Emptiness. Lifeless. Tired. This is what I see every night as I walk the streets of Bangla Road, going in and out of bars during our ministry. Every where I look I see desperate people trying to escape. I see the foreign visitors trying to escape the life they know back home and I see bar girls trying to escape the life they know here. I look at the girls in the bars, most of them around 22 years old. I watch their lifeless expressions on their face as the stare down men who walk by. My heart breaks for them. I see them trying to win the attention of the people that pass by them. Some yell at us and others who walk by, some throw drink menus in our faces and try to persuade us over to their bar stools. Others could care less that we are there, as they lifelessly watch us pass by them. My heart cries out to them. “You are beautiful! You were fearfully and wonderfully made.” I see a brokeness in their eyes, a deep hurt in their souls. I see confusion, pain and a longing for something.
Each night my team and I head down to Bangla Road. Along this road there are over 200 bars. Off of the main road, there are side streets with even more bars. Each section or street has a different name and then there are more bars within that. A bar could consist of four bar stools, and it would still be considered a bar, thus there being over 200 in this area.
Backing up a little, I want to let you know that my team and I are working with SHE (Self Help & Empowerment).
SHE is a Christian charity committed to helping women and children at risk in Thailand, many of whom are trapped in the commercial sex trade. SHE is dedicated to providing employment, vocational training and counseling for women who want to help themselves out of this industry.
On our very first night of ministry, during the day, I felt like I was getting ready for battle. I was praying and asking God what His will would be for the night and that He would make it clear who I needed to talk to and where I needed to go. I kept reciting the Armor of God and imagined myself putting it on as I did. (Eph. 6:1-18)
When night fell, we hopped in our van and headed down to Bangla Road. My stomach was turning a little, anticipating what was to come. We arrived twenty minutes later and hopped out, pairing up to start our ministry. Our purpose is not to condemn, nor condone, but to build relationships.
Once a relationship is established after a few visits, Mark & Sharon, the founders of SHE, encourage us to share the vision of SHE with the women and let them know that there is a way out: they can have a salaried job making jewelry with SHE if they are interested. The only condition of employment is that they must quit their job at the bar completely.
As you step out onto Bangla Road you are immediately bombarded. There are lights flashing, and signs glowing. There are people trying to sell you things, people trying to get you to come to their “special shows” and there’s loud music coming from every bar you pass. I’m pretty sure the first night out, I took a deep breath and this was the prayer that came out, “Lord, help me.” As I explained to my parents, this seems like hell in every way possible. Some of us call it the devil’s playground. I’ve never seen anything like it.
I have become friends with bar owners, prostitutes, muscians, hair stylists, shop owners & tourists. God has placed certain people in my life for me to specifically talk with every night. Some just need a friend–someone to listen to them. My heart breaks for them as I listen to them share a story or two. I can tell they’re lonely. One lady who found out why I was there and what I was doing, asked me to pray for her. You see, God is doing amazing things here!!! He’s using my entire team in unique ways and I cannot even begin to express my excitement about this! You’ll have to stay tuned for some follow-up blogs, as I’m still processing this month, and will probably be doing so the rest of my life.
Your prayers have been needed and they have been felt. Thank you, thank you, thank you and may God bless you!
