The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
I am angry.
No actually I’m pissed off.
Satan has no right to the hearts or lives of this place, but lately he’s been walking around like he owns the joint.
I see it daily in the eyes of the women we’ve come to love this month. Their lives have been stolen, their hopes killed and their dreams destroyed.
But over these last three weeks, amidst all the blackness, I began to see a beacon of light shine through. As a secondary ministry I’ve been helping run a program for children in the slums three days a week. These children are bright, joyful and enthusiastic. They exude goodness and give me good hope for what God is going to be doing in Thailand’s future.
Unfortunately today I was reminded that even this little corner of Chiang Mai is far from a world of unicorns and butterflies.
It’s ground zero.
Today was supposed to be a fantastic farewell. It was Lauren and I’s last day of ministry with the children. Bow, our translator, cooked Somtam (spicy papaya salad) as a treat, and the kids sat on plastic matts chowing down on the meal until they were red in the face.
To help ease the kids’ burning mouths Lauren and I ran to get some water and when we returned Bethsaida, our contact, was urgently trying to get some information from the children.
What we learned felt like a scene from Slumdog Millionaire.
Yesterday an old man in a white van came to the slums.
He took a little boy.
Here children are kidnapped to be used for financial gain. They cut out their eyes and send them into the markets hopeing tourists and others will have pity on them and give them money.
My heart broke and blood boiled all at the same time. Why does this happen? How can it happen? Who does this?!?
That little boy has a hope and a future in Christs name and Satan, the thief of thieves has tried his darndest to steal it.
So I am angry.
I’m angry because Satan’s cheating.
And sometimes it’s hard to remember that there is hope.
Maybe the boy will be blinded.
Maybe he’ll never see his parents again.
Maybe he’ll grow old as a beggar.
But maybe that’s the only way he’ll be saved.
Maybe that’s the only way he’ll hear about Jesus..
Satan may think he’s gaining ground by winning a few battles but he inherintly knows he has no chance at winning the war.
So for now I will never let my hope be stolen, my passion killed or my heart destroyed, but I’ll be leaving Thailand with a heavy heart. God is doing big things here and there is a bigger picture, I’m certain of it in the case of the bar girls, but when it comes to the stolen kids…. I hope one day I see it.
One of the little girls in the slum.
