Two weeks ago I found myself walking through the red light district in Bangkok. Hundreds and hundreds of girls standing on the side of the road in bikinis, marked by a number. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. My heart broke as I realized what was happening right in front of us. I hate to say this but it felt like you walk into a market. It’s just wrong, so wrong. And then all these white, old guys, they made it worse, much worse. I was overcome by the darkness, I don’t think I have ever seen so much bad in one place. My heart broke for the girls but it broke for the guys just as much. I couldn’t help but feel disgusted, but at the same time I tried to love them. It’s just so hard… The Lord showed me that night, that these guys, these Johns are victims as well. In a way they are messed up and they need help just as much… Overall though I felt defeated, I didn’t see any good in this place and I didn’t want to go back. I never wanted to go back.
My Team is now in Chiang Mai. Some of us have gone back into the district to do more ministry. I passed, I was done with it. A couple of days ago though I suddenly felt challenged to try it again (weird huh). The way I remember the red light district is dark and (sorry) disgusting and if I’m honest, I don’t want to leave it like that. I know there is more, I know even though it is a dark place, there is still good and there is still hope. I had a hard time seeing it the last time, but I want to go again see it this time. So we went. My only prayer that night was that I would see what Jesus sees and feel what He feels.
Then I met Beyonce. Beyonce is a ladyboy and a prostitute. And she is beautiful. She has dreams of moving to Europe and if she would ever find a man who truly loves her, she would trade this lifestyle for something better. From the second I met and hugged her, I couldn’t stop thinking how beautiful she is. I saw her as a child of God. I saw how much He loves her and it made me love her too. The whole time we talked to her all that went through my head was “she is beautiful and she is loved”. I was overcome by Gods love for someone the world rejects and finds unlovable. And really, that’s all I needed that night. That was the only reason why I came and God met me there.
