This month we have been working with Lighthouse in Action. They are an organization started by a Thai lady named Emmi. She is the most joyful and smiley person I’ve ever met- and since we are in the “Land of Smiles”, that says a lot! Lighthouse is an organization to fight sex trafficking. They do more than that, have slum ministry, a coffee shop, etc. We however were assigned to “bar ministry”. Sounds like an oxymoron right? Our ministry was to the prostitutes (men, women, and ladyboys-a real term for men who dress like women or have actually been changed into a woman), the bar owners, the exploiters, and the “Johns”. We were to develop relationships and share the love and hope there is in Christ.
I was wondering how I would handle this-(I mean, this is the girl who only went to one party in highschool, and cried when I saw the atmosphere because of what these people were missing in their lives, the hope and satisfaction in Christ). It was one of the ministries I was most excited about for our trip. I have had a heart for those who are abused, trafficked, and those in prostitution for years. I have prayed and cried, and prayed and cried on their behalf. So I was so thankful that now we get the opportunity to reach out to them.
Some of these girls that are prostitutes (ages 16-40ish) were trafficked from villages. Men go to villages to buy girls when they are around 11 yrs old. In fact, Emmi was almost sold by her father when she was 11, but her grandfather rescued her and dropped her off with Christian missionaries. Her best friend wasn’t so lucky and got sold to replace her older sister who I guess they thought was too old. Emmi didn’t see her friend for about 11 yrs. When her friend was allowed to come back to the village, Emmi found her, and she was in the last stage of AIDS disease. Emmi shared Christ with her, and she got saved and passed on to be with the Lord within the next month. Crazy enough, there is this sweet lady who cleans the cafe everyday and it Emmi’s friend’s older sister! Isn’t God a God of redemption?
So anyways, some are trafficked and then some are sold by their parents. In a way, the parents are their pimps. The mindset here is if you have a girl, then you are lucky because she can be extra income when you need it. It is culturally excepted and it’s as if they believe it is normal and they can love them and still do this. One man who works with an anti-trafficking organization asked about 6 pastors, if these parents are selling their daughters, how do you know they love them? The pastors all responded, if the parents sell them in the local village, then they love them because they keep them near by. If they send them away to the city then they don’t love them.
The rest of the girls or ladyboys are here by “choice”. I say choice because they aren’t technically forced. However, is it choice when it is the only choice. Many of these people don’t have high school educations and they can’t get jobs due to that. Also, most of them were born in villages and don’t have citizenship paperwork. The only jobs they can have are selling things on the side of the road, prostitution, or starve. Most of these women have a burden to support their families. After speaking with them, it’s like because their parents brought them into the world they owe them. I haven’t met one who doesn’t support her/his family back home. It is also the reason there are sooo many ladyboys. They feel it’s the only logical choice to be like a woman so they can provide for themselves.
They people need the hope, love, and freedom there is in Christ. They need to knwo they are valued and loved by God. That He paid a high price for them and wants to restore and redeem everything that was lost. They need to know there is one man in their life that they can trust, who will provide for them, and treat them like a princess. I’m thankful we get to be a light in the darkness. I’m thankful we get to share the grace and love of Christ! Do you know Him? I’d like to introduce you if not 🙂
