Bermudian missionary preaches love

In a country where women sell their bodies as the only means to make money to support their family, it’s the actions and love of Jesus, who loved and took in even the most destitute, that is slowly making a difference

Bermudian Sarah Lara, is currently working with SCORE International in the Dominican Republic, which has the fourth highest rate of prostitution in the world, to bring the Word of God to many of the women who feel their only worth is to sell their bodies.

“We go out on Thursday nights and form friendships with these women. We know where the brothels are and we teach devotionals and just talk to the ladies,” explained Mrs Lara, who was back on the island, with her Dominican husband, Robersy, visiting her family for the holidays.

Money

“We’ll see a lot of women selling their bodies just before the school year,” Mrs Lara said. “When we talk to them they tell us they are making money in order to afford school uniforms. They think they are doing the right thing by providing for their family.”

In Boca Chica, where prostitution is rampant, there is a popular sex tourism that attracts European men.

“It’s pretty easy to pick out who the prostitutes are as they tend to be with older European men,” she said. “We befriend these women and talk to them and pray with them. We let them choose but let them know we are there for them. I’ve gotten to know many of these women and their stories.”

Mrs Lara said the work can be dangerous but their mission isn’t to protest or make a big scene, but instead to slowly build relationships with the women and show them that they are worth more than just selling their bodies.

The women they meet are encouraged to become part of Lily House, SCORE International’s safe home in Boca Chica. It’s a place where women can go to learn a trade other than prostitution. The women also receive financial and parenting classes, counselling and spiritual advice.

There are currently 12 former prostitutes that call Lily House home where they are taught to sew, crochet, cook, make jewellery and work in the Lily House coffee shop, salon or gift shop.

“A lot of the women are not necessarily being hurt by the brothel owners but they are sort of tied to it because they know they can make the money and don’t feel they have any other skills.

“At Lily House they can come and learn a skill…we show them that there are other things they can do that doesn’t include using their bodies.

“Some of the women we speak to are just captivated by the money they can make, the love, pleasure and fulfilling a need for them. But we are able to teach them about love and that no matter what their past is there is a future for them that doesn’t involve selling their bodies.”

Lily House is also working in ways to combat the sex trafficking of young girls that occurs in the Dominican Republic. 

“We hear a lot of stories from young girls who started prostituting when they are very young. One young girl was eight when she became a prostitute. Many times young girls don’t have birth certificates and they need a birth certificate in order to attend school here,” Mrs Lara said.

Mrs Lara, who graduated from Warwick Academy, and has always had a longing for adventure, met her husband, Robersy, in the Dominican Republic during a mission there in 2009.

They joined SCORE International in March 2013, and Robersy brings his baseball talents to the many young boys through the mission.

“Robersy was scouted to play baseball professionally but accepted Christ as his Saviour and realized there was more to life than just baseball. Now he gives back his skills by reaching out to poor children to give them the opportunity like he had. He works and trains three different teams in three different areas. They also teach the Gospel and teach them that they can be good at baseball but there is more to life than that.” 

Sara Lara will be  giving a presentation on the mission work she does for SCORE International this Sunday, January 5 at the Paget Gospel Chapel, 44 Middle Road. For more information about the presentation and SCORE’s work contact [email protected].