Red Light District

When my husband told me we got orders to Germany I was so excited. I love traveling. There were so many things I was excited to see. The castles, bakeries, cobble stone streets, cathedrals, and The Red Light District. Isaac, was shocked that I wanted to see The Red Light District. I remember saying, "I'm not saying for you to go with me. I just want to go see what it's about. You can literally see women just standing in the windows. Besides, it's not like they don't want to be there."

So, we've been in Germany for a month. It's even more beautiful than I saw in the pictures. I didn't think there could be one ugly place here. A few weeks ago we tried the Chapel on base.  There was a sign up table for going to learn about a Ministry in Antwerp that helps girls get out of sex trafficking. So, I signed up. I really was interested.

When we arrived I honestly thought the girls in sex slavery would be hidden. They would be the ones in the dark basements or alley ways. Not the ones in the window. And then I learned the very sick and sad reality of it all.....

Imagine being in another country and being told that you can go to Europe. They'll send you to get an education and then you can get a good job and help your family. Then you get on the plane and they take your identification and your papers. You're in Europe. You don't speak the language. They beat you and rape you. They say they'll kill your family if you go to the authorities or try to escape.  Once you do start "working" tourist groups come to take pictures of you, the government not only turns a blind eye but taxes you for working on their streets, women look down on you, your shift is 8-8. That's 12 hours of men using you, of tourist groups walking by to gawk and you and snap pictures, and sometimes field trips of young boys  go through so a future generation will know where to go (yes, you read that correctly and it starts in 4th grade).

 If you can get out and testify against your kidnappers or pimps, they really will follow through and kill your family. Or if you come from a strict culture your family doesn't want you back. They'll kill you themselves for not being a virgin. What will you do for food and shelter? Your identification and papers are gone. You can clean houses or make jewelry. But it's expensive to live in Europe. Don't you feel helpless and hopeless just reading about this?

So, I got to see the Red Light District in Antwerp. But not with my previous thoughts. This was with my eyes now open to what was really going on. The girls are beautiful. I mean they are literally the girls I pin on pinterest about wanting my "dream body". And do you know what I heard when I walked by a group of men? They were talking to one of the girls and the guy said, " You are asking too much. You pay me! I do all the work" And they all laughed and teased her some more.

I know that some of you are thinking how I used to think. What about the girls that do want to be there? Because, that is the truth, some are there by choice, but many of these women are trying to get out. As I stared at these women I thought, every girl/woman in one of those windows is someones daughter, someones sisters, someones friend, and some are moms. And if you really think that this is empowering to women bc they have the power of these men. Then look your sister, mother, friend, or little girl in the face and say, " Do you know what you should be? You should be a prostitute or a stripper. Because, someone can put a price on your worth." I think we all know that women are priceless. The women in the Red Light District are priceless. They are worth more than a few dollars or euros. They are worth fighting for.

I came home so heavy hearted and ashamed. I did the ugly cry. The one that you can't stop with snot running down your face. How could I help? Well, honestly I can't do much by myself. So I am asking for your help too.

The Ministry, Breaking Chains, gives these ladies a peaceful place to go. They don't judge them, they tell them how much they are worth. They provide meals. They build trust and relationships with these women. As I mentioned earlier some try to sell jewelry for income when or if they get out. However, most of the beads donated are the cheap kind. The lady that gave the presentation said it best, "look at what your donating. When it's turned into a piece of jewelry would you wear it?" So, I am asking that you go to Hobby Lobby, Michael's, etc. and you buy some nice beads to send. The pretty glass kind, the ones with designs. The ones you would wear. Then buy some of the jewelry. And if someone asks about your jewelry tell them about these women.

You can also sponsor a woman. It takes so much courage to get out of this industry and Europe is an expensive place to live. Help her to pay for her rent,utilities, food, and if she has a child his/clothes. Every penny helps.

And of course the most important thing we can do is pray. Pray for this amazing ministry. Pray for the women that are trapped in sex trafficking and the sex industry. Something that holds women from getting out is not knowing they can get a job. Breaking Chains wants to open a thrift shop these ladies can work out of. However, only a Belgium citizen can buy and run the thrift store. Pray that this dream becomes a reality.

You can find Breaking Chains on fb:  Breaking Chains Network

Email: info@breakingchainsnetwork.com

website: www.breakingchainsnetwork.com

Beads can be sent to our APO address so that you pay the same as you would to send something in the States.

The Cavazos Family

PSC 7 Box 469

APO, AE 09104

Just write "Breaking Chains Network" somewhere on the box and I'll make sure it gets to them.

The last thing I want to share is some lyrics from Hill Song. I really have no idea where I heard this song but the minute I walked onto the pavement in Antwerp these lyrics came into my head and I have not been able to get them out....

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity

A Day in Cologne

One thing that I love about Isaac being an ABM is that we can get stationed with friends more than once. Which is pretty rare in the military. I was very excited when I found out The Elizondro's would also be station in GK at the same time. They got here in January and have been such a huge help in making the transition go smoothly. We couldn't ask for better friends. They invited us to go to Cologne with them and we were more than happy to go!

I like this picture. Mainly bc it shows how a train ride with kids really is. No fake smiles here  ha ha

The train ride was new for both families. Thank goodness for phones with neat apps that show which trains to catch and their times. There were pro's and con's but we'll definitely be trying it again. 

crazy lady!

This might appear to be a random pict but it's not. It's actually a pretty interesting story. So, we make a connection on a train and this lady starts talking about jeans. Then she looks at Joy and says, "I need your passport" Ummm how about no. Then she looks Joy dead in the eye and says, "Give me back my children"  I am still laughing at the look on Joy's face. We quickly found a spot to sit on the train away from her. However, when we got off the train crazy lady greeted Joy at the platform. she kept trying to give the kids a piece of folded up paper and then rambling in German. Anywhoo, we rounded up the kiddos and left crazy lady behind. Hopefully forever!

still in awe of this Cathedral

The Cologne Cathedral was the first thing we saw when we got out of the train station. It is beyond breathtaking. It was just as amazing inside. * I put more picts up on fb*

seeing how chocolate is made

 We also went to the Chocolate Museum. We found out how chocolate is made, had yummy samples, and then went to the gift shop. 

yummy lunch break!

 For lunch we went to a place that said they had hamburgers. Apparently they are very literal here. It was literally a burger. At first I was like, "What the heck?! Where's my sesame bun, lettuce, tomato, avocado, and onion?" Then I took a bite of the most amazing hamburger patty I've ever had in my life and forgot all about the trimmings. So yum!

loving our scarves!

To top off our fun day Joy and I left the fellas and went shopping in the train station (yes, they have shopping IN the train station. I 110% support public transportation ha ha. We got these pretty scarves. I'm excited to go on many more shopping adventures with Joy!

all smiles till we paid lol

 Had to throw in this last pict...we walked out of the Cathedral and saw these people that looked like statues. I'm watching people take pictures with them and give them a few Euro in coins. So, we go to take a picture. They lady asked for 10 Euro (around $13).  I have to go on a bunny trail at this point. Isaac and I have always had disagreements on tips and such. I like to give big. $4 frap...I'll give a $2 tip. Isaac gives 15-20%, no matter what. Now back to the story. She ask for 10 Euro and I nudge Isaac and give him a face. He then gives her 20 Euro! Then the person that took the pict (another statue) had the nerve to ask for some money bc he took our pict. I had friends for that jerk! Anywhoo, Isaac thought I was nudging him to give more and I was really nudging him to tell her he could have 2 Euro tops. Oh, well we've learned our "European rip off" early ha ha. And really...who can stay upset about being ripped off in Germany!