Tonight we did bar ministry. The scene is redemption. My heart used to be all too familiar here.
We took songthaews to another part of Chaing Mai where two teams are apart of Love Acts a minsitry our contact created to resuce girls from sex trafficking in the bars. Our parterning teams are doing bar ministry this month about every other night. I wasn’t nervous, I’ve been into a bar, I can imagine what sex trafficking looks like, I wanted to let go of my expectations. I walked in with a clean slate in my brain. Soon those images of real life were in my head. Walking past the bars, seeing the ladyboys, witnessing girls selling their bodies to men young and old, it was going to be too much. I wanted to opt-out. I kept following Mim and a team mate of mine as we zig zagged our way down the sidewalk. We stop and talk to some girls Mim knows. Tight clothing, high heals, skin showing that is only meant for their husbands to see. My heart dove. I wanted to run and help them all at the same time. I wanted Jesus to cover my eyes, I wanted him to open them to ways I can make a difference. These girls are precious. Dearly loved children of God caught in a darkness they feel they are forced into. We head into bar.
I was either going to get sucked into this or make it out alive. Jesus had already gone before us tonight. He knows what we need. He knew that I was going to choose life.
I sat down and ordered a coke. The bar was small. 2 men to my left and one to my right. Girls already in all three of their arms. Fifths of bottles lined the wall in front of me with orange rope lights and a tv on in the left upper corner; the only light visible in the room. My light for Christ was their, but it was dim. I looked back on the wall at the Smirnoff. I listened to the feel good music in my ears. Why was this such a question right now of where I wanted to be in life? Torn between the past and the present I needed to re-evaluate my heart. The men to my left have their hands on these girls. The young gentlemen to my right leads a girl up stairs. I wanted to vomit. I wanted to grab all three of these girls and tell them they don’t have to live this life. They don’t have to worry about feeding their families, or making a life for themselves this way, I wanted to tell them God will provide all their needs. Although it’s not that simple.
We continue walking. Praying and walking. Praying for the ladyboys, praying for the women, praying for the men, praying for the kids in this environment, praying for the kids selling necklaces to provide some kind of income for their families, praying these chain of bars will be knocked down to the ground and will be replaced with people worshiping and praising in the streets. I bust out of my selfish state and start proclaiming Jesus as I walk. I prayed hard. I wanted to see life in this place more than I wanted anything in my life.
The 3 of us end up sitting outside this burger place chatting with a drunk guy from San Francisco who points out we are missionaries 1 minute into the conversation. We didn’t tell him we were. I am guessing he saw the love of Jesus in our eyes. Although he was drunk, he had one of the kindest hearts. I pray this man knows God, he would love on people immensely for a different and greater purpose.
My heart strings were pulled on tremendously this night for the girls in sex trafficking. I want to see them break away from these chains and find freedom in Jesus Christ.
We only went into the bar one night to experience a different type of ministry than our own this month. This one night gave me complete freedom from my past that no longer defines me, for I am made new in Christ. He knows what we need and fills us up with so much joy when we least expect it. I want these girls to know about that joy. Will you help pray me pray that these girls will get a way out.
