Out of Sex Trade and Into Home Based Industry

I've been walking and asking God for ways to bless women who are coming out of difficult lifestyles and coming into something new. Three words have been in my heart as I've done that: provision, wisdom, and favor. We know that God says if we seek Him first He will give us all we need. So, I ask for that for these women. I also know that God has many ways of doing things and we need to look to Him for the way that He knows will get the job done. I believe God uses all sorts of surprising people in that process and so I ask for favor among those who are around who God might be seeking to draw together to bring about His purpose.

So, when I was with Tera at the Pearl Family Garden she was showing me some of the small things that women are beginning to make as part of "home industry." These women are often in prostitution because they don't know another way to provide for themselves. There isn't a social network here of housing and funding when they stop earning money in the sex trade. What are they to do? Some of these women are "older" -- worn out by years on the street. They don't have much education. They don't have much hope of getting work in traditional industry. What to do?



Right now some of them are producing some beading items. Some are producing some chocolates. They need to develop a market. They need some assistance as they get started to make themselves and their products known. This is one small way they can begin to earn a bit of money and begin to see some hope for life without the need for money from the sex trade.

So, I have been thinking, what can we do to help these very tiny efforts move to the next level? It's something I've prayed a lot for in Vancouver and am so excited when I see our good friend Brian Posselwaite of Mission Possible on CNN and CTV telling the story of the Misson Possible Enterprises labour business that's happening. We need so much more of this kind of effort. It's why I appreciate the Banqueting Table that was begun by folks from the Open Door ministry for single moms. They do good work and they bless so many by employing them as they are coming back into the work force.



What can we do, then, to support the efforts of these women here in a home based workshop? I thought of Hilary's idea where she's had folks buy goats for their family and friends for gifts but rather than their friends receiving them they are actually given to a family in Rwanda. I wondered what we might do here and what I think could really be a double blessing is for us to purchase these gifts and donate them to a local church here for distribution in their "friendship evangelism" efforts. I've spoken to a couple of pastors who are ready to be involved in receiving and distributing.




I don't know exactly how we'll work the details but it's not too complicated and by the time I'm back in Canada we'll have a plan in place, we'll have information on our website and I'd love to see us really make a difference in the lives of these few women who have started and many more who could be invited to join them if we can help them build a market. Somehow I believe that as we help them spread their products a bit further afield, someone/persons will come along who will be the link to help them make a solid business plan for distribution etc.

So, provision, wisdom, and favor. Pray with me that we will help many women have a real opportunity to come into the new life that God is providing for them.

I've put some initial "thinking pictures" below as ideas to pray into.