Disco lights are flashing, American 90’s loud music blares, and I find myself dancing like a chicken in a small Thai bar on a warm and muggy Monday night. Prostitutes in 6-inch heals and barely any clothing surround me, mimicking my movements. I move on to “the sprinkler,” ”shopping cart,” and “roller coaster”- my best signature white-girl dance moves.
(Photo courtesy of: shilohandkimberly.com)
“It’s working, It’s working!” I keep thinking. First, I thank Jesus that I am not surrounded by anyone that actually know me but my teammates, as I press into my most ridiculous dance moves, yet.
The 60/70-year old men in the bar are getting impatient from the lack of attention from the prostitutes they are trying to buy. Apparently the teenage Thai girls are having too much fun listening to Sisqo and dancing with me. A bald overweight American man tries to start “grinding” on a prostitute, feeling her up in front of us- my teammate Angela swiftly intercedes to pull the prostitute into a spinning dance.
The men leave and the girls are getting a break. A break from their relentless “career.” That’s all we want, even if it’s only for one night. Well, we want them to love Jesus too, but sometimes all we can do is to show them we care, that there’s more to life, and their life isn’t worthless and it doesn’t have to be ‘dirty.’
(Photo courtesy of: jumpfirstfearlater.wordpress.com)
Bar ministry is exhausting. It makes you want to cry and scream. It gives you nightmares… or you just won’t sleep, which is worse. It also shows you how you’re incredibly blessed and how much God has been protecting you for so many years.
I gently smile at a girl in a push-up bra and offer to buy her a soda. It’s what they want anyway. These young girls don’t want to get drunk. They don’t want to go to a hotel room or alley with a guy. They’ll whisper their honest secrets to you if you ask them and their pimp isn’t watching.
Prostitution is a way of life in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Families are relieved when they have girls, because it’s a source of income- low-paying, slavery income. If they love their girl they will sell her to a pimp close by in location, so they can visit her once a week. If they don’t love her, they take a large lump sum and sell her to a far away location.
For now, I’ll keep dancing, and probably crying for them later, and a little more Macarena the next night. Whatever it takes to love these sweet Thai girls and give them hope.
