This is Aarons' story
21 years of age, Aaron stands in his office with a large grin, ready for the first customer. Aaron is a salesman of sorts, and a manufactured environment of joy and fun helps sell his product. Now a good weekend will net him anywhere from 600-900 ringett, which is about $200-$300, but a bad weekend could possibly only result in 100 ringett ($30). Throw in the weekdays results as well and Aaron averages about 1000 ringett a week, which is honestly, a pretty good living here in Malaysia. However, much like many other people in the world, Aaron is not satisfied with his job. His job has demanding hours, requires living out of hotel rooms, and will never allow for him to have a family of his own. Not to mention the legal/cultural issues surrounding Aaron and his job. You see, Aaron is a sex worker, a transexual sex worker, making a living in a muslim country that allows for neither.
(From here on out I may use he/she interchangably, whenever we talk to or about Aaron, we always refer to him as her or he as she. Aaron has chosen to be a "ladyboy" as the call themselves here. They are the cast aways and the misfits of the prostitution world and the rejects of public society, we just try to show them some love.)
When we first met Aaron on the dark corner that is her office, she immediatly knew that we were not the regular customers. Thankfully she gave us grace, and praise be to warm climate culture for how relational they are, for she gave us some of her working hours to talk. After pleasentries were shared and some of her cautious walls down, she asked us why we cared. I was almost taken aback, why did I care? She insisted that we give her 5 reasons why we cared, which we agreed to with great vigor, but on the condition that we could come back another day and actually sit down with her and get her life story. She agreed thankfully and we said our goodbyes because she had a customer, and left to put our heads together to come up with 5 reasons why we cared.
The next day we each individually came up with 5 reasons and compiled them together to make a master list, which was no easy task. But, with our list in hand we set out to go tell her our reasons and get her story. Meeting and sitting down with her again proved quite difficult however, as every night we came up to her she had a customer or was simply avoiding us. Finally we offered to pay her for her time, and thus, we were finally able to hear Aarons story.
"There are two kinds of ladyboys" she told us. "Cut and uncut". "Which one are you?" we responded quite sheepishly, surprised by her sudden boldness. To which she responded, "cut". My heart broke in this moment. He told us of how since he was a little kid, he always felt different. Wanted to grow his hair out long and act like a girl. His parents pressured him to be a man like his brother but in his heart, he felt different. When he got older, (this part was not explained clearly) he decided to become a woman and his parents rejected him. Aarons' family is a very devout muslim family, and this decision, much like in many other cultures, was something very taboo so he was rejected for it. His parents still acknowledge him in some shape and form by sending him money, but Aaron told us she sends some of the money she makes back to them to make up for it. The emotion on her face was so evident when she talked about her family. She told us that she wants to be a ladyboy, but in her heart, she knows she is a man, and she feels very confused sometimes. Malaysia does not allow and muslim culture especially hates ladyboys she told us. Some try to catch them and shave their heads, whilst the police may catch them and throw them in jail, or bribe them for "favours". Because of this, she does not come out during the day for fear of people and the police, and she can not do many other jobs because people will not hire a ladyboy.
Aarons story is very similar to many other stories on the street where she works. People.. Human beings are cast out, looked down upon, and rejected because of their choices every day, from America to Malaysia. What is our purpose here in this world if not to love others? People reject the walk of Jesus and Christianity because they see some hokus pokus ridiculous "religion" that they perceive has tricked millions of people and caused war and strife throughout the world. To them I say, "Have you even looked at or read about Jesus' life?" Fact, he truly existed. You can debate His story if you like or who He was, but He was written about by historians and people from different walks of life, and they all conclusivly say he existed and was persecuted by the Roman Empire and Jews alike. He went against the modern stream of society at that time and loved the unlovables, the prostitutes, the thieves, the murderers, the gamblers, and the contagiously sick. And he didnt go to them to condemn them, he came to give them a hope at a different kind of life, a new life, a life that had some friendship and love, and someone who cared about them.Thank You for taking the time to read this true story. I know I am not the greatest writer, and I will probably edit this more yet, but the story is real. I will include my 5 reasons below should you wish to read them.
1. Because I want you to see hope, and that that some people care more about them, and not in a sexual manner but who they are individually
2. Because I think sex is special, and I dont like the idea of someone having to sell it to support themselves or their family
3. Because you are beutiful, unique, created reflections of a creater and I want you to see this and have joy in your lives no matter what you do
4. Because God did not send His son to condemn the world, but to save it.
5. Because I see a hopeless situation where people are hurt ever day.. and I hate it
