Welcome to Pattaya, Thailand.
We turn off the crowded 4 lane road onto a street so skinny I’m sure we’ll hit something on the way down. Of course we don’t and we soon pull up to our new home, the Tamar Center Guest House (blue and white awning on the left). We (Team Lego minus Silas plus Ja, our translator) will be living here for the next month. We’ll be working alongside the Tamar Center in downtown Pattaya.
Despite the fact that prostitution is illegal in Thailand, there are an estimated 20,000 prostitutes in Pattaya alone. The Tamar center provides a place where the girls can leave the industry and learn a new trade. They run a hair and nail salon, bakery and coffee shop, and card making business. The women receive training in all 3 businesses and can receive further training in a specific area after the program is complete. During the 3 month program they also receive Bible training and counseling.
There are several areas of ministry that we will be involved with this month.
Bar Ministry
The Tamar Center staff go out every Mon, Wed, and Fri to the bars to sit and talk with the bar girls and prostitutes. We’ll go out early in the night and buy a drink, becoming customers that they must spend time with. The big difference is that we expect only to form a friendship to show them that their worth is beyond a monetary amount. The girls are invited to attend English class for free at the center and we pray for them before we leave.
English Classes
English classes are offered every Mon, Wed and Fri for an hour. Many women from the bars come because speaking English will help them at work. Although we will help teach them English, the ultimate goal is to show them the love of Christ. Then, as they learn more about the Tamar Center, they will hopefully see that a new future is possible.
Chinese Bible Ministry
Bibles are not allowed to be brought into China in bulk or by foreigners but Chinese citizens are allowed to bring in one bible each. On Tuesday nights, we’ll stand on the docks and as the party boats return to shore, we will pass out a bible, video and tracks to the Chinese tourists. What an amazing way to bring God’s word into China!
Slum Ministry
We don’t have a lot of information on this ministry yet, but we will be going out one day a week to visit with the Burmese people living in the slums.
This is just a quick glimpse of the work we’ll be doing here in Pattaya so check back regularly for more detailed blogs!
