Written 4/14/11
There are moments on the race, that I wish each one of you
were physically walking alongside me, because I know that my words fail in
painting the pictures that flash before my eyes…
Last night was one of those nights, I wish your eyes could
have seen what my eyes saw.
have seen what my eyes saw.
But really they were not even my eyes…they were God’s eyes.
I prayed and asked God to give me his vision for the issue of the sex trade
about a year or so ago…and He answered.
I prayed and asked God to give me his vision for the issue of the sex trade
about a year or so ago…and He answered.
Us girls had an opportunity to go into the main city Chiang
Mai for the Songkran Festival. This is the Thai new year. And this is how it is
celebrated…. With super soakers, and buckets of water.
Mai for the Songkran Festival. This is the Thai new year. And this is how it is
celebrated…. With super soakers, and buckets of water.
Any person, walking, driving on the back of a truck, or on a
moped is susceptible to being doused with ice cold water. It’s one huge water
fight! We had a lot of fun driving through town and getting drenched by Thais,
and foreigners.
moped is susceptible to being doused with ice cold water. It’s one huge water
fight! We had a lot of fun driving through town and getting drenched by Thais,
and foreigners.
We stayed with an organization called Lighthouse in Action.
Lighthouse in Action is a ministry that goes to the bar girls, ladyboys, “johns�,
and homosexuals that congregate in the redlight district.
Lighthouse in Action is a ministry that goes to the bar girls, ladyboys, “johns�,
and homosexuals that congregate in the redlight district.
It’s a sex trade intervention organization that focuses on
building relationships, and in that showing the people the love and truth of
Jesus Christ.
building relationships, and in that showing the people the love and truth of
Jesus Christ.
Us girls had the opportunity to go out last night. We
partnered with some awesome people from YWAM who are working with Lighthouse in
Action.
partnered with some awesome people from YWAM who are working with Lighthouse in
Action.
Before we went out, we all got together and prayed. I felt
God telling me to “watch�. Just to observe and pray over the area, and be still
and listen for when God told me to go up and speak to someone.
God telling me to “watch�. Just to observe and pray over the area, and be still
and listen for when God told me to go up and speak to someone.
We went out, and two of my new YWAM friends went to a bar
that they have been going to regularly. I sat as they talked to a friend they
made, and my eyes caught the eyes of another Thai girl the next bar over.
that they have been going to regularly. I sat as they talked to a friend they
made, and my eyes caught the eyes of another Thai girl the next bar over.
I smiled at her. I felt a little prompting to go and speak
to her, but I sort of brushed it off thinking “I just got here, I haven’t even
done much observing.� But then some super drunk white men walked over to her,
and one of them grabbed her like a flapjack, and put his shirt over her head,
then took it off and held her close grabbing her butt.
to her, but I sort of brushed it off thinking “I just got here, I haven’t even
done much observing.� But then some super drunk white men walked over to her,
and one of them grabbed her like a flapjack, and put his shirt over her head,
then took it off and held her close grabbing her butt.
When this happened she looked over at me, with a sheepish
smile. I had none on my face, but after seeing that I knew I needed to go over
and talk to her. So when the guy left, I walked over, and started to have as
much of a conversation in English with her as I can. (I really want to learn
Thai, and I’m going to.) But we small talked for a little bit, I prayed the
entire time I was sitting there, and I know that the YWAM girls will continue
building a relationship with her.
smile. I had none on my face, but after seeing that I knew I needed to go over
and talk to her. So when the guy left, I walked over, and started to have as
much of a conversation in English with her as I can. (I really want to learn
Thai, and I’m going to.) But we small talked for a little bit, I prayed the
entire time I was sitting there, and I know that the YWAM girls will continue
building a relationship with her.
We had to leave, and the bar girl, who had just started
working there only 2 months ago, had become preoccupied with a customer.
working there only 2 months ago, had become preoccupied with a customer.
We walked down the redlight district, and as we walked I
felt the Holy Spirit speak to my heart again. There was a boy, about 6 or 7
years old across the street, selling roses. He was stopped in front of two
older men. One of them was grabbing the boys hand as if “flirting� with the
boy.
felt the Holy Spirit speak to my heart again. There was a boy, about 6 or 7
years old across the street, selling roses. He was stopped in front of two
older men. One of them was grabbing the boys hand as if “flirting� with the
boy.
I knew I needed to do something, so I called the boy over
from across the street yelling
“Roses�, “Roses�. One of the YWAM interns, who is a native Thai, helped
call him over too. When he came over we started walking down the street, to get
him away from those men. And when we were a good distance away, I bought a rose
from him, and then he gave me one for free.
Before he left I told him “Jesus loves you.� in Thai, and he
nodded his head staying in “business� mode and scurried away.
from across the street yelling
“Roses�, “Roses�. One of the YWAM interns, who is a native Thai, helped
call him over too. When he came over we started walking down the street, to get
him away from those men. And when we were a good distance away, I bought a rose
from him, and then he gave me one for free.
Before he left I told him “Jesus loves you.� in Thai, and he
nodded his head staying in “business� mode and scurried away.
I prayed for him as he walked away. Prayed for protection,
and that God would meet him, and save him.
and that God would meet him, and save him.
I thought about Remember Nhu, and the girls living there,
and how this could have easily been their fate, yet they have a hope and future
now… There are so many Thai children who need that same opportunity. My heart
broke more for this country.
and how this could have easily been their fate, yet they have a hope and future
now… There are so many Thai children who need that same opportunity. My heart
broke more for this country.
So there I was with two beautiful white roses.. I knew that
God was going to show me who to give them to. So As we walked up and down the
street. I watched and prayed. We passed by a bar that was jam packed, it was
the most packed bar that we had seen that night. The girls in that bar are
between the ages of 14-16.
God was going to show me who to give them to. So As we walked up and down the
street. I watched and prayed. We passed by a bar that was jam packed, it was
the most packed bar that we had seen that night. The girls in that bar are
between the ages of 14-16.
I saw a woman sitting by herself, and I felt God tell me to
go give her the rose. I walked up to her, and said “Jesus loves you� in Thai.
At first she was shocked. She couldn’t believe that it was for her. She kept pointing to herself with a
questioning face like saying “are you sure?� And I nooded my head, smile, and
kept on saying Jesus loves you. She finally took it. She asked to take a
picture with me… I gladly accepted… She is a he.. . a ladyboy…
go give her the rose. I walked up to her, and said “Jesus loves you� in Thai.
At first she was shocked. She couldn’t believe that it was for her. She kept pointing to herself with a
questioning face like saying “are you sure?� And I nooded my head, smile, and
kept on saying Jesus loves you. She finally took it. She asked to take a
picture with me… I gladly accepted… She is a he.. . a ladyboy…
I had one other rose to give away, and God reminded me of a
girl I had seen sitting at a bar we walked by. She was sitting next to a
drunken man who was acting like a fool. Her face of disgust, boredom, and shame
was easy to see, but obviously the
guy was too trashed to notice.
girl I had seen sitting at a bar we walked by. She was sitting next to a
drunken man who was acting like a fool. Her face of disgust, boredom, and shame
was easy to see, but obviously the
guy was too trashed to notice.
When we walked back to the bar, I was hoping the guy had
left, and he did. I walked up to her, smiled, and handed her the rose saying
“Jesus loves you.� She too didn’t really believe it was for her, and was
hesitant in receiving it. But I insisted with a smile, and she finally took it.
A huge smile spread across her face.
left, and he did. I walked up to her, smiled, and handed her the rose saying
“Jesus loves you.� She too didn’t really believe it was for her, and was
hesitant in receiving it. But I insisted with a smile, and she finally took it.
A huge smile spread across her face.
God showed me so many different aspects of the issues within
the intervention of the sex trade. SO much need. My heart is overwhelmed, but
not overcome with hopelessness. My God is so much greater, and His heart beats
for the lives here in Thailand…
the intervention of the sex trade. SO much need. My heart is overwhelmed, but
not overcome with hopelessness. My God is so much greater, and His heart beats
for the lives here in Thailand…
And my heart is joining in that rhythm.
Agenda: Love,
Bethsaida
