The coolest thing happened at the club where I work today. 

Last week while our fitness manager was out on surgery leave, a gal came into the club and offered her services to teach a class on exotic dancing. One of the owners hired her on the spot without consulting either the other owner, the fitness manager,or the other instructors. This class would teach pole dancing, lap dancing, exotic dancing and strip!  Our Sr. citizen specialist, a christian who uses this job as a venue for personal ministry, as I do, got wind of it and immediately went into the other owner.  After much conversation he decided to call a meeting between both owners, the fitness manager, the dancer and my co-worker. 

When she  (my co-worker) came into the club today she grabbed me and said we need to meet in the shower! (the only place in the club where "for sure privacy" is guaranteed). We headed for the sauna instead to pray for the Lord to cover this situation, to be present in the meeting, to give her boldness, to cover the meeting with peace, etc.. as she headed to the meeting, I called my prayer team and we went to work!

The exotic dancer never showed up for the meeting. The first owner walked out, and my friend's offer to resign was refused outright.  The co-owner would not accept it or lose her over this. Praise God for these results. The class will not happen and my co-worker will continue her job and her ministry! She took a stand pointing out the degradation to women and young girls and how it would affect our "family" oriented club.

It strikes me how God is using His people in different ways to do His ministry in some very interesting ways!

I continue to see Him using even me as women approach me concerning these issues. "who would've thought what a simple trip to Central America would bring?"  Praises to Him!!

As Pam paid attention to the stories of how God was moving to bring justice and liberation to those exploited and taken advantage of in Central America, she began to pay even more attention to how God was moving in her own neighborhood. Her friend was built up and encouraged and they were all transformed. 

A week after Pam left Costa Rica, I joined with 90 other leaders from all over Latin America to learn, listen and create new ways to reach out in ministry to victims of commercial sexual exploitation and human trafficking at the ICAP Conference focused on Making Connections in order to Break the Chains of Human Slavery. 10 of those leaders came from the Baptist churches of Costa Rica, women in ministry that I've been privileged to mentor, encourage and learn from over the last eight years of serving as an IM missionary. My friend and IM colleague, Lauran Bethell, who began paying attention to these issues years ago, was one of the keynote speakers. Though the issues of exploitation have been affecting Costa Rican life for many years, some churches are just now starting to pay attention to the needs of those victimized by them.  The road is long and we often do not know where it will take us, but we do know that God is moving and if we pay attention, we'll see God working in amazing and life-giving ways in our churches and communities. 

Whether you live in Latin America, Asia, Africa or Montana, God is moving in your midst, you'll see it if you pay attention. Thank you for paying attention to God's call on your life to live generously and thoughtfully. We are encouraged and built up because of you. 

Your prayers and financial gifts to our ongoing support make these ministries possible.

Trying to pay attention,

Mylinda