It is South Asia’s largest red light district. I’m not sure that anything I had ever previously experienced could have prepared me in the least bit for what I was about to encounter. Thousands of women and children are violated here each and every day... numerous beyond measure. And although I'm going to have a hard time painting an accurate picture of what it's like here, plain and simple, know this: it’s a land of innocence forcibly lost.

Most of the women that end up in this district are trafficked. Actually, that’s a false statement; all of the women who end up in this district are trafficked. The majority of these women and children come from northern India, Nepal, or provinces out east where the traffickers target some of the most impoverished communities to coerce the women out of. Where poverty looms about, these slave-drivers sliver in the shadows waiting to devour their next set of victims.

But get this, these “traffickers” are oftentimes their husbands or family members.

So the women who lined the street I found myself walking down a few days ago weren’t there by choice, which was a complete contrast to what I discovered in Thailand. And then in between the scores of women standing outside their pinjaras were an even greater number of men, men who I was informed were pimps who kept an “eagle’s watch” on their ‘property’. My favorite part was in knowing that they were all also fixing their gaze on me, because...

What could a foreigner possibly be doing in a “place of pleasure” such as this?

I made my way down one of the fifteen streets this brothel is built upon. As eyes followed me each step, I was incredibly cautious as to the ground I put my feet on. The street was littered with piles of canine feces, trash, discarded objects, and rivers of unidentifiable liquids. I could only imagine where they originated… but also didn't want to.

Surrounding me on my left and right, usually shadowing me by three to four stories, were buildings that any right-minded city inspector would condemn. These were the prisons. These were the walls that contained indescribable heartache, grief, and the prayers of the saints. It was locked inside of these shadows that the men crept and the women wept.

After gaining permission to enter one woman’s ‘home’, I made my way into the darkest abyss I think I’ve ever stepped into. My friend, who was prepared with a flashlight to help him navigate the dark alleyway, found that even that was a vain effort because the light that he held seemed to be engulfed by the darkness. We cleverly dodged the many obstacles clothed in black – sometimes people – and found our way up a series of narrow staircases. Thinking I was fine, it was upon reaching the first floor that I lost my breath.

Standing directly in front of me was a hallway decorated side-to-side, end-to-end... in women. Their toothless smiles spoke of a tragic history my soul yearned to see them freed from. These were the ones I read stories about. These were the ones that I think about each and every day. These are the women who wake me up in the middle of the night so I can pray for them. But you want to know the best part? The best part was that my walking in that place wasn’t a threat to them. It’s as if they somehow knew that I had no desire to step into their four-foot-by-six-foot box and rob them of dignity.

At the end of the hallway was a room smaller than my bathroom back home with roughly five to six women sitting in it, who I’m sure were waiting on clients. My friend and I were led into the room of one of these women where she motioned for us to sit on the bed. Strategically placing ourselves in the room, the darkness weighed on my heart as I folded my long, lanky frame into the home that resembled the inside of a cardboard refrigerator box.

So... here I was… in the middle of one of the darkest places on earth… sitting on the surface where this woman gets raped beyond her will multiple times a day.

What could possibly prepare a person for a moment like that? What could possibly prepare a person to sit in such an environment, to gaze at the walls and see the images of gods who do absolutely nothing to liberate this woman from her condition? What could possible equip me for a moment such as this to sit there – speechless – and then expected to offer this woman a word of encouragement? What could possibly prepare me to walk into a place where my life has never been in greater danger?

And although this happened days ago, I still cannot seem to fully process this experience.

One thing I do know is that words of life have been furiously unleashed in that place. I created an environment with my words that no man in this physical realm can ever touch. With the perfume of Christ embedded in the skin of my soul, I released the fragrance of heaven in those (now) hope-filled stairwells.

And while I walked those streets, I know that the enemy was looming in the midst of its shadows, pissed off and terrified beyond measure to rear his ugly head. Why? Because with each step that I took, the ground shook… and the Lion of Judah roared and consumed the chains of apathy, depression, rejection, hopelessness, defeat, demand, lust, greed, impurity, poverty and slavery.

Maybe I didn’t kick down any doors or run out of a burning building with half a dozen children thrown over my shoulders.

But in a land of innocence forcibly lost, hope has been sown.

*picture source is here.

Wow! Way to bring a glimmer of hope, a ray of love, a scent of freedom into those places, Matt! God is building on His plan and breaking chains ... keep obeying and releasing His power!!

Incredible. One of my favorite blogs of yours my friend. So, so moving.

May Kingdom continue to come in that place - may LIGHT continue to piece the darkness and make evil flee in Jesus' name! May those precious women know their worth, and may they see their FREEDOM!

powerful. this post got me. my heart aches for these women. i am praying for you and your team. thank you for being obedient to His calling. you are bringing the kingdom.

This was powerful Matt. Prayers for power indeed! Be encouraged friend, you are bringing freedom to these women. You are changing history and I'm so proud of you. Keep breaking, keep pouring, keep bringing life!

I could truly feel your heart in this blog! I am so proud of you my friend! Praying blessing and strength!

speechless.
heavy.
beautiful.

Thanks, Vicki!

Thanks, Lacey. Your prayers are felt!

Thanks, Ericka!

WOW MATT! I saw a vision of Jesus sitting on that bed pouring out HIS LOVE, then I saw your face. Thanks for being HIM and bringing life and hope everywhere you are going! SO PROUD OF YOU!
Love you! Praying!

You describe this horrible reality in a crazy, leave-me-speechless kind of way Matt. All I can say is keep going. You are a changed man... moving in courage, power, and Spirit.

Thank you for being willing to follow Jesus where ever He leads you. It takes great courage to go to the places you are going. The enemy is truly terrified by you. Keep it up!! I am praying for you and your team!

Thanks, Ashley. Miss you.

May God make your words true!

Powerful stuff Matt!

Wow, truly heartbreaking. I'm happy you were there to pray and speak God's words of love and hope to the girls and women. I'm moved and so glad they could sense your purpose for being there!! God bless you!!

Matt, while I have not met you personally, I have been praying for the entire group as you make this journey. Your description is powerful and your presence there for these women does bring hope. Thank you for sharing both to them and then to us. May others continue to touch those in need. Continuing to pray as the journey continues.