Today was the first day going into the
bars. I was paired with an employee of the Tamar Center who was
formerly a prostitute. We prayed that God would guide our steps and
we would carefully listen to the Spirit on who, what , when, and
where. Sure enough God is so good, we sat down at a bar where the
girls were getting ready for the night. (We will start our night
about 5 before most of the men get to the bars, so that we can have
their attention). So we sat and handed out some slips of paper about
the free english classes Tamar provides, which several of the woman
eagerly took. Poa (my translater) knew very little english and I know
all of two words in Thai. So she immediately sought out a lady and
began conversation. I sat and listened to what I could of it and
tried to make small talk with a few of the woman around me. Some knew
a little english others just sat and laughed at me trying to speak
Thai. I was drawn to two of the woman, one who spoke broken english;
most of her sentences made no sense. But we did what we could and
most of the time just laughed at one another. I love them. My heart
gave in and I love those woman. I hate what they do, I hate the sin
that blinds them from freedom… but I love those woman. I love to
see them laugh, I love to laugh with them. I love the look in their
eyes when they notice something different in me.
We also helped out in English class for
the woman who have committed to come out of the bars and make a
living through what the Tamar center provides. It was one of the best
couple hours I have had in a while. I have to admit I went in with my
doubts at how wonderful sounding out English words was going to be..
but the woman once again won my heart. Words like ‘spoon, fork,
plate,f rying pan, and fridge’… they just never seemed so fun to
say 
until your teaching a Thai woman how to speak them for the first
time. Once again I found myself laughing throughout most the class at
myself trying to learn Thai words for cooking utensils and trying to
slowly speak and sound out syllables in english. My partner was Jie.
I believe I called her a different name every time I tried to speak
to her. Oh well, at least she laughs at me as much as I laugh at her.
Another day passed before I posted this
blog, so we had another night in at the bars downtown. Christina and
I sat down with one of our translators at a bar and ordered some
cokes. The woman were so excited to serve us, they busted out the old
Jenga or Jinga, not sure how to spell it, and Connect Four. Of
course I had to let Bim win against me… kidding I think she is a
Connect Four professional. Anyhow she was 27 but looked 20 and Poo
was 30 and looked about 24. We had the best time, Bim spoke some
English so it was good to get a conversation going, we laughed and
asked them to come to free English classes. Though it did break my
heart when they would shout at the men walking by. Just pray freedom
over their lives, the more I hang out with them the more I realize
how alike we really are. Continue to pray for our hearts, it feels
like day and night we give them away to these woman and it hurts to
see them stay at work and choose bondage. God is a restorer and a
repairer… thank ya Jesus! Well this one is a quick one I will try
and get one more in before Christmas.
Love you all so dearly
