Sitting here on my bed, in Chaing Mai, Thailand I can’t help but think about the past week. It was an interesting week. Our ministry involved going into the bars every night and befriending the prostitutes, pimps and Johns within. I can’t begin to explain what the red light district of Chaing Mai looks like; an intense weight of energy and heaviness resides in streets that are filled with bar after bar after bar and each bar is filled with anywhere from a few to a dozen women, all dressed in a manner that is best described with fewer words, if any at all. These women hoop and holler at men as they walk by, even going so far as to reach out and pull them in if they’re close enough. Men mean that they get paid and attracting attention means men. Some men are caught off guard; a few may be lost or were not aware of what they were walking into, but the majority have eyes filled with goals that need achieving each night. They hold smiles that linger as they look into the bars, deciding which bar looks most appealing. It is our job to go and love on these people, to befriend them and build relationships with them. Some times this was hard and other times it was beautifully easy.
The first night out I had prayed that the Lord would lead me to one person; just one person. As we wondered around this arena (picture underneath) that contains almost 30 bars but I didn’t feel a pull anywhere. Then we came to the last bar in the corner and a young woman was playing pool. She stood up from her shot, looked at me and smiled. In that smile I saw her whole world and my heart melted for her. I immediately smiled, proceeded into the bar and stuck my hand out in her direction. We became friends very fast and I learned much about her in the few days I was able to go and visit her. I cannot release her name or any information but I can tell you that she is the most precious thing I’ve ever encountered and I love her beyond words. I never knew it was possible to love a stranger so much. I know the love I have for this young woman is not my own, because I don’t know how to love this much and I definitely don’t know how to love a stranger this much, but I do…I do love her. The Lord has shown me how much he loves her and that he is going to save her. It’s so beautiful and I cannot get enough. If I were allowed to I would visit her every single night just to be able to spend some time with this amazing friend I have made.
There were nights in the bar ministry, mainly those I was able to go spend time with my new friend, that were easy. They were easy because we could have a good time with the girls, play pool, buy them a coke and get to know them better; hear their stories, encourage them and tell them how much we and the Lord love them. But there were nights that weren’t so easy. These nights were the nights that consisted of so many men the women weren’t allowed to talk to us because they were so busy entertaining or nights where the women were emotionally not present and you could feel something was wrong. How can you help someone you love when, not only can you not communicate effectively through a language barrier but also you can’t impact her situation? Then to top it off you had to walk away…leaving her to stand there, staring at you with sadness and longing in her eyes, and wave. It was so hard to walk away knowing that she was hurting AND that she would eventually have to go back to work, especially with so many customers in the bar. These were the hard nights.
BUT GOD… is so good. Not only does the Lord, in his gentleness and kindness, comfort us as we walk away, but he assures us in his communication that these bars are going to be redeemed. This past week in our intercessory times the Lord has spoken and he is graciously allowing us to see a small part of his plans for this place. Our God has strengthened us and reminded us that he is here; he was here before we got here and he will be here when we leave. He is rejuvenating this land and restoring the souls of those lost here in Chaing Mai, Thailand. It has been a beautiful experience to feel the Lord work and to be filled with a sense of his presence as we go into these bars and make friends with his children. He loves these people so much sometimes it’s overwhelming and I cannot be more joyed to be here. In the easy nights and in the hard nights the Alpha, Omega, Father is present and constantly reminding us of his love. Chaing Mai WILL be new and rejuvenated; washed clean for the Lord’s glory.
That’s what I think about as I sit in my bed, recuperating from a glorious day off at the waterfalls. Thoughts of how our ministry this past week was hard, interesting, rewarding and fulfilling. Thoughts of how the Lord has moved and how he is so, so good.
Thank you Father for loving us.
Thanks for reading,
Tabbi
