It's hard to imagine the 150 three to eighteen year olds I have spent the last few weeks with held up in a brothel, being raped up to 50 times a day. Fortunately, I don't have to.
While recent movies seem to bring to light the realities of this dark part of Thailand, the popularity of sex trafficking seems to increase. Estimates are that 65% of the male tourists in Thailand are here for sex tourism…but it's not just them. The perpetrators are equally divided among foreigners, locals, and police and government officials. The victims range in gender and age. The average person trafficked is 8 years old.
This month in Thailand I'm working with an organization called Remember Nhu. It was started after an American heard the story of Nhu, At 12 years old, her grandmother came into some heavy debt trying to put food on the table. As the oldest child, it was Nhu's responsibility to provide, and so her grandmother sold her for three days to a man who was able to do whatever he wanted with her. This happened two more times. Nhu is now a beautiful, cheerful 24 year old who loves to share her love for the Lord with the children in the organization and through speaking engagements. Remember Nhu identifies children who are at severe risk for being sold into prostitution and brings them to live in a home where they are taught about Jesus.
A 6 year old who was rescued after being brutally raped and left unconscious, for dead.
A 2 and 3 year old, each found in the city's market where their mothers were trying to sell them.
Or one of my favorite girls, a 5 year old who was brought to the home 2 years ago. She was found covered in bruises and pinch marks, evidence of abuse from her drug addict parents, who would have likely used their daughter's body to fund their next fix.
The beautiful part about the 3 different homes we visit is how peaceful and happy the children are. They are well cared for and well loved. Every time I walk in, I feel as though I'm walking into one large family. We sit at the dinner table together, play together, and the older children help care for the younger. I watch 7 year olds iron their clothes, and the young boys wouldn't dream of letting me wash my own dish. I spent a night at the girls' school dance recital where their house parents and other missionaries took pictures and bought necklaces to reward their children…as if they were their own parents. Their great care for the children has earned Remeber Nhu a good reputation. Tribes that are known for selling their sons and daughters to the sex trade are now giving their children to the organization instead. The chiefs don't like seeing the traded girls come home to die of AIDS and cause even further pain.
The village where 2 of the girls were rescued from
At Remeber Nhu, these girls have a hope for the future. With 4 girls already in college, I'm excited to see how those raised in Remember Nhu will bring glory to His kingdom. It is clear that each of them knows the love of the Lord.
