Last night (12/15/09)

Last night we went to the strip clubs and took Christmas stockings containing Christmas socks, a Christmas note from the team, candy canes and chocolate candy to the girls. Thank you to The Crossing for providing the gift stockings and contents this month!

Here are highlights from last night:

• Staci prayed with Shelley who has 4 kids. Staci previously met Shelley the first night Staci came with the team. It was also Shelley's first night at the club, too.
• Kiki is new. The club was raided the week before, and she got out of jail on Friday. It was her first offense. She's hoping to get her record expunged.
• Sunnie's baby daddy is facing a possible jail term. She asked prayer for him.
• Marissa wants out. She wants to go to cosmetology school and eventually own a hair salon.
• Diamond's dad is having spinal surgery. He's a vet.
• Shawn asked for general prayer.
• Percy and his wife are back together.
• Kim is waiting to hear back from a job interview.
• Two girls, who were dancing in a cage, stopped dancing & reached out for a bag. Both stood in the cage and looked through the contents of the Christmas stockings and read the note inside.
• Norma got to see Stacy (whom she met in Oct.). We prayed for her son. She said he is doing fine.
• Girl dancing on main stage reached out for a bag and thanked the ladies for bringing her a gift. She never missed a beat.
• Kim (a different Kim) wants to go to dental school next fall.
• Lila is in collision school (auto body repair) and asked for prayer to get through school and get a job.
• Nicole asked why we do this. Vicky told her because we love her. Vicky also let her know we're no different than she is.

Two things I'm excited about (Go, God!):

• Misty (waitress) quit and is staying at home with her daughter. I met her the night she interviewed for the job.
• A manager got off crack. He was addicted for 18 months. He's been clean and sober for 2 months.

On a sad note:

I've been wondering where a certain manager is. His club burned down, and I've been unable to find out if he bought another one. (He's the Muslim club owner who gave us money in the past because he believed in what we're doing.) I found out his 20-year daughter died recently of an overdose. They told me which club he bought, and I'm trying to get in contact with him to see if he needs anything. I was told he's not doing well. Please keep him and his family in prayer.

Thank you for your continued support and prayers!

Drenda and the PTD team

Thanksgiving C U @ the Pole Dinner

Thanksgiving evening we took Thanksgiving dinner (turkey, ham, dressing, cranberry sauce, gravy, various sides, desserts, bread & tea) to 5 strip clubs. Earlier in the day we took plates of food to several modeling studios, massage parlors, and hourly motels. Thank you, Barbara and BacktoBasics Ministries for those plates. I feel like we made some in-roads in to a couple of clubs. Time will tell.

Only one club had a lot of girls. The other clubs were getting a later start so we didn't see too many girls. Ineke talked to a dancer who works at a law firm during the day. She has 2 pre-teen children and dances at night to make ends meet. She says the evening job is temporary.

James said he and another manager are tired of working in this industry and want to get out.

Another girl told Amanda she knows what she is doing is wrong, but she chooses to do it anyway. She doesn't want to be like her mother whom the girl called "a hypocritical christian."

A waitress talked to Staci for a long time. She has a child with a serious illness and is working in the club for quick cash. Staci prayed with her about her situation.

The owner of a club told Staci we are welcome in his club anytime & all drinks (alcohol & non-alcohol) are on him. He thanked us for what we do and said the girls need all the help we can give them. He asked if he could give us a donation or help us in any way.

Our t-shirts were a big hit. Several managers and patrons asked for one. They are black & have our JesusLovesDancers logo on the front in silver metallic print and "C u @ the Pole" on the back. I've attached our logo in case you haven't seen it. I'll also be posting pics of the t-shirt at a later date in case you'd like to order one.

I want to thank the PTD team for cooking, bringing food & spending time away from their family on this holiday night. Thanks to Spring First for providing the meat and utensils. You guys are incredible! We appreciate the guy who cut up the turkeys for us. Vicky, you & your Bible study groups are awesome! Thanks for providing so many dishes. Mom, thanks for buying all the stuff & cooking the turkeys at the last moment. We also thank the spouses who showed up and pitched in wherever needed -- including washing dishes & slicing turkeys in the strip club kitchen.

It was a fun night. We are looking forward to next year!

Drenda & the PTD team