in Thailand, the team i was with had a month called ATL & UHC – which stands for ask the Lord and unsung heroes campaign. basically, we showed up in Bangkok without any idea of where we’d be staying or what we’d be doing. and we prayed. we asked God to lead us to people or bring people to us who are working tirelessly and without recognition to bring His Kingdom in Bangkok. and He certainly did. throughout the month we met tons of incredible people who fill their days and nights with reaching out and loving individuals trapped in the sex industry.
prostitution is illegal in thailand although in practice it is accepted and partly regulated. prostitution is practiced openly throughout the country and often protected by local officials with commercial interests and involvement in the industry. estimates are that 80% of thai men and 70% of foreign men entering thailand participate in the sex industry, generating as much as US $4.3 billion annually.
many of the women, ladyboys, and children in this industry are trapped in these situations and feel that they have no other choice but to remain in there. the organizations we worked with this month reach out to the women and develop relationships with them and then invite them to exit the sex industry, providing safe housing, therapy, a chance to return to school, and a job.
[the team with celeste!]
check out these awesome organizations – they could all use prayer, financial support and volunteers!
Samaritan Creations
this is where we lived this month! Samaritan Creations is an awesome organization started by Mike and Kay Killar. They do outreach to the red light districts in bangkok and build relationships with women in order to help them exit the sex industry. sometimes it takes a couple months of visiting one woman and sometimes it takes over a year, but when a woman calls and says she’s ready to leave they welcome her with open arms. they offer a safe housing where women can bring their children, therapy, an opportunity for the women to continue their education, and a job making beautiful jewelry, clothes and other crafts to sell in their shop.
it’s an incredible place filled with so much healing, restoration, love, and laughter. it was such a gift to be able to spend time with these women who have come out of unimaginable pain and found lives of joy and meaning.
if you'd like to check out Samaritan Creations online go here – – https://www.facebook.com/SamaritanCreations
Dton Naam
this organization was started by and incredible woman names Celeste. she felt the Lord calling her to set up an organization that helps ladyboys exist the sex industry in bangkok, so that’s what she did! celeste and her team do outreach to build friendships with ladyboys in the redlight district of bangkok and also in some of the surrounding area’s slums. they invite their new friends to join the program which offers a new job in a café and counseling. their goal is to “walk alongside them through the healing process, giving space for the Holy Spirit to bring about healing to their gender and sexuality, which will probably be a long journey since many have been labeled “lady boys” since before age five.”
spending time at the café and getting to see celeste’s vision being lived out was an amazing experience as i have a dream to do something similar in my own life. the environment that she cultivates is so filled with the Spirit in beautiful ways. to visit the website and learn more, go here – http://www.dtonnaam.org
Other similar ministries we visited with this month that you should check out are:
Rahab Ministries – http://www.rahabministriesthailand.com
Home of New Beginnings – http://www.homeofnewbeginnings.com
Nightlight – http://nightlightinternational.com/bangkok
