible.  I am going to pray that I get to serve these girls again and maybe get to really know them!

Overall the girls were all so beautiful and sad and happy.  This is truly a blessing to be in this club!  I believe miracles will happen here!

Club 4:
We are going to be serving in Club 4 every other week.   This week we did not go into, we return to this club on Thursday the 18th.   Please keep this new club in your prayers! God’s working it out!

In His Name,
Rachelle & The Scarlet Hope Team