The Month of November has long ended and I realized that I
had not yet written a blog explaining the relationships my team and I were
fortunate enough to make while in Thailand.
This month we spent every night in praying asking the Lord
where he would have us go each night we went out to Loi Kroh Road. We asked who
felt that they wanted to go into the bars that night and who wanted to stay out
and pray over the conversations that would take place. After about a week of
going to some different bars I became a regular at Joy Bar and New Star
Bar.
At New Star Bar we would go play jenga and pool with Yah and
Pat. Yah is the bar mom which is a combination of bartender and the person that
looks after the girls. She has worked there for four years and has two
daughters. She has felt the love from past World Racers as they visited her bar
during their time in Chiang Mai also. She is the most open women and has an
amazing smile. Pat also worked at this bar. She has only worked there for seven
months. She used to work at a hotel as a receptionist but she said the hours
were too long and she didn’t get paid a lot so she came to work in the bar. We
only had a few long conversations because she had a lot of customers every
night. It was amazing to see how our relationship changed while I was there.
After a few weeks when we would leave the bars she would leave her customers to
say good-bye to us. Both Yah and Pat would get so excited when we would come to
the bar just to talk.
Although I loved New Star Bar my spot was Joy Bar. The
people that work there are: Jenny (our lady boy friend), Ae (the bartender), Al
(another bartender), and Sue. From the first night we went on a prayer walk I
felt God calling me to this bar. I quickly realized how much the name fits the
bar. They are all full of joy all the time. They enjoy people’s company and
they are like a family to each other. This place was such a blessing to be able
to go have a coke and have good conversations. The last night we were there we
all were taking picture, laughing and dancing around. I had such an amazing
time seeing how they would light up when we would come into the bar.
There were so many good times in Chiang Mai. From
experiencing the lantern festival, being with all the girls on my team, seeing
how we were able to bring God’s light into that dark place, to singing Lady
GaGa in the middle of the bar with Jenny. The good times didn’t come without
many hard times though. I had been praying the entire trip for the Lord to
break my heart for things that break His. Well he definitely did in Chiang Mai.
The hardest thing for me to see was the young girls leaving with their
“boyfriend” for the night and how the man would treating her. I felt the
helplessness, the hopelessness, the loneliness, the anger, the fear, the
sadness, and the feelings of not being good enough that many of these girls
feel every night they have to go out to work. It was really hard.
Although I felt these hard things I realized so much about
God’s love. It is not conditional. It is not judgmental. It is not limited to a
particular group of people. God’s love is constant and consistent. I might not
understand how He can love these men that are in all the bars but He calls me
to still show His love for them. He asks me to no matter what the situation or
circumstance to love everyone well.
I loved my time in Chiang Mai. I thank Emmi so much for
allowing me to be apart of her ministry for a short while and see the amazing
work that is being done to bring God’s kingdom to the city of Chiang Mai.
(pictures to come later when i have internet)
