...and more brokenness

Not more than 24 hours after my visit to the brothels, a tragedy occurs.
One of our friends was murdered in her room in a brothel Friday evening. The same brothel I visited the night before.
She was beaten, then suffocated. Maybe it was an ex-boyfriend or an unhappy client, which isn´t uncommon, though no one knows for sure who ended her life. Justice is slim...

Her funeral was last night, which Cara described as one of the most depressing moments she´s ever experienced. It was a private function, so just a few staff from WMF attended, as well as the woman´s family, and her co-workers in the brothel. It was held in the back of a church -- lacking hope, lacking light.

Her name doesn´t ring a bell, though I may have recognized her face. I didn´t attend the funeral, and Humberto said it was probably a good thing, since I would have recognized her from my street visit, and also from her visits to La Casa for lunch.

We are sad, we are affected, we are moved to compassion.

I´ve been meditating on Psalm 86:1-7
Hear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. In the day of my trouble I will call to you for you will answer me. Teach me your way, O Lord and I will walk in your truth. Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.

My salvation brings me great HOPE, and another reminder that this is NOT the earth God had in mind. He is still sovereign and worthy of my praise when I just feel like crying. He knows my pain, and is pained even more. His compassion is greater; His love is deeper.