We are in Thailand now. The land of 1,000 smiles, and it truly is! The people are so friendly and always greet you with a smile. We have been working with Light House in Action, a great organization that is about loving and building relationships in the red light district of Chiang Mai. Through these relationships and knowledge of Christ the goal is to save people from this industry, and hopefully eventually to provide alternative work options. Lighthouse in Action is run by Emmi. She witnessed her father kill her mother when she was 3 and then was sold by her grandparents at age 6. She was thankfully rescued and grew up in a Christian orphanage. Life wasn't easy for her – she had many challenges – but she came back to her faith. Her best friend was also sold, but her fate was less fortunate, being sold into prostitution and passing away from HIV later in life as a young woman. God rescued Emmi, and now, after this ministry was placed on her heart, she has started to grow a ministry.
It is hard to know what to make of the sex industry of Thailand. I have been here in the past and was briefly exposed to it at that time. In my immaturity I didn't understand the big picture. I have since read the book “Half the Sky” which helped me gain some understanding (more related with sex trafficking issues that exist), but I definitely didn't realize what the industry actually looks like. We were not able to go to the usual area of the red light district they typically send teams, due to safety concerns. This is an area with many bars, with a Muay Thai boxing ring in the centre, and a very “inviting” feeling. We instead walked the streets to see where God might call us to go and meet some of these young women. The first night led me and my night partner, Jessica, to a street that was full of “Karaoke Bars” and "Bunny" Clubs. It was such a sad sight to see. These are places where women, all dolled up, line the front of the entrance, on the side walk, appearing in a line up “waiting” to be chosen, whether to head inside, or to be taken away. The Karaoke bars seem to work in a manner where the women enter with a group of men who then select who they wish to spend their time with. The girls we saw were generally not receptive to a friendly smile and we felt very overwhelmed. So we prayed. Some girls on another team in our group were actually able to buy the Madame and another girl and take them for dinner in this area, really opening up communication which is really cool.
The next night we tried a new street, feeling slightly discouraged from the night before. But God showed up. We were walking, asking for someone to invite us to converse, and when coming to a Karaoke bar, a lady said "Hello," got up from her seat and invited us to sit down. We sat out front of the bar. We saw men enter and leave as we built relationships with some of the girls, though their English was limited, and also a man who frequents Chiang Mai, and for the last 2 years has built a friendship with one of the girls at this bar. I set all judgment aside and had a conversation with this man. I gained further understanding of the issues in this country with poverty. There is no welfare system, and it can be hard to find work. Women sometimes turn to the sex industry because they have no hope for supporting their families, or themselves. How sad is that! They have to turn to sex to do that, or at least that is how they feel. It is so easy because the industry is so open. You see it everywhere and there is no hiding it. We continue to have a relationship with a girl from that bar, but her limited English has made for limitations. So we just give her all the love we can and she greets us with a bright smile and always remembers our names when we come by.
We decided to try a new area as we felt called. We are currently having conversations with 19 year old girls working the bar, trying to get people into the bars, by wearing skimpy outfits. They are there to meet the needs of the men who enter. The girls we met here are about 19-21 and each has children 1-2 years old. They are working to support their children, and one girl, Vicky, also has plans for college and the money she makes here goes toward her son and her schooling. She says she doesn't like working the bars, and she wants to work in an office one day. She also told us one girl will likely be in the bars for life. We haven't had an opportunity to dig into this more. I just wonder what these girls think. Maybe there is a bit of a rush from men buying them drinks and feeling “loved” and partying while you are getting paid, or a rush knowing that the money you make here is a decent wage to support your family, self and child. I wont lie, I feel very confused here observing this industry, but ultimately it makes me sad. To see 50 year old men taking a 21 year old from the bar, and letting her give him all her attention.
The last thing I want to mention is the other bars we have seen. Girls that look about 13 years old standing in front of Karaoke bars, some with children, waiting to be lined up and chosen, or not chosen for the evening. The big picture of the sex industry overwhelms me. A child, still carrying such innocence caught up in an industry that does not allow them to understand their worth. Some people choose the industry, often out of hopelessness. they have no job, no money and a need to provide. Some are sold into it through trafficking. They have no choice; they may be sold as young children, often families sell their children to make money, as they are in need. How much do you think it costs to sell your child to a life of abuse and rape? It is only $26. The hopelessness we see in this is: firstly, they are forced into something I would pray to God they would never choose, and secondly, they feel hopeless because their religion tells them that they were born to be a prostitute because karma in their last life has brought them there. There are many walls to get through to some of these sex workers. So we are doing our part here, working on building relationships if we are accepted, and showing love. If there is no breakthrough today, we hope that people will continue to reach out to these beautiful worthy women and our interactions now would be stepping stones for future relationships that may save them, that may break down the walls of hopelessness, that they can leave this industry, lead a better way of life and also know Christ.
