Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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When people ask me what my favorite country was on the World Race I always reply, “Thailand!” In a way, it’s a little surprising because I was in the depths of a personal spiritual battle that month. The lies of the enemy had been exposed just weeks before arriving in Thailand. God shed His light on the lies that I had believed about my identity and at the time I didn’t know that He had also given me the weapons (His Truth) to overcome and to walk in victory.

            In the depths of my brokenness He taught me that I am still a vessel of His love. I am the temple of His Spirit despite my feelings. His light dispels darkness. In a country where you can feel the weight of the darkness He had called me to SHINE.

            It was in Chiang Mai, Thailand where we made some very special friends. These girls and women were working as prostitutes. The Lord had led us to this particular bar where we built relationships with them through the card game Uno. The next few nights they were calling out our names with huge smiles as we approached the bar. 
Aor, Nang, and I

            We then began paying the bar owner (a mere $8 U.S. dollars/girl) to release the girls from the bar for the evening. We would take them out to coffee or McDonald’s to spend time with them away from the bar atmosphere. It was during this time that we were able to talk to them and just have fun!         

            I remember one night at McDonald’s when one of the girls, Na, started asking me, “Why are you girls always so happy and smiling? We’ve never met people like you girls before. Why do you want to be with us?” This opened the door to share the True source of our love and joy. God had given me His love and compassion for these girls. I saw them as beautiful, precious, and valuable. They are His daughters and He is longing for them to be set free. I long for them to know that they have a purpose and a future; that they too can be a new creation. 
Na and I

            My friends in Thailand are on my heart a lot and I am especially missing them today. I pray that the Lord will continue bringing messengers of His Light to them and that they would receive His salvation. I look forward to the day when I see Him face-to-face and we are all reunited again.