Sawasdee ka from Patong, Phuket, Thailand!!
I am so excited to have the opportunity to live in the beautiful beach town of Patong this month! I have never lived this close to a beach in my life, so I already have a feeling that I will be soaking up the sun on the beach in every free second that I have this month. The beaches are just as beautiful as the pictures. If you’ve never seen the pictures, don’t worry, I’ll give you one!
Although Patong is very beautiful and bright during the day, the night gets a lot darker in more than just a literal sense. Sex tourism is a huge part of the Patong nightlife, and it all comes to a center on the main street called Bangla Road. This road is full of bars, gentleman’s clubs, and shows of many different kinds. People from all over the world come here to take in the scene, and no matter what day of the week, it is packed with wide-eyed tourists, people advertising drink specials, and bar girls dancing on poles in the highest heels you ever saw. Walking down the street as it comes alive at night is overwhelming to say the least. Everywhere you look, there are girls selling themselves for next to nothing. The look of boredom, shame, and hopelessness on their faces is something that I cannot get out of my mind. I can’t even imagine the circumstances they must be in to choose this as a lifestyle. I use the word choose because a lot of girls look to Phuket as a means to support their families back at home. It’s not only society that tells them to do this, but sometimes their families as well.
This month, my team has the opportunity to partner with New Beginnings Calvary Chapel Church and work with the bar girls. Ministry looks different everyday, but our goal is to get to know these girls, love them, and hopefully tell them that they have a Father in Heaven who loves them EVEN MORE. A Father who loves them so much that He sent His Son to die for them. Some days this looks like actually interacting with the girls. Whether we go during the lull of the day to chat or during the chaos of the night to drink coke, play bar games, and meet them in their element, we always try to hear the stories of the women before the visit is over. Other days, we rally for our friends spiritually by doing prayer walks through the areas they work in. We pray for freedom and light to shine on these areas. Still other days, we go to the beach at night and play volleyball with a mix of tourists and workers from around the city.
We’re only a week in, and this month has been a wild one already! Our schedule has been flipped to work mostly in the night, and that’s definitely a change for me as I have grown to love mornings on the Race. I know the Lord has HUGE plans for this month, though, and I can’t wait to see them unfold.
As you remember my team this month, I beg you to pray for us. Pray for energy as we go out into the night to minister to everyone around. Pray for hope and light to radiate from us as we walk into dark places. Pray for us to keep fighting as we see hard things and as we endure attacks from the enemy. Pray for the love of God to transcend languages, ways of life, and any other obstacles that may present themselves. Pray for these girls to see Jesus. And most importantly pray for freedom for Patong.
Much love!!
Jordie
