Last year as I was embarking on the World Race I asked the Lord to break my heart for what breaks his. That is a dangerous prayer I just didn’t know it yet. But God has broken my heart for what breaks His specifically sex trafficking.
Last June as I stepped foot in the Red Light District of Chiang Mai in the middle of the afternoon…it wasn’t dark, there weren’t bright lights, there weren’t any men, it didn’t reek of alcohol and smoke yet, it was just the girls dressed in shorts and t-shirts, cleaning, preparing for the night ahead, preparing for a night of being purchased….purchased for sex . As I looked at one girl she had on a v-neck t-shirt and shorts her hair was long and curly but there was something so familiar about her. She so easily could have been one of my friends….she could have been me. In that moment I knew the prayer I had prayed with little thought was coming true…my heart was breaking and it continues to break for the women, the children, and even for the men.
So what am I going to do about it?
I’m going to follow the call.
How?
I bought a one way ticket to Chiang Mai, Thailand. I leave May 20th. I will be in Chiang Mai at Lighthouse in Action an organization which partners with Adventures in Missions. Their main goal is “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.”
My heart is to raise awareness to the commercial sex trade by giving a face to the issue. Allowing people to see that it isn’t some women, in some country,somewhere.
Her name is Lei she’s 37 years old she has two children, her husband left her and there is no child support in Thailand. She worked in a sewing factory but it just didn’t pay the bills so she ended up in the Red Light District selling her body but she wants to break the cycle, her kids go to private school, they are learning 3 languages so that they can have a better life and so her daughter doesn’t end up here. This is one story. She is just one of millions all over the world.
And I want to give each and every one of them a place to be free , to belong, to be celebrated!
Did you know that in 2007 the Commercial Sex Trade made more than Nike, Google, and Starbucks combined? I believe that if a generation of people stood up and said enough it would be the beginning of the end. This is a call to the generations.
Will you stay Silent? Or will you make a stand and not allow another man, woman, or child to be a statistic?
I’m standing up and saying ENOUGH. Will you STAND with me?
How can you stand with me? Partner with me !
How?
First and foremost prayer. Second prayerfully partner with me financially and be a part of what God is doing in Thailand.
In order to live in Thailand I need to raise $750 monthly.
You can support me with a monthly donation or a one time donation of any amount. It’s even tax-deductible.
Please make checks payable to Adventures in Missions and put Jamiehenley in the memo and mail them to :
PO BOX 742570
Atlanta, GA 30374-2570
or click on the link to the left that says support me. You can set up monthly donations there. Or you can set up monthly donations going to http://adventures.org/dynapay just make sure to type my name in blank that says person or purpose.
With an eternally grateful heart thank you for being a part of my story and standing with me.
