Never have you seen so much construction. Undergrounds being rebuilt, power lines being dropped below ground, sewer systems reconstructed, museums rebuilt and buildings remodeled. It feels like Berlin is being held together with dust, scaffold and ‘Do Not Enter’ tape.
Tuesday
On Tuesday we jumped on the S-Bahn transit line and traveled to meet with Patricia Green from Alabaster Jar (www.alabasterjar.de). Shalyn, the organization’s program coordinator, met us at the platform and led us to Patricia’s home for orientation. Patricia is a dynamo who is in her sixties and has spent her life trying to save trafficked women. Patricia started Rahab Ministries in Thailand and was there for more than 18 years. She was one of the first foreigners to begin working there with prostitutes and brothels, and ultimately trained up Thai women to take over.
Six years ago she came to Berlin. Originally her plan was to work with the growing population of trafficked Thai prostitutes in this area, however the need and opportunity was far greater with the German and Eastern European girls working the streets of Berlin.
Prostitution is legal in Germany. There are an estimated 400,000 legal prostitutes in this country, and more than 75% are non-German. The number of illegal prostitutes working in Germany is unknown. Berlin is a major centre for trafficked women from Eastern and Central Europe, and it is estimated that between 150,000 – 500,000 enter Germany illegally each year. Pimping is illegal, but we have seen them everywhere.
Patricia’s vision for Alabaster Jar was something we could certainly relate to. They work to develop relationships with the girls on the streets by providing food and information, job skills, training, and legal and immigration assistance.
After listening to Patricia’s heart and enjoying her homemade scones, Patricia suggested we head out to an area in Berlin where the local German girls work the street. So off we set off for Orienbergerstrasse.
It is quite a yuppy area. Great shopping and delightful outdoor dining options dot the street. And dispersed throughout are gorgeous women selling themselves.
I was struck by the uniform: Long hair, high boots and cinched corsets. Dark tans and perfect makeup. The uniformity of presentation was so consistent that it was hard to distinguish individuals. As I walked down the street I felt like I kept seeing the same girl over and over. I tried to make eye contact but I wasn’t what they were looking for. Because prostitution is legal, the girls actively market themselves. They assess each man as they go by and proposition them. I was struck by the constant rejection they face. Over and over, men walking down the street would ignore the offer of one girl, but accept the next – and yet, the uniform made it hard to see what made him choose that particular girl over the first. Perhaps the uniform is like a stage actor’s costume that gets taken off at the end of the show, the face scrubbed of it stage makeup, freeing the individual to once again emerge.
Wednesday
After experiencing the ‘Barbie Dolls’ of Orienbergerstrasse where the very tall, model-like German girls work the street, today we went to the Kaffe at Kurfurstenstrasse where the trafficked girls work. In addition to many other activities, twice a week Alabaster Jar rents out a little café in the heart of one of the main prostitution areas for trafficked women. While one team takes coffee and sandwiches to the girls working the street, another opens the café where women can rest in a lovely space with comfy chairs and enjoy good food. We divided up in our involvement, with some following on the street at a distance to pray.
The contrast of women in this area was significant. They come from all over, primarily Eastern and Central European countries like Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Ukraine. The rates charged here are much less than on Orienbergerstasse. Pimps are more obvious. There has been prostitution in this area for over 100 years.
On both nights, what struck me most was the normalization of prostitution with the mainstream public. As the women would take their positions on the sidewalk (sometimes only a few metres’ apart), couples and families with strollers would pass by without reaction. Sidewalk cafes were brimming with vibrant conversation. I couldn’t shake the need for a new normal in this culture and wondered and prayed what it would take to expose the systemic dysfunction (here and everywhere!). The entrenchment not only in the lives of each of these precious women but also in the society can be overwhelming.
Diana from our team stayed at the Kaffe and engaged the women who dropped by for coffee and snacks. The night saw a steady stream of women come by, and many would stay for an hour or more. Diana is a professional hairdresser and was able to offer the women the opportunity to get their hair cut. This was the first time the café offered this, and they were thrilled with the response. One particular woman from Thailand was so touched by Diana offering her services free and from the heart that she took a special ring off her finger and gave it to Diana, wanting to give back from her own heart. As they embraced in tears, the other women in the Kaffe were so touched by the genuine expression of care and friendship that everyone ended up in tears. It was a profound moment for all.
It was a very late night. We didn’t leave the café till midnight to catch our transit home. There is still much more to process… and learn… and do. Thank you for your partnership in prayer. It is needed and deeply appreciated.
Much Love
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