A well-known tourism agency listed Bangla Road, our ministry location in Phuket Thailand, as one of the top ten things to See describing it as this:
"There are few things in this world to prepare you for an after-dark stroll down Patong's Bangla Road. However, a sense of humour and an open mind are prerequisites if you're looking to have some fun. In fact, there's only one undeniable and obvious fact about Bangla – it's nothing like home. With its ladyboys, exotic girls, enchanted westerners (mostly male) and enough extroverts to fill a Disney cast of thousands, shopping or sipping on a beer at Bangla Road at night is a definite 'Dear Diary' moment."
If you have ever walked the roads of Bangla, not with the eyes of tourism, lust, or a "sense of humour" BUT with eyes of justice, this description would aggravate you, like it does me.
I remember the first time I experienced Bangla road. It was last last February during the day actually. All 12 of us piled in the back of a pickup truck for the first time, and drove the 30 min. ride. We were all joking around and taking in the scenery, (it being our first week in Thailand) when all of a sudden, we all became silent. Some of us, including myself, became sick to our stomachs, while others heavy or with headaches. We didn't know where we were, but we knew something wasn't right… the truck pulled over to let us out. We realized We were there, Bangla road on Patong beach.
That was my first time experiencing that type of spiritual warfare… where the area is so consumed with darkness that your physical presence i is interfered. Where we could actually feel the push back of the LIGHT we possess against the darkness there.
That afternoon, we walked among empty bar stools, bar signs which gave us a picture of what was to come that evening, praying, but really having no clue how to pray for this place. I remember trying to imagine what it will look like that night…
I could have never imagined or prepared myself for what I saw…
What I DIDN'T SEE were "ENCHANTED western men, ladyboys (men dressed as women), exotic girls, or Disney extroverts" like the website described. What I saw were desperate men looking to fill something through an act of meaningless pleasure, women entrapped in an industry with no sense of HOPE doing the work out of obligation to a culture, and men, women, and CHILDREN oblivious to the darkness that surrounded them.
Bangla has estimated 1,700 girls on these streets alone working in the sex industry
Maybe some would call me judgemental for my above statement, but I can't hold back. With tears in my eyes, I remember the friends I made sitting on those bar stools. The countless stories I heard of my friends not even knowing HOW TO WANT MORE for themselves. The stories of these women thinking so little of themselves because of how the world sees and treats them.
I am saying all of this to DEFEND my friends. The ones I personally know, and the THOUSANDS I don't, but pray for. For the man who was on vacation that said to me, "If your God exists, he doesn't love me." and the millions of men he represents who visit Bangla road.
In 20 days, I will be in-flight to Phuket, Thailand. God has blessed me with the opportunity to GO BACK to these streets. To lead 7 amazing women into the battle against darkness on Bangla road. He has entrusted me with this mission, and for that I am sincerely honored.
I left Phuket in March 2011 with regrets… I regret not PRAYING more for the women while IN the bars. I regret not pouring EVERYTHING I had into the ministry the Lord had for me there due to pride, For staying quiet instead of speaking out, for speaking out when i should have listened, for giving up when i should have pursued.
Haw gracious is my God to allow me to GO BACK.
I am a different person than I was a year ago. Jesus has rocked my world and empowered me in ways I never thought possible. Now, I get to be empowered EVEN more, and get to empower my team for 4 MONTHS IN PHUKET THAILAND. We, as a team, get to walk the streets and bring the presence of Jesus to Bangla road, speak LIFE into the lives of God's children entrapped in the sex industry, and to BRING HOPE to Thailand.
wow. Amazed.
With it quickly approaching, I am still in need of financial and prayer support. Please consider PARTNERING with me in this battle to bring LIGHT AND HOPE into one of the darkest places in the world, Phuket, Thailand. I TRULY believe that as a supporter, whatever I do, you are doing as well. So, with every conversation I have, every prayer said, every hug given, you are doing the same. If you have questions, or would like to be on my prayer e-mail list, please comment below and leave your e-mail address or e-mail me at [email protected]. I'd be more than happy to disclose more information on my ministry and what it will praticically look like. To financially support me click here.
I can't express how thrilled I am for this opportunity and what the Lord is going to do through the 8 of us during our 4 month stay in Phuket, Thailand!
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