Wanted to update you on where God has us this month.
Where: Patong, Thailand (Outside of Phuket) Also…the photos of incredible Phuket beaches that exist that some of you have seen looks nothing like where we are. Just for the record. But we may have an opportunity to visit some of those places. We'll see.
When: We're here through Feb. 24
What: This is where it gets dark. The "nightlife" scene here is insane. There's an area here known as Bangla Road. Think Bourbon Street, with less regulation, and more opportunity for sex. A LOT MORE. The bars and clubs are there not just to provide drinks, but women (and men, most dressed as beautiful women…I usually can't tell the difference.) As a patron you can basically rent the women who are officially there to serve drinks, but for the right price, will serve more. You can rent by the night, or for weeks on end. I'll leave it at that, but you can assume what all that entails…and I would go ahead and assume the very worst.
Here's a photo that might help you get an idea of what it looks like on a typical night out…
So, why even go here? Because the vast, vast majority of these women are prisoners…working in these bars, being used for sex, in order to try to make ends meet. Most of them are fairly uneducated, moved from far away to the city for work, and when they can't find it, take jobs at these bars without much hope for anything else. Some are sent here by their family to earn money this way, to provide for their family back home. And once they start working, they become resigned to this life…hating it, living without much help or hope. That's where our ministry contacts come in. I won't name them, or their ministry, but their goal is to reach out to these women…to befriend them for WHO THEY ARE, and to just pour out God's grace and love on them without reserve. To treat them as intentional creations of God. To acknowledge their beauty and worth as human beings.
Every other night our two teams go into this area, sit at the bars, and strike up conversations..building relationships with the women there…visting them repeatedly during our time here…letting them know we're coming out at night specifically to see them and to get to know them. If the friendship gets to the point where they confide that they want out, we talk to them about our contacts here, and the options they provide in order to make money without having to sell themselves. We rely on the trust we've built from the beginning with them that they will then take the hand being offered. But even if not, we are planting seeds, reminding them of their worth, letting them know there are some out there are will rally for them, who will come for them.
We went out our first night…and it was tough. it's dark you guys. Really and truly. It's just…a lot to take in. We can't do this alone. We need your prayer! And I'll get to that in a minute…but first…some encouragement! In the 5 or so years our contacts have been focused on this they have seen the numbers of bar patrons drop. They have helped rescue countless women, and help empower them, leading them to jobs and a life completely outside of this lifestyle. They have seen one road of bars close down and become a regular market, and we pray it stays that way. They have seen CHANGE at the hand of God! Their prayers are being answered in a VERY REAL WAY!
Here are some specific ways you can pray.
1. We will go out Thursday night from 9pm-11:30pm, and every OTHER night after that (so not Friday, but Saturday, Monday, Wednesday, etc.) at the same times. We worship and pray an hour before going out each night. Joining us in prayer during our nights out would be HUGE! (We're exactly 12 hours ahead of the East Coast).
2. Just pray in general for this whole deal…that women would be rescued, that God would bring others here to help the ministry, etc. That the enemy's grip here would fall away.
3. Pray for Maria and Eve (not their real names.) These are two women (ages 22 and 20) we've already met that we're hoping to build relationships with. Pray Holy Spirit moves and works through us in order to bring them freedom.
4. Pray that Holy Spirit guides us to the women He has for us to meet. It was clear from being there one night that we can't do this on our own strength. We NEED Holy Spirit in every way, every minute we're out there. Without Him leading and sustaining us, we won't get anywhere.
5. Pray for strength. As a man it is tough to be in that environment. Especially coming from a past that isn't so, "pure". I am fully renewed, and in so, even have a compassion for the men I see out there, giving in to all this fleshly desire. But being there myself is hard. I have to have my guard up and seek purity in a way I've never been confronted with before. Pray for supernatural strength, for purity, to see as God sees, to make wise choices, to take my thoughts captive and that I would live out being a holy saint of the kingdom of heaven. I am fully prepared to stay behind and intercede for those going out if it becomes too much to look at and be around. No shame in doing that. But my hope is to be out there, in the trenches…being a conduit of God's POWERFUL and TRANSFORMING love.
Quick side note…we're here with a YWAM team of 9 and a Real Life team of 9. The nights our two World Race teams go out, they intercede for us. The nights they go out, we intercede for them. And on the nights we go out, we also prayer walk in the bar district during the day…praying over the stools where women we know sit, praying over specific bars where we meet the girls, praying over the streets, and just covering that place in prayer. Our contacts are all about prayer, prayer, prayer and relying on the power of our God. Please join with us in that. God is bringing down the walls of the enemy! It's real! Join in!
