Our month in Thailand looked different than any other month on the race. It was a month to share Christ’s love without ever speaking His name. A month to love both the women and the ladyboy prostitutes and the customers as well.
My team was split into pairs for the nights we went out. Dani and I were partnered together for the month. Our first stop: New Star Bar. One of the women, Bin, had started working there only 3 days prior. My heart broke for her.
The second night out we went to Friend’s Corner, a ladyboy bar. We took our seat and were instantly greeted by a beautiful woman. As soon as she asked us what we wanted to drink, we realized she was a Ladyboy. Michelle was shy at first but soon came and sat by us. Within moments she was sharing with us that she was a ladyboy, how she didn’t like her job, and she wished she could do something else. As we walked away that night our hearts were heavy for her.
Throughout the month we rotated between New Star Bar and Friend’s Corner. We built relationships with these women and ladyboys, loving them exactly where they were. We played games of pool, connect four, and jenga. We had small talk and shared pictures of our family and friends. It was difficult when the men came in, it hurt seeing a little girl sit alone at the bar while her dad took turns playing pool with the different women, and it broke my heart when several times our new friends would leave with a customer.
We built a strong relationship with Michelle. We were at her bar every other night and a few times when she was off work we got together. My heart broke for Michelle as she shared with us the difficulties of being a ladyboy. Stuck in this world of lost identity. She isn’t accepted as a woman, nor a man and the gay community doesn’t accept her either. In fact, she was even an outcast with the ladyboys she worked with. She has a beautiful heart and good head on her shoulders. She desires more than anything to own a hair salon.
One day, Michelle colored Dani’s hair for her. As I watched her doing her hair, there was so much joy on her face. It was evident she was doing something she loved. When it was done, Dani handed her some money. Michelle refused to take it saying that buying the hair dye was enough. Dani explained to her that she wanted to give pay her for something she did good and that she wasn’t a customer but a friend paying a friend for a job well done. As Dani placed the money in her hand, Michelle’s eyes filled with tears. Before I knew it, the 3 of us were sitting on her bed all crying together. All Michelle could say is “will you come visit me tomorrow?”
And we did! Throughout the month we went to lunch together, went for massages, went out for coffee and just hung out. Michelle became our friend and I love her so incredibly much! A couple days before we left she told us she was going to head to Bangkok and get a job in the factory. She didn’t want to work in the bar anymore. I am so thankful God put her in our lives and I am praying that one day she will be able to have her own hair salon just like she wants.
Dani, Michelle, and I
All of our friends at Friend's Corner
