Everyday in Thailand, when I'd walk down Bangla road I’d see three things:

1) Girls after girls selling themselves to men and sometimes women at bars
2) Men and Woman buying girls from bars for sex
3) Men, women. and children walking down Bangla on holiday (vacation) not doing anything about it.

Question:  Which is worse?

This question boggles my mind.  Is it worse to sell yourself to support your family at home or to support yourself when you don’t see a way out?  Is it worse to buy a girl from a bar for yourself to try to cure loneliness?  Is it worse to walk down the road, seeing girls sell themselves to customers buying, exposing your children to the sex industry, and NOT doing a thing about it?  

Hmmm…

All I know is the feeling I’d get when I’d make eye contact with one of the girls at the bars.  My heart would break.  When they’d tell me their stories of how they got into “the buisness” and how unhappy they are working there.  I would feel a sense of urgency to tell them about SHE (our ministry contact) and the HOPE there is in Jesus.  To tell them that there is a way out and a way to support their family in a job they’d like.  

I don’t know the answer…

All I know is how God began to break my heart for the customers and how lonely a lot of them were.  I’d have conversations with Westerners who live in Phuket and go to the bars daily.  I’d ask what they’d think of the bars and the girls.  One man said he is helping the economy and helping the girls support their families.  Do you think it is okay for the girls to sell them selves?  
“it’s their choice.  There are no other jobs for them, so they do this to survive.  I just get to enjoy.”


Again, I don;t know the answer…

All I know is the feeling I’d get seeing an eight year old girl looking up at a girl dancing on a pole half naked.  I’d have a sense of urgency.  A desire to run up and cover herneyes.  To tell her that is not what God created women for.  That is not what God created her for or that woman on the pole.  Or the feeling of frustration when a vacationer would say “It’s really sad and disgusting” when asked what they think of the bar scene while they them selves are sitting at that very bar drinking a cocktail.  When I’d tell them what I was doing there they’d be so impressed and happy for me calling it honorable work and how much work there is to be done.  

I am not angry.  My heart breaks for the girls, the customers and those on vacation who choose to ignore it all.  

Which do YOU think is worse?