The first time I walked from the debrief hostel to Zion Cafe I was greeted by the streets of Chiang Mai slowly. Nothing really opens until well after 11:00am. So shops were closed. Vendors were far and few between. The few people that were out were washing their front stoops and greeted us with a smile. And then on the corner there were these old women. Smiling and selling wicker globes and inside these globes were small sparrows. These sparrows were chirping and hopping. And they were very much afraid.
Immediately God told me, this is Thailand. These beautiful birds are trapped and afraid, and even worse, they’re selling themselves. They’re begging us to release them.
A couple weeks later I had the privilege to do bar ministry. While out at a bar I met a 60 year old woman who had been working at bars since she was 18. I asked her name and she answered, “Bird,” while flapping small wings with her hands. And in that moment all I wanted her to do was flap her arms so her wings would be big enough to carry her away from the scene she was cast in.
If “Bird” is the word, then how can I give her enough of herself to understand that she could be free from any bar and any barred cage? In three years will she retire and let her only daughter of 15 work instead? Does she know that the door on her cage is already open and all she must do is fly?
Its not as simple as all of this. But it is simply slavery. It is simply the need for Jesus. It is simply heart-wrenching and eye-opening. And the Thai people will simply steal your heart.
Working with Lighthouse In Action to shine light into Chiang Mai was such a blessing to us as a squad and we will never forget the things we saw and the people we met. I saw my squad mates love people like Jesus does. I felt my heart break in ways I thought it couldn’t. And all for the glory of a King that will not leave these people in anguish, but will redeem those who choose Him.
Here is a video my squad mate made to help fund LIA’s reconstruction project. Be sure to check them out, pray over them, and donate to them as they bring beautiful Thai people out of modern slavery.
