Loud music, dark area, the smell of alcohol fills the air. Lust and depression are at every turn. Temptations are following. Food, shopping, gambling, smoking, sex, drugs, alcohol; whatever your vice, it’s at your finger tips. Women are the most gorgeous you’ve ever seen and the men are as handsome as those in magazines. Bangla Road is filled with every temptation a person could have. Any strong hold a person has dealt with, it is there. Every thought must truly be taken captive.
Imagine.
You walk into a bar and there stands a beautiful woman with a smile that is so warm and inviting. She waves at you and asks you to sit down. You sit and began to talk to her. She speaks English quite well. Praise God for the good conversation you know is about to take place. The darkness begins lurking in the background with every word coming out of her mouth. She speaks about her past jobs. She speaks about her current job. She tells you how much she wishes she didn’t have to do the things she does, then she tells you all of the reasons that she feels she has to stay there. She has a mother and father to take care of. She has children. She has relatives and family back home that need her to work. She is alone and needs to provide for herself. She needs to make money quickly to help people in her family who are poor. It’s only for a short time. It’s not for long. It won’t last forever. These are her excuses and lies the enemy is filling her with. You try to fill her with God’s truth and love but as you begin to bring hope to her, a customer comes in and she has to leave. Another night in this dark place.
Now imagine that same woman. She gives you her phone number right before she leaves. You tell her you’re going to call her to meet for lunch. You call her. She doesn’t answer. You call her again. She still doesn’t answer. You call a third time, she answers. She is still with her customer from the night before. She tells you she will call you later. Imagine talking to her again. This time she tells you about another job she’s taking. Imagine finding out she’s decided to work in a darker area. Imagine she tells you she is leaving the country where she will be working for a set time. Imagine her telling you she doesn’t want to go, but she has to. Imagine knowing that she knows what she’s doing is wrong, but also knowing there is nothing you can do to stop her. Imagine staying up all night in prayer. Imagine not sleeping for days because you’re interceding on her behalf. Imagine. Imagine living in a world that is completely opposite of everything you know. Imagine this is your reality. Imagine not having parents. Imagine not knowing Jesus. Imagine not knowing how loved you are. Imagine never hearing the words “I love you”. Imagine only seeing yourself as a product. Imagine drinking every night to run away from the hurt and pain of what you feel you have become. Imagine being trapped in a dark room with only satan spreading lies to you and speaking death over your life. Imagine not knowing there is grace and mercy and love waiting for you right outside that door. Imagine never knowing there is light and all you have to do is ask for it.
Imagine you are a man who is so lost and confused, you aren’t even quite sure how to live. Imagine living your days as a man. Your family sees and knows you as Mr. but your nights are spent pretending to be a woman. Imagine being so lost and confused that you’re willing to be a spectacle for others. Imagine being born a man but having numerous surgeries just to be a woman and then living your life not quite sure what you are.
Imagine being so hurt from your past and feeling so lonely you are now willing to pay just to have someone by your side. Imagine searching for something to feel the gap in your heart, but never finding it, and constantly turning to alcohol, sex, and addictions. Imagine finding your self worth by paying for sex with a beautiful woman. Imagine losing yourself to your addictions.
Imagine being a family who takes their children to see the spectacle down the streets of Patong. Imagine walking down these streets hand and hand with your children taking photographs of all of the “ladyboys” and bargirls. Imagine finding humor instead of compassion as you see all of the lost and confused people. Imagine being so lost.
