The Tears of A Hustler: Proposal to reach out to the street ladies - Law Mei Ting

The purpose of this proposal is to mobilize our own church’s outreach to the street ladies situated in Geylang, which is also known as the Red Light Districts.

Global Prostitution Situation

From the map above, we can see that in general, prostitution is seen illegal in most part of the world, especially in parts of Asia and Africa region. Whereas, prostitution activities in the North and South America region is legal as observed with the green shadings. In fact, the number of countries that are legalized for prostitution is 77.

Current Situation

According to the findings that are done by three academics from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Boston University and Fudan University, “The typical freelance streetwalker in Geylang is 26 years old, services four clients a day for $70 each on average, and earns about $3,200 a month after deducting rent and other expenses.” They are mostly come from China, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, where they are not based in brothels as they either possess tourist visa or moonlighting as prostitutes while being employed in other legal jobs. However, there are also another group of street ladies who work in brothels, which comprises of local women, who are usually uneducated and belong to the lower income strata of the society. In the recent 5 years, there are more cases of underage prostitution in Singapore. Such problems can be challenging and difficult to be dealt with. But God will definitely give us strengths and resources needed to help the street ladies in Geylang.

Where is God?

A walk down the Geylang streets that night, starting from the run-down houses where the residents are living in to the street ladies that I saw, it has somehow changed my impression towards Singapore. Living in an urbanized and developed city like Singapore, which is a first-world-country, it is really hard to imagine that Singapore still has this “derelict and neglected” side of it. Just as we were walking, there was this group of street ladies, who proudly said out loud, “Welcome to the streets of Prostitution”. Many of us were speechless at their words. That got us wondering whether do they really enjoy what they are doing right now? I don’t think so. Looking at them reminds me to the poem The love of a Hustler (Prostitute’s Cry):

Forgive me God,

My lord and savior.

For I have done things,

opposed to your favor.

But this you know,

and this you have seen.

So it is no secret-

My soul is unclean.

My heart is heavy and burdens run deep.

It's the struggle that’s torn me and made me so weak.

I thought the world had harmed me,

so I looked elsewhere.

Went searching for love-

but nothing was there.

So, I called on your name.

I did it in vain.

I strayed far from you

to escape worldly pain.

I turned to that man

thinking I had better.

I became a store

and he was my seller.

It started with kindness and a heart so pure.

He told me I had beauty when I was unsure.

He made me feel loved when i felt so hated.

Then, he said he would help me

and promised I'd make it.

I then turned from your grace toward something untrue.

And now, here I am, returning to you.

So, take me, my God!

This is my plead.

Wipe away unclean spirits and you take the lead.

Become my guide and I will look towards no other.

For I'd rather have you than the love of a hustler.

God has heard their cries, and is willing to heal them, give them a new lease of life. God has given everyone a purpose in life, even the street ladies too. If they are willing to turn to God and change their lifestyle, I believe they can be testimonial to many who are still struggling, and be an encouragement to them to walk out from the profession. Their power and influence will definitely be much greater than ours as we are not street ladies.

At the same time, our exploration of Geylang streets though brief yet it has really struck me and allowed me to reflect upon my life; how I should lead my next 20 to 30 years of life, my goals in life and what is God’s plan for me? I am really thankful for this opportunity to come before God and seek after his plans for me in the near future.

Proposal 1: Involving Church Youth Choir

After hearing Shu Hui’s story (the founder of Tamar Village), I realize there is opportunity for our church's youth choir to work together with them in terms of doing evangelistic project for the street ladies. One event that we can work on is to organize a Christmas Caroling event at Geylang. This can be an hour event where we will choose approximately 10 songs to sing. The target audience will be the street ladies, the “pimps” or even the residents/”tourists” who are loitering around at that district. I believe this will be a good chance to spread the gospel to them through the songs that we sang.

However, the challenge that we may face will be the unwillingness of the youths to go to the streets and do caroling as it has all along inside people’s impression that Geylang is a “danger and also filthy” place. The youths' parents may not allow their children to join this particular caroling program, so this project is a bit challenging to be carried out.

What I can do is to work with the preacher, the youth choir committee and also to invite Shu Hui and her team to come and share their past experience of doing Christmas Caroling at Geylang. Hopefully, this will change the perception of the youths towards Geylang and the street ladies. Most important of all, we have to pray and seek God's wisdom to carry out this event.

Proposal 2 : Involving New Heart Music Ministries/Other Music Ministries 

This is one of the long-term goals that I have in mind, which involves New Heart Music Ministries or other music ministries to do an annual Christmas Caroling at Geylang. As our effort in spreading the gospel in Geylang, this project will allow more street ladies and the people to know more about Christ the Lord, their savior is their hope, and they should come before God for help. And it is through the street ladies, that the gospel will be spread to other street ladies, their family members, and loved ones. There bound to be challenges and obstacles for this project, however if this is truly what God desires to happen, he will definitely allow this project to be a success. Amen! 

Law Mei Ting

STEP 2015