My team and I went out last Thursday for bar ministry. I almost didn’t go because john John
had come into the cafe’ for about 3 hours that day. At first, I was really excited to see him. But then he just went on and on with this illogical anti-Christian
rant, and anytime I tried to get a word in edgewise, he told me to let him
finish. He talked literally
non-stop for the entire 3 hours that he was there, and was generally unpleasant
to deal with. (Kristin Bruce
was in there with me, and she is far more gifted with Mercy, so she was far
better at dealing with him.)
Anyway, I felt really drained from that experience, and like I somehow
didn’t represent Jesus well at all… but I don’t know how to be any other way
than how I am. I felt like an epic
missionary failure and wanted to sulk all night. Kristin Bruce and Katie gave me a really beautiful pep talk,
and I was good to go for Thursday’s ministry part 2.
Katie really has a heart for the “lady boys” here in
Thailand. Lady boys are basically
transgendered men/women. There are
two LBs on Bar Street (Rose and Nook) who she likes to visit. I agreed to go with her, and we hung
out with them, drinking coke and playing pool for an hour or two. Something that we are really trying to
figure out is how on Earth can God redeem that life? I mean… the surgery has been done- and Kristen Paulick
(being an RN in the states) looked it up on line and we saw all of the pictures
from the surgery. It seems that
there is no going back.
We ended up back in the tattoo place on our way to check out
a new bar. We talked to the guys
for a few minutes and I told them my idea for a tattoo. My idea is to get the word “REDEEMED”
in Thai as a bamboo tattoo, down the inside of my upper arm. Our favorite tattoo artist Sorranachai
(or “Chai” as we call him) didn’t know what that word would be in Thai, so he
looked it up in his little electronic dictionary. He then went to the boss and asked the price. He reported it back to me and said it
was funny that I wanted that word tattooed on myself, because that was the name
of the street we were on. I was
surprised and REALLY excited, and I asked, “So the name of this street with all
of the bars on it is… Redemption Road?”
He said, “yes”.
(Thai girl, Western guy- walking off together.)
I have heard of prophetic names for people, but this is my
first encounter with a prophetic name for a street. I believe that God really does want to redeem this road- use
every evil that has occurred here for good. How thrilling to be a part of His great plan for these
girls… and even for these men. I know
that the 10 of us are not going to end human trafficking in Thailand or prostitution
on Redemption Road THIS MONTH- but it is exciting to think of the butterfly
effect that we might be able to have if we each connect with ONE person, and
make a difference in that one life.
God is ALL ABOUT the ONE.
Just look at your own life. 🙂
