Every Wednesday we have a women’s group — we call it “Nueva Imagen” (New Image) – for those who are working on the streets and brothels of Managua. I always look forward to this day of the week for that reason, but today was even more special for me. This Wednesday we had the Nueva Imagen Christmas Party!
The women didn’t know that we were going to have a party. We went to Mercado Oriental (one of the biggest open-air markets in the world) the day before to invite them to the weekly Bible study — like we do every week. Little did they know that we were inviting them to a surprise party!
The women arrived — including ladies who were rescued from lives in the commercial sex industry and are now serving in the ministry, several women who have been coming to the weekly study for several months, and one new woman. Our meeting place was decorated with a “Merry Christmas” sign, streamers, and a tree. And we went right into singing Christmas carols and playing games. We had so much fun laughing, sharing, and listening to the story of Jesus’ birth.
The International Christian Fellowship Church here in Managua put so much love into making tubs of food and goodies for the ladies. At the end of our time together a woman who has been coming faithfully every week for about three months said she wanted to share something. This is what she said:
“I want to say how much I appreciate how much love you all show us. On the streets we are treated like dirt and no one looks at us like you do. We feel so much love from you and we are so thankful for that. I’m thankful for this gift in this basket but what I am thankful for most of all is the love you show me.”
This simple truth is what Jesus commands us to do: To be salt and light, to be different so people will question what gives us such joy, happiness, and love. It is such a privilege to be a vessel of God’s love.
Society says that these women are worthless. People throw urine bags at them and assault them physically (several women have large scars from being hit on the head with 2×4’s, black eyes and bruises are common). Most of the women have been raped.This is the world they know. And this is just their adult lives; their childhood’s are all characterized by sexual abuse, rape, and family members sending them out to sell their bodies for money.
It’s hard for them to understand why or how someone could love them. But we want them to know that they are precious princesses in the Father’s eyes — that He has wonderful plans for them if they invite Him into their hearts as Lord.
It’s not always easy to love some of the women. Some of them lie and deceive us; some are rude and yell at us; and some aren’t “easy on the olfactory senses.” Many suffer from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) with symptoms of paranoia and hypervigilence.But we are to love the unlovable, the difficult, not only those that are easy to love.
“O Beloved of my soul, This do I desire: Faith for the impossible, Love that will not tire. Jesus, Saviour, Lover, give me Love for the unlovable, Love that will not tire. O Beloved of my soul, Yet again I come; Give me cords of love to draw Many wanderers home. Jesus, Saviour, Lover, give me Love that knows nor strain nor flaw, Love to lead them home.” - from “Edges of His Ways” by Amy Carmichael
“Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.” - 1 John 4:11