And greetings from Thailand!
Dang, I can’t believe we are already here, for real. I feel like I just left the states and yet I feel like I have been living out of zip lock bags for eternity.
We have been here in Phuket since Wednesday. We are staying and working with SHE. (www.shethailand.org) and it was full force from the day we got here. About a ½ hour away is Bangla Street, which is the Red Light District of Patong. We started with a prayer walk and at 9 that night we packed into backs of trucks in the pouring rain and headed down.
So what exact ally are we doing? Well a LOT. We are in teams of three to four. I got my girls Shannon, Leyna and Jasmin (watch out!) and really we are there to make relationships with the prostitutes. (I really hate that word, they are not prostitutes they are daughters of God but I want you to get the affect of what is really going on.) We order drinks (red bull no vodka, coke san whiskey…) and play games. Over the course of playing connect four or Jackpot we just talk to them, laugh with them and share stories. We are there to be the light of Christ. We are there to shine for these girls and give them a choice, give them options of a new way of life. If we are lucky we can get their numbers and invite them to lunch here at SHE, or grab some coffee at Starbucks before their shift. We are there to show them that there are people that love them for who they are not for their bodies.
Oh the others things we are doing involve working here at SHE in the bakery, helping with the jewelry making, child care, devotions, labor at their new site, ect. Another huge part is intercession. When ½ of the squad is out at the bars the other half is back here praying and interceding. That was my group last night and it was intense. I didn’t think I could be on my face before God for three hours but I was and it was powerful. I will share more stories as they come up.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE be praying for us! Please make it a constant thing to have in your prayers. We are literally walking around one of the darkest places on earth. My legs are so heavy when I walk around that it is hard to pick them up and put one in front of the other. ½ naked girls are dancing on poles and being pulled away by old men. It is so dark here, so heavy. But our God is brighter than the darkness and his strength is stronger than the heaviness. Pray that we can build relationships with the girls, pray they feel hope and peace, and pray that the men realize these girls are daughters. Pray crazy prayers that ATMs eat cards of people who are taking out money for sex, that men would lose their keys and not be able to leave their hotels, pray that their wives send them a text on their way out the door and they feel so convicted they fall on their knees for repentance in the lobby. Seriously. God is Crazy, He will do it.
I know that was scattered. I will only be able to get online on Tuesdays so forgive me for unanswered emails and missed Skype calls. (Monday nights for you are good times to Skype!) I love you all so much, I am praying for you guys and you all are with us as we bring light and hope to the bars. Halleluiah!
