I walked up to Devil's Playground Bar on a Monday afternoon. We were prayer walking through Bangla Road, this is where you find Phuket, Thailand's Red Light District. Open air strip clubs, prostitution, alcohol. As we sat down at the bar a women, she was very small but with her six inch heels, she appeared to be about 5'2. I loved her instantaneously! Strange, yes, the choice of words are strong but I did, I felt a tiny fraction of the huge love that Abba has for her. I knew that for the next couple of weeks I was to pursue, her.
Her name is Mimi, she works as a bar girl from 11am to 2am. For a few hours she serves drinks at the bar. Then when the sun is gone and the tourists come around she makes her way outside near the porch tables and waits, waits for someone to buy her for the night. Sometimes, they only want her for a few hours. Other times they buy her for the whole night and the entire morning. She hates it. Mimi says she would do anything else, anything that will pay the bills and give her freedom from her "customers". Unfortunately, now she is in debt to her bar owner, She must pay 300 baht every night.
After a few visits to the bar, Mimi let me in. At first she entertained me by hugging me and serving me. Mimi was just plain- old "working" a customer. After visiting her a few times and establishing a friendship with Mimi, one afternoon I told her with simple but oh so real words; YOUR BETTER THAN THIS! Somehow through the language barrier and loud music, through the spirit of performance in the air, Mimi listened to those words. She looked at me and her whole face changed. She went from the "fake work smile" that she shows all her customers to a real emotional gaze. Her eyes quickly filled with tears. She held my hand and squeezed it tight.
Days passed, Jesus continued to break my heart for her. I needed to tell her that Jesus wants her and will never stop, wanting her. I needed to get her out of that place, because the things I told her, were true! She is better than selling her body, she is better than letting man after man use her, stomp on her. Mimi is meant for so much more.
I went out this past Monday night to minister on Bangala Rd. I went to visit Mimi, the nightly ministry routine; order only two cokes, sit near the door, make sure you avoid the manager, and if someone is watching you especially the ones we were told to watch out for, leave, fast. This night I sat with my friend Mimi, she was sad, something was wrong. I had an urge to just take her by the hand and run out of that place. I heard Jesus say, that's what I feel every night, but I come back every morning. He said, I pursue her everyday. Mimi told me that night that she wanted out. She said, I will do anything else, I can't live like this anymore!
We arranged to meet the next day, I was taking her to SHE ministries, where I lived all month.
We arrived at the meeting spot a little ways from the bar, away from all the familiar eyes. Mimi left with me. She held my hand. Smiling and with broken English she said, you are in my heart Daniela.
Mimi excepted Jesus into her heart that day. Mimi confessed her sins. Mimi met Jesus for the first time, she prayed and felt the love of Christ. Mimi told me, I've been Buddhist all my life and I have never felt so happy the way I do now after meeting Jesus.
It was beautiful, excepted into the kingdom, dressed in white and purity. Abba received her into his arms and held her close to his heart. Mimi was absolutely transformed that day, her face radiated with joy and life.
But things would quickly change. Mimi, decided to go back that night, she said she needed to make money, she said that the help we offered her wasn't enough to pay her daughters hospital and school expenses and she had to return to pay her "bar owner. Or, was she afraid of this new way of life that was offered, all she has ever known, the life that was forced upon her. I could only imagine the thoughts racing through her mind.
Mimi, went back. It broke me, my hope was shattered. Exasperated, confused and disappointed, all what I felt on the ride back home from dropping her off at the bar. In that moment I felt so much, so much I could not even begin to articulate words so I could express the massive hit to the heart, hit to my faith, hit to my hope. Jesus faithfully helped me understand that even though she went back He will never give up on her. He said, I am in her heart now, she knows me now. There is nowhere she could run I am with her. He said, I will pursue her just as I did you. You ran from me time and time again. Just as I pursue the church I will pursue Mimi. She is mine and I am hers.
Hosea.
