Currently in: Chiang Mai, Thailand
There are over 5000 men, women, and children prostitutes in Chiang Mai. And sometimes that amount triples. Do you know how much it costs to spend time with one? For just a drink, maybe 100 Baht. That’s about $3 (don’t quote me; that’s my estimate). The definition of a prostitute is “a person, typically a woman, who engages in sexual activity.” Jesus died as a sacrifice so that our sinful actions are wiped away. So let’s rewrite that: “A person.” The price of a person. An individual that He so lovingly created. That’s priceless. That’s more than the price of rubies.
This month, our entire squad is working with Lighthouse in Action. We are taking turns focusing on helping out at Zion Cafe, bar ministry and intercessory prayer, and chatting with monks and playing with children in the slums. It breaks my heart to know that some of these sweet children may be working in the bars at night.
Before we started ministry, we watched the movie, Nefarious. I’ve heard a little about human-trafficking but have never thought too much about how deep those roots go. To think about the circumstances that lead people to prostitution. To see the differences and similarities between the ones kidnapped and the ones who walked into it. To know that either way, these women feel like they have no other choice. To realize that solving a problem like this involves so much more than just giving out money.
Lighthouse in Action focuses on prevention, intervention, and restoration. From what I have gathered, they want to inform families about what they’re getting themselves into when strangers come to offer good money in exchange for their children. They want to build relationships with these women who sell their bodies so that when they offer them a way out of that life, the women will trust and know that it’s legitimate. And they want to bring restoration to the Kingdom through these women, their pimps, the men wandering the streets looking for intimacy in the wrong places, the corrupt officials that look the other way, and all who are involved.
My team will be doing bar ministry either next week or the following week. It’s going to be dark. It’s going to be heavy and full of spiritual warfare. And some of us may not go because we are not ready. I ask that you pray for each of the individuals in our squad. Please pray love and grace over anger, shame, and judgment. We will be asking the Lord where He wants us to go. We will get to know the people on these streets, and we will share our stories. We will show them Jesus by looking at them the way Jesus looks at all of us. And that could be more powerful than any words of the Gospel can ever convey.
So back to the price of spending time with a precious individual who needs to be shown real love–that can get expensive from night to night. There may be bar fees, and we will have to buy a drink not only for ourselves but for the people we talk to because we are taking time away from how they make a living. If this is something that speaks to your heart, I ask that you consider supporting us by donating to the cause; please comment or contact me, and I will get you information on how to donate. Thank you so much for reading.
With love in Christ,
Cindy
