Quick preface: this month my team and I are working in the Red Light District of Chiang Mai. We go out at night and hang out at the bars to try and build relationships with the women and lady-boys. Our goal is to love these people as Jesus loves them, but not preach the gospel at them. Our lives are our testimony, not our words. Initially at least. We can say we're Christians, but not missionaries. Alright, here's the blog:
We prayed. We prayed for an opportunity to share. We prayed for an opportunity to love. We prayed for a chance to be unashamed for Jesus.
Good thing we have a God who answers prayers.
During our bar ministry time tonight, I saw a man sitting down on the street begging for money. He had half of his right leg amputated (just like my daddy) and after the third time I saw him I got down to where he was, smiled and said hello. Immediately he asked me if I was a missionary and since we are not supposed to share that we are missionaries because of our visas: I hesitated to answer at first. Before I could answer though he smiled and instead asked/stated "you love Jesus?" and that I could not deny. I smiled and said "yes, I do. I love Him very much." He then said that he could tell and continued along with our conversation. He told me he didn’t like Christians because he sees Christians come and go from different places and they always write him off. He did say though that he knew Jesus was a good man. I had no intent of fighting him because I’ve seen that kind of Christianity more than I’d like to admit (and participated in that as well) so we moved on to different topics.
As our conversation continued: we began to talk about food. I felt lead to give to him, but I wasn’t really feeling a tug towards money so instead decided to ask if I could buy him a meal. He told me what he liked, but he also told me he had never had Mexican food before and was curious to try some. Fortunately there are a few restaurants that serve “Mexican” (or as close as it comes in Asia) right on the same strip of the road. I asked if he wanted some and said "okay" with an excited expression. He was working though so I told him if he waited there, we (my ministry partner and I) would go get him some and bring it back. I went straight to the first restaurant that we saw had some Mexican cuisine and quickly decided what to get him: three chicken enchiladas with red salsa, Mexican rice, and refried beans. Oh, and a pepsi to help take it all down. As we waited for the food to be ready to go, I was overcome with compassion and started praying right in the middle of the restaurant for him. God was reminding me that whatever I do for the least of these, I’m doing to him. Through this man, God was allowing me to feed Him. God was allowing me to buy Him a drink.
As soon as the food was ready and everything was paid for we quickly walked out to go back to our new friend. His face started glowing and his eyes grew big at the sight of how much food he had that was just for him. We kneeled down with him and began to converse for a little bit longer. I told him we would pray for him and pray for healing because our Daddy does do that. When we were about to leave though, he asked us if we would pray right then and there for him.
In the middle of a sidewalk in the heart of the red light district of Chiang Mai, Thailand I was given the opportunity to talk to my Daddy out loud with no shame with a brother who apparently did not like Christians. I wanted to cry because I knew this was purely God. I stretched out my hand towards Him, bowed my head, closed my eyes, and let the Holy Spirit lead my prayer.
I felt more honored and privileged to be able to do that more than I have in any other situation in my life.
We left with a promise of seeing him again in a couple days and with a joy of knowing that we made not only a new friend, but a fellow lover of our Daddy.
This is the real deal, guys and gals. I can’t help but wonder what if I didn’t stop? What if I just wrote him of like other Christians had (even if it did take me seeing him three times before I said hello)? What if I didn’t want to listen to the Holy Spirit?
I know the food will bring him nourishment. I know the drink will temporarily quench his thirst. My prayer is, though, that our God will continue and forever more satisfy his hunger with His spirit and quench his thirst with His living water.
If you would like to donate towards my ministry fund (an account I have solely for the use of ministries within the World Race) message me and I’ll give you the info needed to do so. I am still about $1,400 short of this past deadline as well as an additional $4,500 from the final deadline on Jan. 1st. Please prayerfully consider donating to one or both accounts. Thank you all and God bless you. <3
