Melissa takes in the heart breaking film "Fields of Mudan".

As we drove along the streets of LA we passed fruit stands at many of the corners and I couldn't help but think of the "cucumber water" my friend from Mexico taught me to fix. It is thirst quenching in the summer heat but here we were in the midst of such thirst and yet the juice from the deliciously ripe fruit in their stands could not quench the thirsting of the souls.

Every where we looked we saw every day people living every day lives. Where were those hidden faces crying out to God for rescue? Were they tucked away above the massage parlor near where we ate lunch. Where they hidden away in the house with shoes dangling from the electrical wire or right in front of my face graciously handing me a cool drink.

The facade of normalcy is no different here than it is at home. Hurting people living right in front of us going undetected because God's people want everything to be "okay" and refuse to accept that there is a problem. It is time to upset the apple cart. It is time to say we will no longer look away, we will no longer accept inappropriate jokes, we will no longer act as though there is no problem.

God's people must rise and hold each other accountable for exploiting those whose faces are hidden. For far too long we have neglected to talk about sex and sexual offenses in the church. We met with a woman, M, who told us that when people say things like, "it isn't my problem" she tells them, "Then make it your problem. A child sold into bondage for the sexual pleasure of someone should burden us to the point that we make it our business. How is it that we can see offering a free cup of water in the heat as "doing unto the least of these" is doing unto God but we can't see saving an exploited person in McArthur Park in the heart of LA as doing unto the least of these? God, upset our Apple Carts, bring us to our knees in prayer, and give us wisdom, compassion, and love so that we may truly be your presence in this world.