As I am walking down a dark road in Chiang Mai, Thailand I realized that I know what is going on here, but my parents have no clue. I have seen this place before in other countries that I have visited on this journey. I know what it is like to walk across a street, that many tourists pass by every single day, and to overlook what is happening behind closed doors. I know the code words and I know the look in the women’s eyes. I know this place all too well.
But my parents didn’t know.
Until they witnessed it firsthand. Until they got a taste of what bar ministry really looked like. Until they got to sit with hurt women and see the pain in their eyes. Until they got to see what was really happening behind those closed doors. Until they saw lost men looking for love in the darkness of that room.
Then they understood.
If you would have told me 2 years ago that I would be going into a dance bar with my mom and dad to minister to women, I would have called you absolutely insane. Never would that happen. Like ever.
Well it happened.
I had the opportunity to go into a “bar” with my parents and talk to women who sell their bodies for money. Sometimes they are not women and just young girls of only 11 years old. Men walk into a Las Vegas style strip with bars lined up on both sides and when they see a woman, women, or child that they like, they sit down and buy a drink. Once they purchase a drink they are allowed to talk to the girls, who hardly speak English, and if they pay enough money are able to take them for the night. What they do, I don’t know, I can only assume from the stories I have been told.
(The outside of the “bar” we were at)
Before we went, we heard stories of women and girls who have been rescued that were required to “service” 20-50 men a night. Yep 20, 30, 40, 50 men in one night. We heard stories of girls who were tricked into the sex industry by evil people saying they would give them a job as a housekeeper. We heard stories of very young girls being sold into the sex trade by their family. My heart. My heart.
We prayed before we went and we walked up and down the “strip” of bars until we felt the Lord leading us to a certain bar. A group of us chose a bar that had a woman with a sugar glider. This made it easier to start a conversation with her because we asked if we could hold the little rodent. We all bought a really expensive soda to “buy” her time so we could share some Godly love with her. We didn’t speak a word about Jesus, we simply showed her kindness, love, and joy. She was in her late 20’s and by the end of our conversation she was singing, or more like yelling at the top of her lungs, JOY TO THE WORLD THE LORD HAS COME!!!! It was really awesome to see her light up and just for a portion of her night be filled with love and peace.
(The sugar glider and if you look close you can see the inside of the bar behind me)
While we were there, we were able to pray over all of the bars that were in a small space. We got to pray over all of the girls in the room. We prayed for all of the lost men who were in the bar “purchasing” their girl for the night.
We were able to shine a light in a dark place.
I felt on fire and so excited that my parents got to experience a ministry that the Lord has put on my heart and then Night #2 happened.
The next day, we decided to go back to the bar for a second night. My parents did a prayer walk around the bars praying for chains to be broken, for all the lost souls to come to know Jesus, for all the strongholds over that place to be released. Both of my parents prayed hard for all of the lost men who were in that place purchasing women and girls. If the men weren’t there, this place wouldn’t be in business anymore, so they decided to target the men with prayer. My parents decided to intercede outside while I went in with a group of people. I didn’t know they were interceding for the men at the time.
I am so glad they did though, because prayer works. It works BIG time. I saw the Holy Spirit, Jesus, and God at work with my own eyes. They started breaking chains right in front of my eyes.
I ended up at a table with a couple of my fellow World Racer’s dad’s and one mom. We decided to start praying out loud for the men in the room. We went around the table praying with our eyes open for this place to be turned to light. For all the women to be saved and shown the love of Jesus. For all of the men to leave this place.
One of the World Racer’s father started praying and we decided to try something new out. We started to pray for one specific man that was in there purchasing a girl. We prayed for his chains to be broken, for this middle aged white man to feel the presence of God, for him to leave this place. The World Racer’s father stopped praying and I encouraged him to keep going. He did. He prayed a simple prayer and then the middle aged white man made eye contact with me. I just smiled.
In that second, he threw some money down on the table and ran out of that place. It was as if he had a fire under his butt and he couldn’t run fast enough out of the front door. People could say a lot of different things about what happened, but I know the truth. Jesus showed this man that this place was not for him. Jesus showed him HIS love. Jesus showed him the truth, that what he was doing was wrong.
JESUS YOU ARE SO COOL!
We sat there with the biggest smiles on our faces. Jesus won. From darkness to light one man at a time. One man less in the sex industry means one less man a woman has to service. One man less means one more light beam in that dark place. One man less is a HUGE victory.
But then Jesus wanted to show off.
We were experiencing a Holy Spirit filled joy and we decided to let Jesus show up again. We picked a man who looked like he was having an amazing time with 3 women. We then started praying for him. We said a simple prayer, “Jesus make this man leave, fill him with you, show him who you are.”
Guess what…….
That man left the bar 2 minutes after we prayed. Wait he didn’t just leave, he ran out of that bar.
JESUS YOU ARE SO DANG COOL!
That is two men less in the sex industry because of prayer. Jesus let us experience our prayers being answered firsthand with our own eyes. I needed to see this. The World Racer’s I was with needed to see this. The World Race parents I was with needed to see this. God has perfect timing and he knew exactly what we needed to see with our own eyes. He wanted to remind us that He DOES answer prayers. He wanted to remind us that interceding works. He wanted to remind us that He is real and He does hear us.
On this trip I have said more prayers than I ever have in my entire life combined. I have prayed for healing, I have prayed for family members, I have prayed and prayed and prayed. Sometimes I feel like God doesn’t hear my prayers. Sometimes I feel like God is trying to see how patient I can be. Sometimes I feel like God is sleeping on the job.
But I’m here to tell you through this experience that God is listening. Jesus is listening. The Holy Spirit is listening. Keep praying. Believe God will show up and answer your prayers. God is so much bigger than the enemy and He is just waiting for you to allow Him to show up.
Pray. Believe. Trust. Have Faith. That’s all you need to do.
A huge THANK YOU to my parents for flying across the globe to come experience what my life is like on the World Race. You both are amazing and I can’t wait to see what the Lord has in store for you both! Thank you for always believing in me and for supporting me in all of my crazy adventures!
