My friend, who I won't name for her privacy/safety, asked if these stories counted as miracles to me. She thought they were. Based on her experience of working in certain communities and being exposed to problems that don't seem to ever have stories of resolution. I answered "I trust you when you say it is so impossible for these women to escape. Bc you work with them and you know it is God at work and not only our human efforts." Her stories:
When I was 18 I did some anti-sex trafficking work in [undisclosed region]. While there, I met three young women who had been trafficked there from Africa. I grew close to them in the short amount of time we had together. Their faithfulness to God, as well as their hospitality to me in a country that was not their own, were life-changing to me. When I left the nation, they still hadn't been able to return their home countries. I thought about them often after I left (and still do). About a year later, I was having to work through the pain that came as a result of seeing such evil things. It was a very difficult time. One night, I had a dream about them, and I was taking care of them. At the end of my dream they left to go home. The next day I emailed the ministry I had worked with, asking what had happened to these women. I got a surprisingly prompt response telling me that all three had made it home. One was faithfully serving the Lord and helping girls like her, another was diligently helping her sick mother, and the other was attending medical school. All three made it home and were safe. Not only was God faithful to set these three physical captives free, but He was also faithful to comfort me as I suffered with my sisters. He sees suffering, but not only does He see it, He lived it. And He takes pleasure in giving us comfort. I like to tell that story because a lot of people are skeptical of God speaking to us through dreams. While it's not necessary for our relationship with God, it is possible. He greatly ministered to me through this dream a few years ago, and it still comforts me to think about it. Also, I think this counts as a miracle story. I'm part of a local strip club outreach ministry (if you do share this story, please keep my name and location anonymous). Much of our ministry is just faithfully planting seeds. The ministry has been faithfully working for almost ten years but have never seen any change (that they know of, at least). But recently, a few women at one of the clubs have gotten so tired of being part of this exploitative industry, and they want out. They've started their own business so they eventually won't have to return. It's the first time the ministry has seen this! And, their business is one that is close to us, so that we can see them more regularly and continue to share the gospel with them. Be amazed: the variables at play in the sex industry which keep women captive are demonic. Anyone who is able to make an escape is a miracle. God loves to set people free from bondage!
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