In June of this year we'll have been in Macau 12 years. After all these years, I feel like I have something of a local perspective on life in the city. So I wasn't surprised by an encounter Sarah and I had this past Friday night. But I was troubled by a reality of the city that is often hidden from our view.

Heading to a meeting in another part of town we encountered a policeman trying to talk with 2 woman and a man from Nigeria. They didn't speak Cantonese and the policeman's English was limited. So, not knowing what was happening, I volunteered my translation services. 3 hours later I was able to leave the police station and head home.

Turns out the man was being accused of forcing the women into prostitution. They claim that he had tricked them into leaving Nigeria and coming to Macau to work. They didn't know what kind of work he had in mind. As the process wore on, the stories got more complicated as they descended into the sordid details of their journey to Macau. In between my task as translator, all I could do was pray. Pray for the policemen - who I want to say were incredibly patient and kind through the whole situation. Pray for the man accused of such awful wrong-doing. He shared with me that he has 2 children living in Australia. Pray for the 2 women who represent the thousands or millions of women who are victim of human trafficking and virtual slavery in the sex trade around the world. The two we met are probably the lucky ones who hopefully will be able to return home. Many of the women subject to this blight never see their family and home again.

Like I say, this circumstance didn't surprise me. But it did mark me and remind me that behind the scenes in Macau there are dens of darkness that desperately need the cleansing light of Jesus.