I’m here. I’m actually here. I’m in Thailand. It’s a place I knew little about a few years back. Thailand – beautiful beaches, excellent food, cheap souvenirs – it is the ultimate tourist attraction. It wasn’t until I started research for a paper in college that I found out about the real reason that some people come to Thailand. Things are cheap here, I can tell you that after my first trip to the 7-11 down the street. I’ve been here for less than 48 hours and already experienced the market’s street food at extremely low prices. But the food isn’t the only thing that’s cheap here.
My junior year of college I wrote a paper about human trafficking and more specifically, sex slavery. I was in a class that talked about the prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, Hosea…and what they had to say about justice, righteous living, giving to the poor. When I searched the scriptures it was clear what the Lord said about the poor and unfortunate.
Love them.
Take care of them.
Give them justice.
Show them that they have value.
The prophets spoke out these words along with many others because the people were not living for the Lord. They were trampling the poor, exploiting the fatherless, stealing from the widows, looking the other way. The Lord would not accept their offerings at the temple because their hearts were hard.
Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations – I cannot bear your evil assemblies. Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts my soul hates. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight!
Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.
-Isaiah 1:13-17
I decided to look into the issue of human-trafficking because I did not know much about it. Still, if there really were lots of innocent people being stolen, sold, abused, killed, raped…wouldn’t someone want to help? Why has this industry grown instead of being squelched? Surely humans would stand up for their brothers and sisters?
My research proved the opposite. The drive for human-trafficking, and more specifically, for sex-trafficking is largely fueled by men and their desire to buy sex. We created this market, we keep it going. I began to read books, watch documentaries, check the internet. What I found was heavy and depressing. Since I’m the type of person that likes to start something and work until its finished, I typically wait to write papers until the week it’s due. I do a couple of days of research, take time to outline and organize my notes, then go for it. It’s my system, it works for me. Because of this, I spent day after day in the library carrying books, taking notes, researching every angle of this modern day slave trade.
One night after many grueling hours in the library, I climbed into my bunk bed extremely exhausted. My roommate had already been asleep for some time as it was very late. I fell asleep pondering all that I had just read, all the horrible stories of intelligent and hard-working women being stolen or just plain duped and taken away to be prostitutes against their will. The majority have no escape.
I remember the dreams. I only had two and I haven’t told many people about them, but they shook me up pretty badly at first. The second dream was the most terrifying. I didn’t know where I was, it was dark, loud and very confusing. I knew I didn’t belong there, that I didn’t want to be there, I wasn't there by my own power…something bad was going to happen any minute. The images weren’t very clear in my mind and for that I’m thankful. I panicked and in my fear jolted myself awake. I lay there for a moment not sure where I was in my dark little dorm room. Immediately I began to pray:
Jesus, help me. Just help me. Hold me. Jesus, be here. I’m scared. Save me.
A simple prayer. A plea for him to take charge, to save the day, to comfort me. That’s when I heard these words and knew they were from the Lord:
Hannah, I’m here. You know me. You can call out to me at any time and know I’m with you. You know my Name. Nothing harmed you tonight. But what about those girls? The ones you read about? What about the women who are raped and abused 30 times each day in reality? They don’t know my Name. How can they call out to me if they’ve never heard of me?
I lay there in shock. Suddenly I had no more concern for myself. I was safe, I was a student asleep in a secure dormitory, while all around the world (America isn’t exempt) girls were being taken advantage of. The dream shook me. I didn’t know what to do about it. Should I get a plane ticket and go to Thailand to rescue women from the bars? Should I make a way to Europe to pray for prostitutes? Should I go around America and share the gospel so that more men would lead pure lives and not treat women in such ways? The problem is so big Lord, what can I do?
I was not sure at the time, but I knew if there ever was an opportunity from the Lord in this area, I would take it. My World Race route had Thailand on the map. I had read blogs, I knew the type of ministry that we’d be doing here. It’s month 8, and now I’m here. Chiang Mai, Thailand. Right now, I’m sitting in a comfortable coffee shop across the street from a huge university. For the next three weeks I’ll be able to build relationships with students, help them practice English and hopefully talk about Jesus. Some of my teammates are hanging out in bars and pubs in the afternoons to talk with the girls and ladyboys (transsexuals) who work there. Some nights we will all go out on bar street and minister.
I’m here to be all in. I want to meet with, eat with, share life with the people of Thailand. And I want to tell you all about it…because when you know something, when you hear about a problem, then you are responsible to help solve it. I don’t mean that you buy a one-way ticket to Chiang Mai to evangelize in every single bar, but it can start with prayer and spreading the news.
As you join me in praying for and ministering to the women and men of Thailand, please also be on the lookout for those on your street corner that need Christ. Prostitution is a heavy issue and the need is great for the light of Christ here, but everyone needs the light regardless of country, gender, age or wealth. Without it, there’s only darkness.
