what draws people, or shall I say men, here. The population is around 70,000 with
20,000 being girls and women involved in prostitution. Every direction I turn my head I see a foreign
man with a Thai woman at his side. I have never been in a place where the
darkness is so strong. I thought in
Vietnam it was difficult, but this city tops the cake. It breaks my heart to
see these women who do not know their self worth and to see these men who are
controlled by lust. It is a town where insecurities are masked by false
validation and security. It is a place where God is seeking His children and
pouring out His love on them.
I have been here two and a half days now and I am getting
used to the constant feeling of nausea. Every minute I look up to see something
new that disgusts me and makes me want to slap, shake, and scream until these
men wake up and realize that the spirit of lust controls them. I want to look
into their eyes and let them see the love of Christ. I want these men to
realize that they are worth more than sinking to this level. I want these men
to know that Christ is in them and he can rescue them.
because that is what every woman
here wants. They want to be rescued by a
foreign man who can buy them
things and provide a life for them. Most girls who
come here from villages in Thailand do not even realize what they are getting
into until they are here. They think they will just be working at the bars and they
will be rescued by their prince charming once they get here. But then the truth
of Pattaya life hits them, these men want more. They become women involved in
prostitution. But they want to be here because they want to be rescued. Only,
the rescue they desire is not the rescue th
ey need. Christ is the only rescue
that will save them from this empty life.
We are working with the Tamar Center this month here in
Pattaya. It is an organization that offers hope, healing, and a new life to bar
girls and prostitutes. Several times each week, the staff of Tamar Center (and
us while we are here) visit the bars of Pattaya in order to reach out to the
bar girls and prostitutes. They work to build relationships with the women, to
pray with and for them and to invite them to an English class offered by the
center. Once a year, they have a three-month training course for the women who
have chosen to leave prostitution. During the course, the ladies receive Bible
teaching and training in the skills of hairdressing or baking. There are more
ministries that they are involved in but that is the core of what the Tamar
Center stands for.
We have met some of the women who have left prostitution and
chosen a new life in Christ. It is beautiful to meet women who have been
wrecked by Christ and wanting to share with others how Christ can rescue them.
constantly fighting the lies of judging those around me. I am no better than
any man or woman I see. I am a liar, thief, luster, condemner, murderer,
judger, hater, and full of filth. Only I have salvation through Christ. He has
saved me from the dirt that I live in. I will not be controlled by the lies
Satan tries to speak to me. I rebuke them in the name of Christ Jesus. And my
Father hears my cries; he answers me and frees me from them. I have been
rescued. I want all of Pattaya to be rescued by their one true Father, the
Almighty, the I Am.
