What is the difference between a Roma gypsy art student and a mandolin-playing old gypsy guy? There is none in reaching people before the Lord returns. I had boasted about an art outreach in 2023 in the foothills near Shkoder, Albania, where YWAM missions people, John and Mary serve. They were kind to let me tag along. I remember them hosting me at the time between winter and spring and realizing that the only working heater they had they put in my room. That is humbling stuff. So Albania was the only missions destination I had ever considered because I kept dreaming Albania. I mention this because on the Berlin train, again, today I avoided eye contact and can’t figure out the right thing to do. The library hosts many different ministries and today I was honored to tag along with a group of women who visit the brothels. Because they understand the value of connection, consistency, and relationships with these women, I was on the praying team that did not enter but pleaded, in prayer, with God for the ladies reaching out and the ladies who live this way. The spiritual barriers today were things like: a possible gay lady bouncer who did not like the team talking about Jesus with her girlfriend, another madam was ill and said there were only three girls so come back later, at another house the ladies were busy, at a first-time visit, no one came to the door (but after I left they had a plan to circle back). This occupation is legal so no one gets arrested. It is a team effort because it is not safe for these women to call when the men don’t want the workers distracted by hope. The ladies who did this today are all married and mostly German, one lady was Australian, then me. They have a heart to help women on the street have hope in Jesus and hope in a better life. Late at night, outreach teams go on the streets which they told me are rougher than the houses. It was a privilege to pray together (and the best part of my day) because it’s about hope. Tomorrow I’ll be back to an inventory of thousands of books and I can do that too. I did not take photos today for obvious reasons but did want to report that a bus driver allowed the door to close on my arm this evening – on the last leg (haha) of my journey home! No harm done but the adrenaline was up. I’m tired tonight.
