On Saturday, our off day, my team went down toward the beach to hangout and just have a nice relaxing day. Eventually we went to Starbucks and went to the roof to drink our coffee and look at the beach. Well, I noticed a girl standing on the sidewalk waiting for a customer. My heart sank when I watched men walk up to her. It wasn’t even 5 o clock and they were already getting their night started. I watched 4 different men approach her in less than 10 min and they all ended up walking away. Every time a man walked up to her I just prayed. Not even knowing what to exactly pray I just said Jesus over and over relieved when each man left. I told Katie, a girl who we are working with here at blessing home that I just wanted to go down to the girl and buy her a coffee and take her away from the street.
Katie said “do it!” Just that simple, just go do it if you want. So me and allison both went down across the street and introduced ourselves and asked if she liked coffee and if she wanted some. She was so confused but excited at the same time that someone would just give her free coffee and sit with her. She couldn’t leave where she was standing so we brought it to back to her. Her name is Rose, she is 32 (looked 20) and was very sweet. She was absolutely beautiful. We sat with her for about a hour and a half and asked her different questions about her job and what she would like to do in the future. Rose would like to go to school and become a dentist. She doesn’t like her job but she needs the money to provide for her 9yr old.
I asked her why the men kept leaving and she said because she charged “to much.” She charges 1000 baht and men said it was too expensive. 1000 baht is $33. The girls on walking street charge 200 baht which is only $6. The night we all walked down Walking street all I could do is cry. My heart hurts for them. The whole street/town is just filled with darkness and lost people. Both the women and the men are so lost. They don’t know what real love is and they are searching in the wrong places. Looking into their eyes you can just tell they are empty. Part of me wanted to get so mad at all the men, I was so mad at them but I felt God saying He loves them so so much. He loves them as much as He loves me. They are just lost.
Back to Rose, we exchanged phone numbers and me and Allison are going to have lunch with her and begin a friendship with her. After we left we walked back across the street and into Starbucks. As soon as I sat down, 2 men had already walked up to her. My heart sank again. They had made a deal and she started to walk away. She looked up at us and waved and we waved back. All I could do is pray as she walked away. I am still praying for her tonight as I’m writing this. I may not be able to rescue Rose but I can love her. I can show her what real love is. I can show her she is worth more than 1000 baht.
Working here at Blessing Home we are teaching children ages 2 and up and giving them a education so they will not be forced in the sex tourism industry. Public school in Thailand cost money and some families can’t afford it. Since the kids don’t go to school they are forced to work. Boys and girls at age 14 are already working in the streets. Blessing home provides free education for these kids so they won’t be forced into this industry. We are starting at the beginning of this problem, starting with the children. It is important to minister and rescue the people on walking street but it will only stop when the problem is fixed at the source. One child put into school and with a education is one less child/adult working on the street.
Knowing that you could buy a woman for the same price as a fast food meal back home is heartbreaking. Man, if only they knew they are worth so much more. I honestly don’t even know how to write a blog about this topic. To put into words what I have seen the last few days is difficult. I guess all I can do is let you know what is happening and how you can be praying. Pray for Rose. Pray for the sex tourists. Pray that my team can be light to all the people we meet.
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