A Muslim single
mom shared with me that she had sold her little daughter in Saudi Arabia to be
a household slave. She didn’t disclose the reason to me. Probably she needed
money urgently. Now she missed her so much and wanted her back. She was in
agony. When we meet someone who has participated in the human trafficking world
of crime we can feel overwhelmed with sorrow, anger, and helplessness. What can
we do?
A young Muslim mom entered the waiting room of the
government office and took her seat next to me. Although neither of us knew it
at that moment it became clear to me from our conversation that it was no
accident she sat next to me. Rasamal was
composed and friendly but when I inquired about her children she suddenly
became weak and shaken and her voice was reduced to a croaky whisper. Out
tumbled a shocking and sad story of her teenage daughter. Believing she was
dead but discovering she was alive she recently travelled to find her. Rasamal,
being a desperate and frantic mom, was
determined to find a way to bring her to our country. With a down payment of a
large amount of money and a promise to send the rest a “business man” was given
the responsibility to traffick the daughter from point A to point B where
another “business man” took over to point C. The girl is now held captive in point
C where terrible things are happening to her. My sensitive ears could hardly
process all the gruesome information there in that waiting room. Rasamal had a
deadline to pay the remaining money or else her daughter’s kidneys would be
harvested and she would die. If she provided the rest of the money the
“business man” would drop her off at a certain location where she would have to
fend for herself from that point on. Many of those trafficked victims do not
survive. “This is a terrible story, Rasamal! Your daughter needs a miracle. God
is very great and He also loves you and your daughter very much. I would like to pray for you,” I said in
shock. So there in that waiting room I
laid a hand on this traumatized and wounded Muslim mom and prayed for her in
Jesus’ name. We talked some more and then we both had to leave the office
waiting room and go our separate ways.
We can feel so inadequate and limited in helping
eradicate human trafficking in all its different forms because the crime is so
huge. What can we do? Thankfully many are rising up to be a voice for awareness
and justice, sign petitions, or partake only in fair trade. Others in positions of authority are trying to
legally do a part. But what can we as Christians do when hearing about it like
I did with Rasamal that day in the waiting room? Really, all I could do was
pray for Rasamal and her daughter. I do believe something happened in the
heavenly realms as a result even though I will probably never know.
Dear heavenly Father, please rescue those caught in
human trafficking and heal them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
