Brave

We have a friend here in Hamburg who we met at our church.  Her name is Anna and she's 18. She is lovely in every way.  But to her loveliness I will now add this: she is mutig--which means brave.

As she's followed our blog she's begun to have a very tender heart for women in prostitution.  Her heart breaks for the women and she has been wanting to help in some way--a few weeks ago, she had her first opportunity. 

In Anna's English class her teacher informed the students that they would be taking a field trip soon to the Reeperbahn, to be given a tour by a real prostitute to learn how this is a real profession and how the women really enjoy what they do.  (I later asked Anna WHY her teacher was choosing this as a field trip--like did the subject matter relate to a book they were reading in class or something?  Her answer was No, it has nothing to do with our class; she took the tour herself and thought it was so cool that she wants to take us now as a class).  

Anna went up to her teacher after class.  She shared her heart with her, and how she's learned recently that there are women on the Reeperbahn who do not enjoy what they do and it's not a chosen profession for them--it's slavery.  She told her about me and about the work our team does on the Reeperbahn, and her teacher has now invited me to come and speak to their class.  How incredible is that?  I am so grateful for this opportunity--coming up on Tuesday, June 22nd from 8:00-9:30am. 

I think that takes a whole lot of courage--for a student to approach her teacher with an opposing view.  I am sure Anna shared her opinion gracefully, yet still, to confront her teacher, especially on subject matter that her teacher was so excited about takes a lot of guts.  Brave is what it is. 

Anna, I am so proud of you.
Continue to STAND tall for your convictions. 
SPEAK up for the ones who do not have a voice.
Many are listening and surely many will follow.