Team Zion and Concrete have been here in Phuket for a month now. Our time here was to be spent working with the S.H.E. (Self Help and Empowerment) organization and to build relationships with the girls who work in the bars. None of these were difficult tasks; in fact, this has been a great month. We are down to our last week and I wanted to just take a moment to reflect on all that has happened.
I started out the month in good spirits, knowing that the Lord had a lot to do here. I was a little concerned that the situation with the girls would be overwhelming but it really was not as I expected. The first week in the bars was really fun and I met a couple great girls and even met one of the bar owners who was from Tennessee. I was really excited to see where the Lord would take us through these relationships. The one girl that really touched me was Thep. She was a lovely girl who worked at one of the bars we went to regularly. She used to make jewelry before she started working in the bars and really did not like her current job all that much. I was thrilled because S.H.E. offers these girls’ jobs making jewelry and it just seemed so perfect. Sadly, after a few visits, Thep was no longer at the bar. Every time we went by, she was not there and when we would ask about her, no one knew who we were speaking of. It was very strange. I was a kind of sad to not know where she was or what had happened to her.
The next week or so was really strange too. Every time we went to the bars, we ended up not seeing any girls we knew and really not able to strike up any new relationships. I had a weird feeling every time I went down there and just began to feel very discouraged about our work here. One night, after seeing these men all over these young girls, showing them no respect at all, I left the bars in tears. I prayed all the way home but felt little peace about the situation here in Phuket. There is so much that is wrong in this place and it is accepted as okay and normal. It really breaks my heart.
Over the next week, the Lord really helped me to get over feeling discouraged. He began to give me a peace about the situation here. God even opened up some new doors with other girls in the bars. My favorite girls are at the Star Bar. The three ladies there are awesome. They are so sweet and just adorable. We always have the best time when we go to visit them. My heart goes out to them and I truly believe that the Lord is calling at least one of them out of the bars. I am excited to see how and when the Lord will bring her out. We play games with them, talk, laugh, and just enjoy getting to know each other. These girls have really made my time here feel fruitful just because I know we have built a friendship. 
So, at the end of the week we are leaving Phuket, Thailand. I am happy to move to the next thing the Lord has for us but also a little sad to leave our friends and the work we have been doing here. My prayer is that the girls at the Star Bar will find a way to come out of the bars. I pray that they are not content with their current jobs or situation in life. I pray that the Lord continues to draw them out and send Christians into their paths. I also pray for Phuket, that God will do something mighty and new here. I pray that more Christians will flood this place. I pray that there will be more churches than bars one day. I pray that the whole nation will turn to the one true God. Please pray for Thailand too.
