ADDICTIONS
A PROSTITUTE'S STORY
By Synthia Esther
From the office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Program (JJDP), U.S. Department of Justice, Female Juvenile Prostitution: Problem and Response, Second Edition – November 2002, I read the case history of Karen's story. She was one of eight children who was raised by her natural parents in the suburbs of a mid-western city. Karen's father was a strict authoritarian who frightened her, and her mother unfavorably compared her to her sisters. There was no history of alcoholism or drug abuse in the family, nor any criminal activity. There was also no history of sexual abuse. Karen's parents were not physically demonstrative. Nor did they express their love or affection. In Karen's words, “They always compared everyone to everyone else.”
Karen was 13 years old when she met Mark, who was 18 and fresh out of prison. Mark was the first young man who ever gave Karen any attention. She had played hooky from school that day and met Mark. Karen ended up accepting Marks invitation to go to his brother's apartment. Karen, who was a virgin, ends up being seduced by Mark. Afterwards he persuades her to engage in prostitution so they could make some money and get a place of their own. Karen believed that this was going to be a one time thing, but the next day Mark put her out on the street once again.
A the age of 14 or 15, she told Mark that she wanted to leave prostitution. He laughed and asked her what else was she good for? One time she refused to go out to work, and he went crazy, banging her head in with a two by four. When Karen was 19, she took off but came back to him. It was then he devised a punishment that was to keep her bound to him for the next seven years.
After having sex with her, he tied her up, took off his belt, and started whipping her. In Karen's words, “I don't know how long that went on and he said, 'You think that's all you deserve?' And I said no” He said, “this hurts me more than it hurts you,” which Karen stated was a typical line he always used, and he grabbed the dog, and the dog knew just what to do. And he said, “This just shows how worthless you are.” “I lost a lot of respect that day. He took pictures of it, and he told me that if I ever left him again that those pictures would be mailed to my family. I stayed with him for almost seven years after that.”
Mark subjected Karen to emotional, physical, and sexual abuse during the 13 years that they were together. Karen states that she did not enjoy sex with her customers. She coped with their sexual demands by disassociating herself from the events. She described leaving her body as a means of survival. She states, “That was a way of knowing that they might have my body, but they're not going to get me.” Karen and Mark became the parents of five children, ages 6 through 13. When pregnant she was made to turn tricks until her ninth month of pregnancy. She called on regular customers during her pregnancies so as not to have to solicit elsewhere. Mark used threats concerning the children to control Karen. He also threatened to rape her little sister if she didn't come back to him.
At the age of 31, Karen lives with her five children in hiding from her pimp and works as a bookkeeper for a small, non-profit agency in a rural area. Her story is not unusual in the world of prostitution. Millions of victims, many of which are juveniles are kidnapped, seduced or manipulated into a life of sexual slavery, trafficking and human bondage. These precious human souls are abused and used in a business world filled with sexual crime and profit. Businesses that often times promote deceptive scams promising modeling contacts and acting jobs, lure innocent young victims into a life of sexual slavery and human trafficking.
Every person on Earth that promotes pornography and/or prostitution, or purchases it, is aiding and a bedding such crime against the abused souls of humanity. Karen was an innocent and vulnerable child who was in need of love and attention. She became the victim of a segment of the world who are deceptive crafty snakes, filled with evil sin, corruption, greed, power and lust! Humanity, its children, adults, and the animal kingdom, are in serious danger as our world's sexual perverts grow stronger in strength, and more deviant and perverse in the crimes they commit.
Pornography and the prostitution it promotes, was once only available in seedy alleys and dark streets with bright neon lights. Now these vile images are in eye's view of every home, business, hotel or Internet cafe in the world that has computer access. 60% of all web site visits are sexual in nature (MSNBC/Standford/ Duquesne Study, Washington times, 1/26/2000). Pornography producers and participants are hunting our children down as innocent Internet searches lead them to hard core porn and obscene filth. Pornographers disguise their sites (i.e. Stealth sites), with brand names, including Disney, Barbie, ESPN, etc., to entice children (Cyveillance Study, March 1999). These vile images are infesting our children's hearts and programing their impressionable minds with smut as they innocently soak it in like a sponge. Programmed with pornography's luring temptation, and prostitution glamorized, they too can end up as our next generation of pimps, porn stars and prostitutes.
LORI'S STORY
By Synthia Esther
I met Lori, a tall and slender brunette who seemed happy to be alive, when I went out to dinner with a girl friend. Lori and her female relative were sitting beside us as we were all waiting for an available table. Lori and I began to converse sharing small talk when God impressed within my spirit that she came from a very oppressive and abusive sexual back ground. God also impressed within my spirit, to ask Lori about her troubled past. God knows I did not want to, however, I also knew God had his reasons which I as a mere mortal usually know nothing about.
As the evening progressed the four of us continued to talk preferring to eat at the restaurant bar rather than continue to wait for a table to become available. Eventually, I privately asked Lori had she come from a background of sexual abuse, even though nothing in our conversation lead me to believe that. I prefaced my statement with, “I do not mean to be forward, and you certainly do not have to answer my question.” After what felt like many minutes of her starring at me in shock she replied, “Yes, I have been sexually abused, but how did you know?” I replied, “God told me.” We both sat quietly for a few minutes, before Lori began to tell me her story.
Lori had been sexually abused as a child, eventually went into stripping as a young teen, which lead into her becoming a teen escort and prostitute. Lori felt used and abused by men as long as she could remember. Now married and the mother of two, she was in therapy (which she confided wasn't working), because she and her husband were having problems with sex. In a follow up telephone conversation I had with Lori in July of 2006, she confided, “I fired my therapist when I was told my attitude was stink-in think-in!” Lori further lamented about the failure of A.A., its 12 step meetings and cult life style, giving personal substantiated examples. I agreed with Lori that her problem was not stink-in think-in, it was stink-in attack and past sexual abuse, which can lead to stink-in-think-in but is usually not the core issue.
Lori's husband complains even though they have sexual relations at least 2 to 3 times a week that it isn't enough sex. I continued to hear her lament on how even when she was pregnant, right before giving birth to their baby her husband was pressing her for a blow job (Lori's words, not mine), before going to the hospital. Lori confided in me recounting the sad, shocking, and painful details of her life's abusive sexual history.
Lori came from a dysfunctional alcoholic home with no one and no where to turn. Her biological mother committed suicide at the age of 25, her step brother committed suicide at the age of 38. Raised and adopted by her grand parents, she was turned over to the police as a runaway on more than one occasion and ended up being Baker Acted (The Baker Act in Florida seeks to rehabilitate runaway children and teens). Released, Lori once again ran away. While living on the streets she eventually hooked up with different men offering brief live in arrangements.
Lori was ganged raped by four men when she was 14. When they were done sexually with her they played Russian roulette with a gun to her head. The click of the gun forever plays in Lori's memories, which in turn caused her to develop Post Traumatic Stress. She started stripping at the age of 16, lingerie modeling at what Lori called “Jack Shops” at the age of 18, by 19 she became an escort and prostitute taking care of herself with the only thing she felt she had, her young body. For those who have paid for sex I invite you to read my reference article, “I Paid For Sex With A Prostitute”.
The escort service she was with had drivers who drove their escort models to their arranged appointments. On this day, Lori had a driver named Randy. This was not Randy's normal job, however a friend told him it was an easy way to make some quick cash. He drove Lori to her appointment, looked at her and stated, “I can't do this.” Randy then gave Lori the opportunity to live with him in his trailer, never asked for sex, but did lay down some rules.
First rule, get a real job (he taught her computer skills that enabled her to get temp jobs). Second rule, go to college, (he helped Lori obtain a pell grant), and she continued her education. Lori paid Randy $100.00 a month, which she states helped teach her to become more responsible. He said positive things about her, not allowing the negative self banter she said about her self, which was programed by members of her dysfunctional family when she was just a young impressionable child.
Randy gave Lori back her self esteem, enabling her to feel like living, thus not becoming another suicide statistic. Randy was the adopted father Lori never had. He was the first person she felt cared and believed in her. He gave her a plan of action, not reaction. She recounts her story of getting her first real job, and going into an alter ego personality, Nina, who was stronger and better able to cope and handle the job responsibilities.
Years later, Lori's mind set is still consumed with having to please her husband sexually because that is what was demanded of her by the many men and Johns she recalls. Lori loves her two children dearly and claims her husband is good to her and the children, however she calls him a “horn dog” who doesn't believe in God. Trusting him completely she feels there is nothing wrong with him viewing pornography and going to strip clubs. Lori was once very involved in church, however, personally knew many of the leaders lead a double life like most of her past Johns, so she lost faith. She feels a dark cloud come over her every time she tries to pray.
I witnessed and prayed with Lori telling her to rebuke Satan in the name of Jesus Christ and His shed blood, every time she felt satanic oppression or a spirit of darkness. I gave her the scripture Jeremiah 29:11, God came to give her a hope and a future, and I reaffirmed God was only a prayer away. I believe God sent Randy into Lori's life for a rescue mission. There are no accidents with God. He loves us all unconditionally. I asked Lori why she told me her story...at which time she responded in a caring manner, “I want to help those who will listen not make the same mistakes I did.”
God draws near those who call upon His name. If all you can say is Jesus, He is there with you, beside you, and even goes before you. He is the parent you never had, your Savior, your Heavenly Father, your Healer and Friend. He can erase the memories of the gun click in Lori's mind or the lustful desires of pornography and the click of a computer mouse. No need to fear the darkness, for even the whisper or thought of His name ushers in light, love and healing. He is the I AM, He is the everything.
Call on His name...He will not let you down. He will never leave you or forsake you and His love is everlasting. He knows the numbers of hairs on your head, and knows every action and reaction you are going to take. You are His child and He is your Father. By His providential grace, mercy and love He's calling you home (reference story, “My Sacred Journey Home”). For more information on how you can invite Jesus Christ into your life please visit our salvation website reference page, “A Free Gift”.
BIBLICAL HELP IN TIME OF NEED
Jesus Christ cares about your life and the situations that effect you. If all you are able to do is state the name of Jesus, He hears your plea. Scriptural references that have helped me in past situations of distress and difficulty have been Psalm 23 and 91. God's promises are bigger than all your problems.
Lamentations 3:22-25, “Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassion's never fail. (23) They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (24) I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait on Him.' (25) The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him.”
Proverbs 4:11-14, “I will guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. (12) When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. (13) Hold onto instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.”
Psalm 12:12, “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of the Heaven and Earth.”
Psalm 121: 7-8, “The Lord will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life; (8) the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
Psalm 144:2, “He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.”
Psalm 145:18, “The Lord is near to “all” who call on Him, to “all” who call on Him in truth.”
