Transitions by Mike Hormek - HTML preview

Chapter 4

Ruth and two other young evangelists were assigned to live on a mission in a Mexican town run by Jesuit Priests. Two were Sisters of Charity from Philadelphia. Ruth was the only one from the South. They were excited about sharing their faith, Mexican culture, and gifts. Their meager possessions included a big smile and a small suitcase.

After calling home and announcing her well-being, one of the first calls was to her brother, Bob.

"Hey, how are you?"

"I'm okay. Did you get settled in?"

"Yes, I can give you one reason why the poor remain poor."

"And what might that be?"

"In Mexico, whatever they get, they share it with their large family, friends, and neighbors. It's going to take some getting used to. I don't know how they would live like this, but it could be worse.

They are happy just getting by. There are levels of poverty. They all look poor. Some have money to buy water, while others get it from the laguna, filled with parasites and diseases. Water trucked in is even dirty."

Ruth's first week, filled with new sights, sounds, experiences, challenges, and revelations, was exhausting. Again, she called Bob, her voice trembling with disbelief and determination.

"Bob, the streets here are like something out of a different world, teetering on the edge of despair and hope. You won't believe the poverty, trash everywhere, kids playing in it. It's like a constant battle against the elements. A battle against fate."

Her words painted a vivid picture of the scene while she spoke. The sun was beating down mercilessly on weathered buildings and dusty roads. The air smelled of cooking food, garbage, and stale water from the surrounding ponds. As the sun set, the shadows almost hinted that something sinister would happen soon.

"But you know, Bob, amidst the poverty, there is an unbroken, resilient spirit. I see women begging on the streets, refusing to sell their bodies like the laughter of the prostitutes, masking their pain, who can make their ends meet, forced into a life they never chose."

Ruth proceeded to tell Bob about the women she met. Their faces were with lines of hardship and survival, a life with no future, and some had a glimmer of hope for something more, a chance of redemption.

"We knew this would be difficult, and many drop out. But those who stay and weather the storm ultimately complete their mission and get the young girls off the street. I'm here to make a difference, to shine a light in the darkest corners of this town. It appears hope here cannot be extinguished."

Bob heard the determination in her voice when she pledged to continue her mission, to walk alongside the poor and the marginalized, offering them salvation, dignity, and love. If only both could see the road ahead. Ruth's first mission was to establish trust with the street girls. Then, The Sisters of Charity provide practical support to explore the needs of the street girls. The girls may need food, shelter, clothing, and medical care. The Sisters make the women feel safe to speak without fear of stigma, condemnation, and non-judgment. And they would regularly visit areas where prostitution is

140

prevalent, such as red-light districts where Americans would frequently cross and solicit the girls, generally approached by pimps first. Available girls were often found in shelters as well.

The Sisters were not exactly met with open arms by the Jesuit Priests, who, in their defense, were worried for their safety and did not want to be responsible for them. When they heard the Archbishop approve their mission, they attempted to dissuade him from sending them, but to no avail.

The Priests approached the Sisters. Father Heraldo spoke.

"We spoke with The Archbishop regarding your safety here, but he did not listen. There is danger lurking on the streets. You are not safe here. Especially for women like you."

Sister Ruth said with determination, "Father, we understand the risks, but we've come here with a purpose. Our mission is to bring hope and salvation to those who need it most."

"And just how do you plan to do that? By putting yourself in harm's way? We've seen what happens to women who try to intervene in the lives of prostitutes. It's not pretty. You intend to work with prostitutes, right?"

"Yes, that is correct, but we trust God's protection. We believe with love and compassion, we can get them off the streets and make a difference in their lives."

"I hope it's not at your expense. Love and compassion won't protect you from a violent pimp or an angry john. And the local police frequent them and protect them as well. Don't go on to the streets being naive. Many American military men sneak into the red light district here to participate even though it is off limits."

"Naive is not in our vocabulary. We've spent years preparing for this mission. Nothing will stop us."

The other Sisters nodded in agreement.

"We have limited medical resources here, and only one Sister came trained as a nurse. The nearest doctor is fifteen miles away. No one will protect you."

"We are not afraid our faith will sustain us. We would not be here if Mother Teresa ran away from adversity. We are more concerned about the lives ruined if we don't intervene."

"You are putting your lives and the reputation of the Church at risk. It puts the work of the Jesuit priests here at risk."

"Reputations are not our concern. It's the lost souls we worry about. We are prepared to sacrifice for them."

"Sacrifice? You are very young and foolish. Risking your safety, dignity, and possibly your life is not a sacrifice. It is foolishness."

"I don't appreciate you talking down to us, Father. What happened to respect? It is not foolishness. It is faith in action—God's will. We follow in the footsteps of Jesus, who did not shy away from outcasts and sinners. Does the Jesuit Order not believe the same?"

"Jesus had divine protection, Sister. You will soon find out how mortal and vulnerable you are.

You cannot compare yourself to Jesus. I have no advice for you except to watch your back. Don't come crying for help when things go south. The last Sister working the streets did not fare so well."

"Why, what happened to her.?"

"She was roughed up and left suddenly."

"We won't ask for help, Father. We'll rely on our faith and the support of our sisters and brothers

141

in Christ."

"We will continue appealing to the Archbishop for your removal, but I have a suggestion.

Remove your traditional dress and put on street clothes. That may enhance your welcome."

Both parties decided any further discussion was fruitless and resumed their activities.

Sister Ruth addressed the other Sisters, "Maybe we should start with modest street clothes but expose our cross until we become accepted. It might make our initial work easier."

The others agreed.

"Make sure your cellphones stay charged if we need to communicate and keep the local and police and Federal numbers in your contact list."

The sun was settling over the bustling streets of San Augustus, casting long shadows over the rows of dilapidated buildings. Tourists, vendors, and locals filled the streets, with Sisters Ruth, Maria, and Ana bumping elbows among the crowd. The Sisters, clad in modest attire, their faces etched with determination, navigated through the labyrinth alleys toward their destination: a corner in the Red Light District where prostitutes gathered. It was near a retail jeweler where many tourists came to buy gold.

Tension and desperation filled the air and silenced any talk between the Sisters.

Many women lined the streets, anxious to approach any men unaccompanied by male escorts.

Some waved at passing cars.

Sister Ruth's heart ached for their broken spirits and longed for the opportunity to offer them a chance for redemption

"Are you sure about this, Sister Ruth?" Maria whispered nervously, her eyes darting at the characters staring at them.

Sister Ruth reassured her with a smile."Yes, Sister, we are here to show these women they are not alone. that there is more to life than this."

Ana nodded in agreement, her gaze fixed on a young woman sitting on a park bench dressed scantily. She looked barely out of her teens, her eyes hollow with pain. "But where and how do we begin?" she asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

With a deep breath, Sister Ruth said, "We know to start slow, unlike a bull in the China Shop, and introduce ourselves, no judging or condemnation. Offer support and understanding."

With that, the young girl watched as the three approached two prostitutes stationed on their corner like soldiers atop their posts. Their wary eyes fixed on the Sister's mannerisms, their guard immediately aroused when it became apparent the Sisters were approaching them.

"Hablas ingles?" Ruth asked.

One of the scantily dressed in high heels, with bleached blonde hair which was brown and rotting teeth, spoke, "Si, yes."

"Excuse me," Sister Ruth began gently, her voice carrying over the din of the street. "My name is Sister Ruth," she said gently, "and these are my friends, Maria and Ana. We are here because we care about you. After all, we believe that every person deserves a chance at redemption.

"What is your name?"

The girl looked at her friend, "Camila, but what redemption?"

Sister Ruth pressed on, her compassion unwavering.

"Can you tell me how old you are?"

142

"Sixteen."

"Do your parents know you are on the streets?"

"My mother is dead, and my father drinks tequila."

"I'm sorry about your mother. Life on the street can be bad, so we offer support and help you find a way out whenever possible. You are not alone."

Sister Ruth looked at the other girl, "Coma te llamas?"

"Rosa"

"Cuantos anos tienes?"

"Diecisiet"

"She is not quite seventeen," Camila interjected.

Rosa murmured something to Camila while shaking her head.

Camila turned to Sister Ruth, "Rosa says you are interfering with our work; you must go."

"We have seen the anger of this life, the pimps, the angry johns, and the violence." Sister Ruth added, "There is redemption in this life."

Rosa looked at Camila with an expression like she had just heard a commercial with a canned, unconvincing speech. Camila's eyes, however, teared up, her hardened facade crumbling in the face of Sister Ruth's unwavering compassion. All the while, Rosa tugged at her arm to go.

Immediately sensing Camila opening up to her, Sister Ruth seized the opportunity.

"Let's sit on the park bench and talk," she said.

Rosa immediately let go of Camila's hand, uttered "estupido," and ran off.

"I must go", Camila told Sister Rosa.

"Wait, what I have to tell you may change your life. What did you want to do with your life before you got on the street.?"

Camila, still tearing up, opened up completely to Sister Ruth, slowly sharing her story about her hopes, dreams, and aspirations long forgotten and that her father would beat her if she did not sell her body and bring money home for his tequila. Maybe in the glimmer of night, Camila now had found a glimmer of light.

"What is it you are offering for me?" she asked.

Sister Ruth stuck her neck out but, as convincingly as possible, said, "Our Church can offer food and shelter and possibly a way to enter the United States and get schooling and a job. Do you have a phone?"

"I use my father's phone. I do not have one of my own."

"Okay, here is my number. Call me when we can meet."

"Okay."

As the Sisters retreated that night, mixed emotions filled their hearts, joyful that someone was responsive and sorrowful at what they witnessed. The three Sisters decided it would be safer if at least two were together at any given time, but all three would be overkill. The Sisters rotated their locations for the next two weeks to avoid becoming a nuisance and attracting too much attention. Sister Ruth knew this was only the beginning, and their work was cut out for them one step at a time.

It was two weeks before Sister Ruth saw Camila again but did not get a chance to talk to her as she entered a car with a john. The Sisters spotted Rosa in the company of what appeared to be a pimp

143

who was talking to a prospective john and later hooked the two up. Their progress with getting girls off the street was slower than usual because business was good, and the police were watching the Sisters.

It was after Mass on a Sunday when Father Heraldo called the Sisters into his office.

"I received a call from the police chief yesterday," he said. He was getting complaints that you three were harassing citizens, and he said to order you to stop. I told him I could not order you but would report it to the Archbishop, which I will do."

"It probably was the pimps because they have been watching us. I saw one talking to the police and pointing our way."

"Have the police talked to you?"

"No, but I think they patronize the girls as well."

"That is none of your business."

On Monday, Sister Ruth and Maria met Camila and Ruth across the street from the park. Sister Ruth thought she could keep an eye on her. As luck would have it, Camila was out that night and motioned to Sister Ruth that she would call the next day. Sister Ruth acknowledged her. The next day, she got the call, and Camila said she and two others wanted to talk.

The Sisters sat in the dimly lit room, hands clasped tightly together, listening to the stories of the two women Camila brought in with her, Lucia, a small girl who spoke English, and Sofia, the more sophisticated of the two, who only spoke Spanish. Ana would interpret for Sophia. The air was heavy with the weight of their confessions and the lingering scent of desperation that clung to them like a second skin.

Lucia, with tired eyes and trembling hands, spoke first. "Sister Ruth, we know what we are doing is wrong. But we have no choice. We have families to support and mouths to feed."

There are few jobs here that are only for the privileged and no opportunities. Selling our bodies is the only way we can survive."

Beside her, Sofia nodded in agreement, her gaze fixed on the floor.

Lucia continued, "The priests warn us of the dangers but do not protect us from the pimps who try to give us drugs. The police do nothing, and they want to sleep with us for free for protection. Sister, we are on our own and must do whatever it takes to survive."

The Sisters listened quietly. Sister Ruth cupped her hands, her knuckles white from the pressure of squeezing them. Her heart is heavy with sorrow for the plight of these young women. She had dedicated her life to serving others and upholding the teachings of her faith. But here, in this dark corner of the world, she found herself confused with a reality that tested the very core of her beliefs.

"Lucia, Sophia," she began with a gentle but firm voice. "I understand your struggles and desperation that drive you to these extremes. but I cannot condone the path you have chosen. There is another way out of this darkness."

Lucia scoffed, "With all due respect, Sister, what other way is there? No one will help us. We have tried everything. Our offers are only for how much our bodies can bring in."

Sister Ruth took Lucia's hand in hers, her touch a comforting presence amid their turmoil.

"We care about you and will fix this, but you must take a leap of faith."

The conversation continued about the families of the two girls, and Lucia gave Sister Ruth a contact number where they could get messages to the three girls, Camila, Lucia, and Sophia.

144

Sister Ruth now had to formulate a plan, so she called her brother Bob, who had a job and was volunteering at St. Michaels in Texas. "I need your help with something, Bob. The pimps and the Cartel have forced three teenage girls into prostitution, and Sister Ana Maria and I wish to get them across the border to seek asylum. I think their lives are in danger from the drug lords."

"I can't believe you are doing this. You and the Sister's lives could be in danger."

"I know, but we are not backing out. Will you help?"

"What do you want me to do?"

"As a whole, I don't trust the Jesuits. They are getting kickbacks to look the other way, but I think I can trust a young priest, Father Pedro. I will see if he knows of a secret crossing and a vehicle with a trustworthy driver. I will let you know once I plan and pick a date. Let me know if you get a person to pick them up. Talk to Father John at St. Michael's and see if he can take them in. Find them food and shelter and get them asylum. I will vouch for their status here. Ask Father John not to disclose our plans to anyone, especially the Archbishop. The Jesuits are threatening to call him."

"Okay."

Before she could put the plan into motion, Sister Ruth received a call from the Archbishop.

"Good morning, your Excellency."

"Good morning, Sister Ruth."

After a minute of small talk, The Archbishop got to the purpose of the call.

"I received a call from Father Heraldo, and he was unhappy. It seems the police are on his case that you Sisters are harassing innocent citizens. It is my duty, you understand, to ask you about it."

"Your Excellency, we are merely doing our job. We interview prostitutes and inquire if they wish to leave their current occupations. Police and pimps are monitoring us. I might add that we are making progress in saving souls."

"I understand there is high risk involved, but I am confident you Sisters can handle it. Just be careful and do not oppress anyone."

"Thank you, Your Excellency. But there is something else I need to discuss with you."

"Proceed."

"I don't know why the Jesuit priests in San Augustus do not take in street girls when the girls pimps abuse them."

"I interviewed girls who asked for help from the Church, but the priests turned them away. I think the priests are taking kickbacks from the police and pimps to keep the girls working."

"That is a serious accusation, Sister Ruth, but I will investigate it. Is that all?"

Yes, that is all."

"Okay, take care of yourself."

"Good day, Your Excellency."

Sister Ruth spoke with Father Pedro, a younger priest she thought she could trust, and he supplied her with the name of a farmer whom Father Pedro knew had helped locals cross the border at night. She made contact and agreed on the cost. There were no funds available, so she texted her brother, Bob, for financial help to pay the driver and give the girls enough to get by until they got on their feet. Bob agreed he would raise the money, but he needed some time. He said he would text when the funds would be available electronically. The Sisters were ready to contact the girls and gave them

145

the exit plan. Sister Ruth attempted to contact the girls using the number they gave, but there was no answer. So Sister Ruth and Sister Ana proceeded to check the Red Light District and find them.

"Tonight feels awful spooky," Sister Ana said.

"It's nothing, just nerves; keep your eyes out."

146