"It all begins with prayer." Our ministry contact reminds us of this everyday.
We walked down Bangla road expecting God to show up… but we had no idea He would like this…
Here's a tidbit of our (Susan, Laura, Merridith, and my) Friday night of ministry:
This Friday was some kind of Buddhist holiday. The bars on Bangla road were closed. No girls dancing on poles (where we could see), or drinks after drinks being served to men from all over the world. As we passed the closed metal gates, Meredith observed and prayed that this is what we hope for Bangla road. Closed doors due to not enough business and no girls to be sold.
So we prayed and walked down the road seeing a girl occasionally on the side being prostituted. We walked to the end where the beach is and an open area. We quickly realized that we were sitting in the middle of a huge "pick up" spot. We sat down on the stairs and began to pray over the area. Later I realized that area started to clear out. Not as many men waiting around, or women looking for possible customers.
It all begins with prayer.
Later we walked down to the beach and began praying as a group. We looked out over God's beautiful ocean and all that He created and prayed for divine encounters, breakthrough, and His presence to reign in this place.
We walked back to where we were and sitting there was a new group of girls, along with a few men. Susan began talking to one of the girls, so we all broke out and starting conversing. Laura and I met Noi and her friend Ma. Later in our conversation,, I very strongly had a desire to pray over them. I asked and explained what prayer was. Their response: "Yes! but what do we do?"
We explained and they stood their in the middle of the "pick up" spot as possible customers watched. Laura and I placed our hands on their shoulders and prayed. We prayed for God to fill them with His love. For break through, and and an understanding of who He is and what He is TRULY about.
After I asked, "How do you feel?"
"Soooo good!! It made me feel so good right in here!" Noi said, pointing to her heart.
"That's God making you feel so good!" I replied.
"Can I know more about who you pray to?" She asked.
We then began to explain how God created everything! The ocean trees, her, me, everyone. She listened as we began to explain how Jesus is perfect and we are not, and even though He is perfect He was put on a cross and died for HER. For ME. For YOU The perfect sacrifice.
At this point, She began to recognize the story! She knew of "Chreest" (Jesus Christ). Her son brought home a Thai/English bible from school and asked her to read it to him. She was so excited that we were there to answer her questions and to help her understand what she has been reading. We continued to share God's story with her.
"I believe," she said.
We talked more about Jesus and also her belief in Buddha. We are excited to meet with her again and to see what God does through this new relationship!
I am so thankful that God gave me the opportunity to look into her eyes and tell her that God loves her and He sees her heart and thinks that it is beautiful.
Noi has a story. She works at a massage parlor and has a son without a husband, but that does not define her in God's eyes. God sees her as His daughter, His beloved, and His amazing creation.
I PRAY and hope that one day she will believe that truth and see the life God is waiting to show her. Please pray for Noi. Remember, It all begins with prayer.
Here's a video about the ministry we are working with this month:
