The heavy heat brought in with each morning sun lingers on into nights here in Thailand. A light breeze blows the night air, faintly cooling the skin, but only enough to remind me of the moisture perpetually accompanying my body. I lay in bed, as still as possible, loving every second the oscillating fans turn my way and then anticipating their return a few seconds later.
The sound of motorbikes, cars and scooters reverberate through the open window from the street below, a reminder of the ever present night life in this costal city. Beauty is one thing not lacking in Thailand, from its’ people, to its’ beaches, mountains and islands; this place is a traveler’s dream. I have seen pictures in magazines and heard stories from my brother, but Thailand is a place that you must experience first hand to truly see the beauty this country contains.
Unfortunately, not every person comes to Thailand only to experience the natural beauty of the country. An industry built around lust has flourished here, as in many other places around the world. Prostitution is illegal in Thailand, as in America, but the enforcement of this law is rare, especially in the touristy southern cities where business thrives as strongly as the country’s Buddhist heritage.
This month our team, now of 5 women, has blended with part of the media team to partner in Phuket, Thailand with a recently formed ministry called Self Help and Empowerment (SHE). Created by an English couple, Mark and Sharon Biddle, the vision of SHE is to reach out to the girls at the bars and provide them an option of alternative income. They can choose to leave their old life and become employees of SHE, hand making beautiful jewelry that is later to be sold all around the world. The friendships Mark and Sharon make by going out to the bars a couple times a week are real but, the choice is still entirely up to the girls. There is a great deal of pressure here to make money and send it home to the family who often live many hours away. Leaving the bars also means leaving the fast money that usually comes in excess.
But, God is so much bigger than lust and money and He draws people to Himself through His Holy Spirit, despite the seemingly impossible odds and radical life changes needed. It is a chance to have a fresh start, a new beginning and a new choice that may not have been there for the girls before. Currently four girls have made the choice to start over, they have been working here with SHE for about a month and have quickly become friends and family to the Biddles (after only four days they are rapidly becoming a part of us as well). Just a couple weeks ago the last girl made the decision to follow Christ (yay!) and now all four are being discipled and joining the night time bar ministry as walking testimony’s of the transforming power of Jesus Christ.
Thailand is a country ready for a revival from ancient religion and the sex industry. It will take a powerful God and obedient followers to change the patterns of sin that many have grown comfortable with over the years, here and all over the world. I know without a doubt God is powerful, it is my prayer that we are all obedient followers.
You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to You. – Psalm 86:5
