Thailand: Land of Smiles. This has been our home for month 5 of the Race.
I have had my eye on Thailand for 2 years now. It was the country I was most looking forward to on the first route we applied for. God even used it at training camp to confirm that we were to go on this mission trip. (Read the story in my blog: Confirmative).
The reason? Bar ministry. You see, just as most southeast Asian countries, the sex trade is booming here. Young women and children are frequently kidnapped or sold by relatives to be thrown into the sex market. As a result, the streets of red-light districts in Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Bangkok are swarmed with women, children, and “ladyboys” being sold for their bodies. It is disgusting. And I’m passionate about it. I’ve watched men in my family become addicted to porn and I see how evil the sex industry is. I’ve even been the victim of child molestation by a man who was/is heavily addicted to porn. The sex industry is dangerous not only to the women being taken advantage of but also the men/women watching it from the other side of the screen.
But I know there is hope. We’ve encouraged and watched a close friend triumph over his addiction to porn and save his marriage. I’ve read countless stories of missionaries involved in bar ministry rescuing girls when there seemed to be no other hope. I want to be a part of that. I’ve had big expectations for Thailand.
But God has other plans. I will be honest, I was disappointed when I heard we would be teaching English and building a wall at an orphanage outside of Chiang Mai.
“Wait God! You told me I would get to be a part of bar ministry… That is why you gave me back Thailand.”
No. I gave it back as confirmation that this mission trip was MY will.
And you can’t argue with God! I won’t lie, it was hard to leave other teams in Chiang Mai knowing that they would be doing what I have been waiting for… Until I saw the children. They are all so beautiful and smart and just amazing! The cool thing is Asia’s Hope rescues children from villages who are at risk of being sold by their families. So I am getting to prevent children from being sold into the sex-trade. It just doesn’t look the way I thought. It is just a reminder that the Lord’s ways are not our ways. His plans are so much bigger and better than any of my expectations.
Be blessed!
