By Bridget Brewster
G.L.O.B.A.L. Board Director; Co-Founder, Agape International Mission
As I looked out my window this morning washing dishes, I noticed two floors up the women working construction alongside the men on our school being built in Svay Pak, Cambodia. It’s a holiday that many take off from work, but these women have to work today.
But I am grateful they have jobs and for the work they do. I am grateful and pleasantly surprised they receive the same salary as the men do.
I also am reminded of what the brave Suffragette Movement started in the early 1900’s, and for what they achieved. In the recent months of #metoo and #timesup, the world is being forced to reckon with the disparity in the conditions and attitudes towards women. Many of us are still suffering and fighting for equality.
“Real change is happening in everyday communities and in lives where the love and light of Christ is exposing the darkness of oppression, inequality, racism, and hate.”
However, right here, right now, I am encouraged and blessed to work with girls and women rescued and restored out of sex trafficking. They make a great living wage, they are able to support their extended family as well as their own. They save and are wise with their money, starting other businesses on the side. Some have paid cash for a new home. They are gentle yet strong, compassionate, wise and are modern day abolitionists. They have changed the disparaging attitudes of communities they live in to ones of admiration. Their honor is restored in Christ, and, men in the community have recognized it as well. They have honor and worth. They are bringing up their boy and girl babies well; teaching them to have respect and gentleness with one another.
God used Rahab, a prostitute in the Old Testament to save Israelite spies from danger and she became a part of the bloodline of Christ as the mother of Boaz ( Joshua 6, Matthew 1:5). God will do so much through all women in the future, I believe that. I have seen the miracles that He has done in real time through women here in Cambodia.
Real change is happening in everyday communities and in lives where the love and light of Christ is exposing the darkness of oppression, inequality, racism, and hate.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by G.L.O.B.A.L. Justice. We are a faith-based, nonpartisan organization that seeks to extend the conversation about justice with a posture of dignity and respect.