I go to bars just about every day now, two or even three in a night in fact. I walk the streets of Chiang Mai, Thailand bar-hopping. Something I’ve never been accustomed to doing, but now a routine. Day and night make the world of difference in this part of town. At night the street is alive with music from all the bars, laughter, people playing pool, the clicking of heels. At every turn there are women dressed up, standing right outside bars, smiling, watching for any man to walk by, and as he does they call for him, seductively lay a hand on him as passes by, and then wait for the next and the next. What’s worse to be rejected or to be accepted? Both are difficult. One she feels like she doesn’t measure up physically and also worries about her livelihood, the other she is desired only as a product and her wants don’t matter.
On my right is a ladyboy (transvestite) bar. A ladyboy calls to me to come get a drink and play pool. I go in and sit down at the bar to drink a sprite and talk.
So much feels not right with this picture. As I sit here there are little girls playing at a table while men flirt with the prostitutes. Most the men that frequent here mostly look the same: American, Australian, or European, 50-75, old enough to be their fathers and grandfathers.
And yet, something is really right. As I sit here and talk to “Cris” I feel just as at peace as I would in church. “Cris” tells me that he/she wishes to be good and honor his/her family by making money and sending it home to them. But, hopes to one day to go home and start his/her own business of doing hair and makeup. The Jesus who walked the streets of Israel and talked to broken hurting people is inside of me. I feel Him wanting to burst out from my skin to love these prostitutes just as he did when he walked in his own shoes. But, now he’s even more excited to do it in my shoes. This is worship and my heart soars.
This month our squad is working with Lighthouse In Action. Their vision: To eradicate the commercial sex trade in Chiang Mai, and see the Thai people choose abundant life through Jesus, as we show them His truth and love through our actions. We want to see them spread this Truth like a wildfire across the nation, and beyond.
http://www.lighthouseinaction.org/
My team goes out to bars to hang out with the prostitutes, play pool, and form relationships with them. We go with the intention of loving them and seeing them as Jesus sees them. We place value on them through friendship. And then if they desire it offer them hope of a different life.
Some of the words still play in mind from the different conversations I’ve had:
“Have you ever fallen in love?” ‘Hope ’ asks me with a girlish smile. She’s been abused by men over and over again who have told her that they loved her, and here she is still believing and hoping that love is real. “We don’t want to be here, you know! None of the girls want to be here, you understand?” She’s just like me with hopes and dreams, but her life circumstances led her to this nightmare of a life. But, she hangs to hope and still wants more.
I still see the tattoo in my mind. “What’s that?” I ask the ladyboy. “Its my tattoo. A barcode. Its to joke with the customers.” What a sick joke. This precious person is worth so much more.
My heart hurts for the girls and guys who want love but are having it bought from them every night. My heart even hurts for those who want love and don’t know any better way to find it than to buy it. I’ve talked to both crowds and I find they are just like me: they want love.
I love that Jesus loved people where they were at and I love that He still does, his favorite way being through you and me. The light shines brightest in the darkness! Pray for that light to shine in their hearts, may they be set free by the Savior’s love.
