This is an example of a sign that might be seen on our ministry site this month. And this is how these women are seen, as beautiful and therefore worthy of acceptance, or as ugly and worth a little less money…
Once again, I find myself behind on blogging. The month of April in Malaysia was a beautiful month with some new freedoms and victories that will be blogged about soon. But I feel the urge to write now about the ministry that is happening here in Thailand so that we can be covered in your prayers.
We are in a place called Phuket, Thailand. My friend Jake told me that this place is a center for some of the best vacationing in the world. People can come spend time on the beaches, climb the beautiful mountains surrounding this place, and buy anything they could ever desire. This includes anything from a new pair of jeans to several women for the week. Yes, I did say women. Thailand is a center for some of the most intense sex trafficking in the world. Approximately 60% of men who land in the Bangkok airport are there for the sex tourism that this country offers. So how does this affect us as the World Race?
We, ourselves are learning how to accept the truth that we are valuable and worthy of love and respect. As you have read my blogs (if you have) you can see how I am wrestling through knowing that I am loved, powerful, and given everything that I need to live life victoriously. As I learn these things about myself, I become increasingly offended when I see others who don’t know the worth and value that they have. Especially women. As we learn our value, it also becomes increasingly difficult to stand idly by when we see anyone living in bondage. And so my team for the month of 10 women walks into Thailand with a fierce mission to waken the sleeper and set the captive free. What does this look like for the everyday picture of this month?
Well, we get to be in the thick of it. We get to participate in something called bar ministry. Last night was my first night and I am still processing what I saw and heard. We walk into one of the 200 bars that are on Bangla Road in Patong, Thailand. We buy a coke or a water and sit with the women who have more often than not invited us into that place. We sit for as long as our drink is in front of us (about 20 minutes) and we just engage them in conversation. We ask them about who they are. If they have children we ask about them and get to know them as unique women who are not just a number. We are there to show them that we don’t want anything from them except to talk and we pray that our presence can sometimes keep the next guy away for at least a short amount of time.
When we are done with our drink, we leave. But more often than not we ask them if we can come back tomorrow night. Or meet them for a lunch date. Often they agree through their surprise and all of a sudden the Kingdom of God is coming on earth. We are working with a beautiful organization called SHE (Self Help and Empowerment) that is offering these women another lifestyle if they want it, with free skills training and some English classes to go with it.
So what can you do? Please pray.
- For boldness to engage in conversations.
- For love for both the women and the men that purchase them
- For a greater understanding of God’s heart for this community
- For these women to find a freedom that they’ve never known before.
I will be writing more this month, but for now just be praying!
