This month my team is in Chang Mai, Thailand working with Lighthouse In Action. It was started by a lady named Emmi who was saved during a raid on her village from sex traffickers by a missionary family. Her best friend, however was not and was sold into the industry. Emmi has now made it her mission to help women get out of sex trafficking. She does this by showing them they can have a better life and that they are worth more by giving them work (she runs a coffee shop and hostel), providing them a place to stay and by discipling them towards God.
We come in and help by forming relationships with the women at the bars. We go out every night and talk with them and play games with them. If we feel like a relationship is forming, we then ask them to meet us for lunch or coffee during their off time so we can hear more about their lives and deepen the relationship. If we feel like they want an out of the life they have, we can introduce them to Emmi who can offer them a job and give them the resources to do so.
In order for us to talk to these women, we have to go to the bars and buy them a drink. More often than not, we are buying them and their friends drinks that allow us the time to talk. It is Thai culture that if we invite them out for lunch or coffee, we are responsible for covering the check. If we invite women out, most likely they will bring friends and we are to cover them as well.
That’s where you come in! As a team, we are doing an additional fundraiser to cover the costs of drinks/food for the women, snacks for the kids we meet in the slums and for a beauty for ashes event (where we invite women to a gathering where eat, hang out at teach them that they are worthy and loved by God) we are wanting to do a Coke and canvas party with them but will need help with the funds.
If you feel led, please consider donating to my teammates gofundme account (where we can have direct access to the funds for these women).
Also to pull that card..it’s my birthday month and it would be a great birthday gift being able to help these women without having to worry about the funds!
We are all extremely grateful for all the support and are also asking for continuous prayers!
https://www.gofundme.com/xqy2zh9w
