After Cambodia we had some transition days in Thailand before going to the Philippines. There were no ministry opportunities set up for the first few days and we didn’t want to miss out on serving in Bangkok so the planning began.
I have been trying hard to keep the mindset of “ministry opportunities” not having to be programs or set appointments to do things. But that ministry is indeed our daily lives. And by tuning in and listening to God in every situation and people encounter, is a chance to let Christ shine and use us where He wants…Anyway a side spill of passion. J So in the mean time it was a great reminder for me to be aware of opportunities the Lord can use in everyday occurrences and even in the down times.
As the ministries came together there were several to pick from. There were two that caught my breath. One was the chance to go and visit the bar girls in the different districts in Bangkok. The other was to visit the slums. So for the sake of focusing I want to expound on the day I had visiting the bars of the Nana and Cowboy districts. J
When we had visited Thailand for our first month of of the race many disappointments were formed because we weren’t going to be in the city of Bangkok among the prostitutions and sex slave industries. This for many reasons WAS a great decision for our first month on the field. So this time I jumped at the opportunity to see “this” world that is so ramped among Asian culture but also seemingly hidden from the average American eye.
Teaming up with some gals that were doing outreach to these bar areas brought certain expectations of what the “bar’s” would look like, how the atmosphere would feel, and what the ladies and men were like that serviced and used the bar facilities to fill a need. A need that in the states is illegal, but yet also can be serviced quite easily.
But as I visited the bars, that’s what they were! Another expectation shut down. For an average “Joe” visitor touring the city of Bangkok you could easily walk down the road into a bar that looks like an American pub serving beer and sandwiches. There were establishments serving side by side offering pool, and drinks. But in reality the girls weren’t just waitresses, but lives that are bound to serving men and offering their life up for one night to so much more than drinks.
Under circumstances that are beyond control these girls are forced out of their village lives to the big city where they are expected to work and send back money to help support their families. And the choices are pretty slim. Without a non education background that could help them excel to a higher job of working in Seven Eleven or similar establishments, it is either the factories or the prostitution scene. So with desperation in hand and the bar tips offering so much more payment, the girls are often pulled into this “world “and out of their innocence.
Among the normality of the bars you could feel a cloud of lust, perversion, darkness of oppression, and selfishness. But the “spiritual” eyes could see longing, hopelessness, confusion, hurt, and innocence that were robbed. My heart experienced rage, hurt, compassion, and reality all at once. These realities and emotions quickened my spirit to pray and bind the evilness that surrounded these places.
As we strolled into the bars I met women who were funny, beautiful, and worthy. There were two in particular that struck me to the core. Both of them at different bar scenes but because of age similarities and other things I had a connection. The first one after discovering that we shared the same age, nose rings and tattoos (yes I got one…future blog to come:0 ) shouted out, sisters, and immediately resulted in an embrace. This to me touched my spirit. I didn’t get the chance to share the God of my life but I did get to share truths about me waiting for a man who is seeking to love God and only planning on being with “the one”. I hope my presence and connection lingers with her about what hope and a better deserving future looks like for her.
The other gal reminded me of me at moments of my life when I was almost delivered from a sin but my toe was still dabbling in it. She was a beautiful Thai gal, artistic with tattoo coverings and a lovely open vivacious personality. She shared about her divorce, and the lifestyle at the bar, and the current situation she had with an American married boyfriend. She vowed to him to be faithful and therefore she was striving to live only the life of bartending and nothing more offered to other men. For this I gave her kudos and encouragement. I was able to share about my tattoo that said TRUST and encouraged her with truth about my God. How He could give her the strength to leave it all behind and trust for His provisions. My spirit wanted to say leave the sin, honey, I will walk with you and YOU will experience freedom. Instead my silent prayers were directed her way knowing fully what its like to be trapped in the in between, not fully in but not fully out.
I can’t tell you how I really enjoyed this time. Another expectation thankfully shut down. My heart wasn’t disgusted, drawn away, fearful and angry toward them. Instead, I saw what was intended. And for that I give God all the credit and glory. I saw the beauty, intelligence, love, radiance, talents, gifting, goodness, innocence and love that God created for them to be and embrace. And instead the enemy came in and intended to destroy them!
Instead I am reminded to claim the truth that we are all His beloved, created for a higher purpose. He has already claimed us and called us by name. We just need to step into it! The Lord’s intention is to deliver us from ourselves and the enemy and to give us His blood covering that washes away all of our dirt, ugliness, and sin. My prayer is that the girls, bar owners, and men who frequent the establishment will step into the intentions and offering that God gives us and will embrace the realization of ” Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me , and I will be whiter than snow.” It still amazes me how I, we, can be whiter than snow without blemish. And when I was with the bar girls, I truly saw them with God’s eyes, clean , purified and waiting to be redeemed.
