I was sitting here writing the blog about Not, when my heart just broke. I love these women, I love this country. I want so much for God's name to be glorified here. I see these beautiful women, the women that I spend everyday with, that I see more often than almost all of my other teammates, and I know that they bow before shrines daily; I have seen them do it. Having been in the bars as long as I have, the shrines in the corner almost seem commonplace, but everyday new drinks appear in front of them, new plates of food that no one is ever going to eat, and I am reminded about Elijah and baal. I want to cry out, why doesn't your god consume his food? Because he isn't alive… but my God is, and I want to show Him to you so badly. Can you not see? Can you not see Him in me? You say that Christians are the nicest people you know, and that you get so much peace around them, yet claim that peace only comes from Buddha. He is calling your name, open your ears! You are so desperate for love and acceptance and HE LOVES AND ACCEPTS YOU JUST AS YOU ARE.
This street WILL close down. I believe it with every fiber of my being. Teams come in every few months and spend 2 hours a day praying from home, and 2 praying in the bars for that very thing. Already I hear the women saying, "there are no customers, why are there no customers, it's still tourist season"? It will, and not just closed down, there will be a church there, a church that two of my brothers might help to start. How do I know this? Because OUR GOD IS ABLE, and He is FAITHFUL. I just read my friend Kathryn Chinn's blog, who used to be my team leader, and she called out the American church. I encourage you to go read it. She talks about her heart breaking when her Thai mother worships idols, but how us back home do everyday. It might not be bowing before a shrine, but is our lukewarmness any better? They do not know Him, but our lips are constantly on Him while our hearts are far from Him. Read John 9, really read it.
I do not write this to shame us, but to call us higher. We know that our God is able, let's start acting like it. I finally get it. I finally get that this trip is not about me, He's telling me this with every breath… He is opening my blind eyes. What does He want to do? He wants to set the captives free; He wants to open the eyes of the blind, and His glory WILL be revealed in this place in such a way that those who are blind will see.
Oh Lord, save these women. Save my sister Tae, who I see more than anyone and has the most teasing spirit of anyone I have ever known, save my sister Nay, who has such a childlike innocence in her that always seems to cry out "am I beautiful Daddy?" And sweet Dao, Lord, You know how much she hates the bars, how much she yearns for hope, for geuine life. Oh Father God, You have broken my heart for what breaks Yours, now please Father, draw them in. We are only here for another two days, but You never leave Father. Thank you so much for reaching Not Lord, now I can really call her my precious sister. But in faith Father, I call the others sister as well, believing that if we ask this in Your name that You will do it.
