Written on 01.11.13
Something about human trafficking just makes me sick..
I don't know why it seems to bother me more than the various other injustices in the world…
All I know is how it does affect me.
The word repulsive quickly comes to mind.
Thinking about the enslaved women and kidnapped children that compose the majority of the industry stirs a passion within me that makes me feel unstoppable–must be the power of the risen Christ inside of me.
At home when I heard that it was a major problem just one state over (in Toledo, OH), I was completely shocked. I discovered this tragedy my junior year of college, which lead to me wearing the same black dress for 3 months straight to raise awareness and funds for The Daughter Project (an organization based in Ohio to help previously trafficked girls).
These thoughts fill me and fuel the fire that burns with the desire to rescue, the desire to save people from their present physical pain, from further emotionally scarring and a spiritually dead eternity.
Thailand is notorious for its sexual trafficking problem, which breaks my heart and also built my excitement to come here and fight against it! But instead of bar ministry (where you go into the bars, covering the place in prayer and building friendships with the girls working there & showing them Love and the hope He brings), I've been placed in the rice fields for "an extreme exchange experience"…
So cheers to hoes and busted beer bottles!
[What my ministry has ACTUALLY been looking like].
We have only been out in the rice fields once thus far. The majority of our days have been spent "cutting grass." I put that in quotes since really we have been whacking at various weeds in incredibly hard dirt while using the dullest and most ineffective gardening hoes that any of us have ever seen.
Today I managed to bust a couple beer bottles and shatter glass all throughout my area, as the bottles were hidden in a patch of tall weeds.
I usually just laugh when I look around and get to say "This is my life."
I have found joy in the challenge to avoid blisters as well as the jealousy that my flesh naturally leans toward when I compare ministries. I trust that He has me here on purpose. He wasn't surprised like I was the first time I heard "you'll be working in rice fields." I love my Thai mom, dad and little brother (He's four and adorable. We colored after school together the other day and he began to write an email on my iPod in the 30 seconds that it took for me to get my crayons from inside). I recognize that I am part of an elite group of college graduates who get to experience life as I am right now and am eternally thankful for that.
With all that being said, I still wouldn't mind a Thailand do-over in the future (meaning return, but choose my own adventure/ ministry ;)).
Much love, joy and grace abound from me knowing that the people that are hosting me (a Buddhist family and me, a Christian missionary) are being Jesus' hands and feet to me, they just don't know it yet! <3
Please continue to pray for our village that the Lord would soften their hearts toward Him and the gospel. Pray that the people of the town would feel incredibly loved by us and see Christ in us (through our words & actions), as well as that the language wouldn't be a barrier since we do have a translator with us. Please also pray for my team and our sleep, many of us have been having a hard time falling asleep (and staying asleep) or wake up after having nightmares.
