Dear Lydia...

**below is a letter I've written to one of the young moms I'm discipling. I know this letter might come across as harsh, but please understand this is her reality, this is my reality. Everything I reference in this letter is completely true. I have obviously changed her name for confidentiality reasons. As you read this letter, be moved for her and the other women who are on the brink of freedom


Dear Lydia,

You already know how much I care for you, but I figured if I put it in writing then you will always be able to look at this letter and remember. I am writing this letter after spending the afternoon with you and the other street girls eating ice cream on the beach. I love spending time with you girls. Talking about new shoes, families, dreams, drugs, AIDS, your baby daddy’s in prison, abusive clients & heart hurts. I look forward to our times together.

Lydia, I’m fully aware that we could not be more different. Me being a twenty-five year old, white, American with high lighted hair, painted toe nails and completely sexually in-active. You being a nineteen year old coloured, South African whose addicted to Tik (crystal meth) & dagga (weed), seen as society's scum, fatherless, specializing in jumping cars (prostituting). But Lydia, that doesn't matter to me. My heart moves for you. You don’t know this kind of love, the kind that doesn't demand anything in return, the kind that appreciates you for YOU and not your ability to turn tricks. But you feel this love when you and I meet, don’t you? You feel this love when I sit with you on the side of the street and people give us dirty looks. They give you dirty looks for wondering what makes you think you have a right to talk to me and pity looks to me, as if I don’t know who I’m talking to. You feel this love when people come up to us and warn me about you. When they warn me you are a “whore” and “waste of time”, and I stand up for you right then and there, you feel that love don’t you? You feel this love as I speak HOPE over you. As we sit in the gutter and I speak about a year from now - when you and I will return to these streets, to get other girls out of prostitution. You know you want this. You know you desire to wear proper clothes, walk with your head held high, earning clean money, walking with your son’s hand in yours and being completely free from drugs and the power of man. Lydia, you were not created to stand on the corner of the street each night. You were created for greatness… did you know that? Has anyone ever told you that you were created for greatness? Just because no one has told you this does not mean it’s not true. I’m telling you. So may you know, that you are not only called to greatness, but to fullness, to life more abundantly.

Lydia, you gave yourself a new tattoo today. Your hand was still swollen when you showed me. I’m glad this one isn’t another swear word, rather your sons name. Lydia, did you know Christ has tattooed your name on the palm of His hand? Isaiah 49:16 says so. Your name on his hand is actually right above a scar that He has on his hand. I told you about this guy. You remember when you were coming off of a weed trance and we were talking about Real Love? The kind that doesn’t force or hurt, the kind that loves regardless? The kind of love that is gentle and patient? When I told you this guy gives 2nd and 3rd chances, your eyes opened wide. You said you want to know this guy. I promise, He’ll change your life. You told me once , you knew I had the “life saver” that you needed. Lydia, this guy is the life saver. But you are gonna have to do something scary... You are going to have to trust Him. And you are going to have to trust Him with your heart. But sis, I promise you, from experience, that He’s the real deal. You can trust him because He doesn’t belong to any gang, He won’t control you or pay you in the form of drugs for turning tricks. He will never lift a hand against you. He actually is willing to die for you. In fact, He did. Do you know what happened because He was tortured and killed? It gave you the chance to be free! Lydia- you can be free! I know it’s hard to comprehend, but I dare you to. I dare you to believe that it’s possible for someone to love you. If I hold your hand and walk step by step with you, do you want to get to know Him? I promise, you will be so grateful you risked it.

Lydia, may this be the day you cross that line. May this be the day you recognize you are called to greatness. Lydia, you were not created to stand on the side of the street.

I love you sis,

Alli