Since our arrival at SHE ministries, we’ve been off and running. Day one we prayer walked Bangla Road in the afternoon and took in our “ministry location” for the month. One of the hardest parts for me was seeing the number of children playing at the bars while mom set up for the night.
It was apparent they received little to no attention because they ran to us with big smiles, hoping we would play with them.
Clearly, I obliged.
Somehow a High-5 is universal and all kids love to see how high they can jump. So I played with them and prayed for them. All I could think about was how different our childhoods were… I climbed trees and rode my bike; they climb on poles and hide in cages.
These girls ran to play with us while we were prayer walking.
This is my favorite little baby boy that we see when we go out at night.
His stroller is attached to his parent's concession stand where they sell water and sodas.
As the weeks have progressed, I have been obedient in doing the ministry set before us. It’s not my favorite, nor do I feel I’m in my element but I’m showing up and God is stretching me outside of my comfort zone.
Ministry was going well until we had a tough night. Every bar we went to seemed to be a dead end…one bar owner thought we wanted to buy a girl when we were trying to set up a coffee date. One of our new friends wasn’t working so we couldn’t talk to her. A foreigner told us most Americans “don’t understand Thai culture, especially prostitution.” Two of our girls had “customers” when we went to visit and couldn’t talk to us. The cutest old man, one you’d want for a grandpa, smiled at us as he took our friend away. Ten seconds later, she came running back to give us hugs goodbye. They weren’t just any hugs, they were squeeze-you-to-death hugs because she’d rather hang out with us than go “back to work.”
I woke up the next morning sad. I was sad for the girls we’d made friends with, I was sad that places like Bangla Road exist. I was sad for the kids who grew up in this environment. I was even sad for the men who come here looking to buy happiness.
What’s the best remedy when you’re feeling blue?
Pancakes.
Actually, just one Pancake will do, as long as she gives lots of hugs. Allow me to introduce you to my current BFF,
PANCAKE.
My current BFF Pancake earning the high score playing Angry Birds.
That’s right, her name is really Pancake. While I was reading at the table, two small hands attempted to tickle me on my sides. The Tickle Monster in me came out in full force and a long-lasting giggle fit ensued. I’m surprised she didn’t pee her pants, really…
I then turned into a human jungle gym and began my repertoire that includes many flips and pretend airplanes (the kids are the ones flipping…just in case you were picturing me flipping around…). Pancake drew me a lovely picture of the two of us and showed me the nursery in the basement.
Can you see the resemblence?
Since our arrival, I had known many of the women employed by SHE brought their kids to work but hadn’t had the opportunity to stop by the nursery yet. Guess what was in the nursery? That’s right, MORE KIDS!!!
After one horsey ride I was drenched in sweat but my new friends didn’t care. We played for quite some time when I realized I had to leave but I assured them I would be back soon.
And I have been. These kiddos brighten my day and allow me a break from the taxing bar ministry.
After playing with these kids for a few days, I had a small epiphany. Nothing profound, it was quite logical actually, but it gave me renewed hope for the ministry. Here was my epiphany:
The lives of these children are drastically different because their moms are no longer working at the bars.
When a woman decides to stop working at the bars, it radically changes her life as well as her children and the generations to come. Pancake is not playing hide-n-seek around bar stools or hiding in cages; she is surrounded by people who love her and want to see her grow up to be a beautiful woman of God.
A teammate was reading a parable from Ezekiel about “God’s adulterous wife.” Sounds riveting, I know. But the part that stuck out to me the most was one phrase:
LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER.
Many women become bar girls because that’s what her mom did to make a living. The children at SHE have been freed from a life of bondage and they are following their mother’s footsteps of freedom.
I have renewed hope for my remaining week in Phuket and it all came from one Pancake.
Other SHE children I've befriended:
Left: My pal Sumo (properly named) is the biggest chunk of a baby I've ever met and is always smiling.
Right: Beuu is Pancake's little sister and the cutest little peanut. She was napping on the ping pong table and I may or may not have moved the paddles to made her look like an alien… 🙂
