Each night here in Chiang Mai, we have gone into the bars on (what we call) “Bar Street� and built relationships with many of the women who work there every night. As a group, we have hoped for the chance to be able to take some of these women out of the bar and spend time with them in an environment where they feel freedom from any pressures to serve customers or to portray any particular image. At last, we had that opportunity. Each night, part of our group goes to the bars and part of the group stays back to intercede and cover the night in prayer. Last night, I stayed back, but will relay the stories that were told to me from my teammates who went out…
Oi is 19 years old. She has been working in the bar for about two months now. She is probably one of the friendliest, most inviting girls on Bar Street, so many of us have built a friendship with her. As the team went out last night, it was decided that they would attempt to “purchase� Oi for the night (I still have yet to find a way to describe this in a way that sounds humane, so this is the best that I can do). Ultimately, we would like to take all the girls we have formed friendships with out for the night, but because of our budget, we knew that we would have to choose the one or two girls that we had gotten closest to. When the girls arrived at the bar and asked Oi if she would allow them to take her out for the night, Oi’s friend chimed in that she would like to come along. Another girl that most of us have built a friendship with, Kuk, said that she would also like to join. We had decided on a budget that allowed us to take two girls out for the night (at most), but the girls decided to give a deal for the night….we could pay the price for two and take out all three!
The three girls left the bar with my teammates and immediately asked “what would you like for us to do tonight?�. These girls are so accustomed to being “purchased� for the sole purpose of fulfilling the desires of someone else and, essentially, being taken advantage of. One of my teammates explained that this night was simply about them; a night when they did not have to worry about serving any customers or being used for anything; simply a night for them to have fun and enjoy themselves. The girls could not believe it…one girl, Kuk, stopped and yelled at the top of her lungs “FREEDOM!!!!!!!!�. They walked through the streets with victorious looks on their faces, knowing that they had at least one night that they could just enjoy. A night when their bodies weren’t being used for the pleasure of someone else. A night when nobody else could dictate what they wanted them to do.
Tears filled my eyes as my teammates told me stories from their night out with our sweet friends. I loved that they had an opportunity to take these girls out and show them that they are treasured as people…not because of their bodies or the services that they provide. I loved the freedom these girls felt just to be themselves for the night, knowing that they were cared for. At the same time, though, my heart broke thinking of what every other night is like for these girls. For a few hours last night, they got a taste of freedom. So many other nights, though, what they experience is slavery. They are led to believe that their only purpose is to fulfill the desires of others. They are made to think that their bodies are objects; that they must look a certain way and provide particular services in order to be wanted. They rarely get a glimpse of what it means to be treasured simply for who they are. Their lives are so often dictated by lies, confusion, and oppression.
We have spent three weeks here building relationships with these women and attempting to show them that, despite their experiences, they are genuinely loved. We have tried to show them that there is a God who loves them so deeply that He sent us specifically to them to illustrate His love. We have tried to give them a taste of freedom from what they experience day after day. Tonight, we will take a few members of a new missionary group out to the streets and introduce them to the girls that we have built friendships with. This group from Berlin will be here for the next two months, watering the seed that we have planted in these few weeks. While we have seen only small changes during our time here, God is simply using our team as a small piece of the puzzle as He shows His own love to His daughters here in Chiang Mai.
“I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before. I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me. Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise, and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it…there will be heard once more the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom…� Jeremiah 33:7-11
