“I’m so glad you ladies are here in Thailand and working with NightLight in the sex industry this month. The men and women in the human trafficking industry are bankrupt of love!”
My friend who has been working in human trafficking for two years here in Thailand spent an afternoon with our team while she was visiting Bangkok last weekend. She gave us hugs as she spoke these words and said goodbye, on her way back to Chiang Mai.
Bankrupt of love.
That phrase stuck with me as three of our girls and I were on our way to do bar ministry last night in the Red Light district.
We are working with an organization this month called NightLight.
After reviewing some guidelines for ministering to people in the bars, we spent time in prayer before then splitting into groups and heading out with our leaders.
One of the things that struck me was our leader saying, “Many times words don’t mean much to the girls working in the bars……really what makes the difference is the Lord’s presence they feel when they are around us. They feel safe with us.”
Entering into an upper level bar with my team, I tried to gather my bearings amidst the dark atmosphere and loud music that was blaring.
There were long bench seats and tables in an amphitheater style set up, almost completely surrounding and facing a stage where the only lights in the entire place were focused. There were numerous poles where 12-15 girls were moving and dancing, rotating front to back after each song.
Because NightLight has a good relationship and has found favor with the Mamasan (the older woman in charge of the girls) at this particular bar, we were greeted with smiles and immediately had 4 girls sent over to sit with us.
We bought each girl a coke, as they have a quota to sell a certain number of drinks every month and for them, time is money.
Jen came and sat with me, her English name written in small letters under the huge number 19 that was pinned on her.
My companions were able to carry on conversations with the girls sitting next to them but Jen spoke little to no English. Any attempt on my part to communicate with broken English or hand motions was in vain. I considered it a victory that I was able to find out she was 21 years old.
After a few moments of wondering what to do next, I started to become comforted in the truth that love needs no translation.
I pulled out the piece of paper I was carrying that was written in Thai, inviting her to an event at NightLight next week. Turning it over, I drew the one and only thing I know how…
My quick version of a horse head brought a smile to her face so I decided to move into more elementary concepts and drew a sun, moon, stars, a tree, a flower…..a weird looking elephant.
With each new drawing Jen told me how to say it in Thai and then I would say it in English. Without fail, she would laugh at my attempt to say the words in Thai and with each new drawing she would lean into me with engaged eyes and a genuine smile, waiting for the next one.
Just to see her let down her guard and actually feel safe with me was so amazing. I started to see a new glimmer of light in her eyes the longer we sat together.
In the grand scheme of things, our interaction was seemingly insignificant.
But my friend’s words yet ring in my ear. They are bankrupt of love.
Sometimes love isn’t shown through words….it’s shown through presence.
The presence of the Father’s love for Jen was flowing through me last night and as I hugged her goodbye, I prayed she would feel the substance of His love pouring into her…that He would plant seeds in her heart and reveal Himself to her in ways far beyond our minuscule interaction.
Please continue to pray for the men and women we are ministering to this month as we partner with NightLight and continue to love on His people here in Bangkok.
