The numbers can be staggering to think about…on one street alone along Patong Beach, there are 200 open bars and over 1200 girls working in those bars. These girls are paid small amounts for drink commissions, but make almost all of their money by selling themselves to the male tourists who flock to this infamous destination. These men are known as sex tourists. They are old, they are young, some look sleezy, some look like the guy next door, there are married couples that come, and shockingly enough, many with their young children in tow. This place is unlike anywhere I have ever been. The task for our team of seven women going out, is to try to reach these girls and make an impact in the environment we are surrounded by…seems like an impossible when you look at the facts. But what I am learning is that this ministry really is about the ONE.
Each time I go in a bar, I sit face to face with ONE woman. I look her in the eye and I listen to what she shares with me. It may be a story of how this is her first day of working in the bars and she came to work in Patong out of shame after a bad breakup with her boyfriend. It may be the story of a single mom who knows no other way to provide for her 2 children. It may be a story about how she is one of three sisters that came together to work here out of desperation to provide for her sick parents and kids. Which are all true stories. These women are all ages…the ones I’ve talked to range from 20 to 47. They sit and talk to you (if they speak some English), they laugh with you, they play games with you, they hug you, they talk to you. Some as you walk by are sitting with men already, but they reach out and grab your arm, desperate for you to come talk to them and rescue them from their obligation to “entertain” these men. Some women though, want the money more, so they reach out to the men that pass by while you are talking to them, to try to entice them into their bar. I ask almost every woman I speak to if they like their job…and only one that I recall has said yes. Most shake their heads no, some laughing at the absurdity of the question, while some look away more somberly acknowledging how deeply they wish they weren’t here. They aren’t there because they like it, they’re there because they don’t think they have any other option…but they do.
SHE (Self Help and Empower) is the name of the ministry we are serving with this month in Phuket, Thailand. It was started by a British couple named Mark and Sharon Biddell in 2006. Their purpose is to provide another option for these women involved in the commercial sex trade industry here in Phuket. SHE will train them how to make jewelry or how to make chocolates and bake, give them a full time job, and provide a safe place for them to live if they want it. It is a Christian work environment where they have morning devotions and Bible study once a week with the staff. Most who come through SHE become Christians over time as they live and work around those who display the love and hope of Christ. SHE is funded 100% by donations. They never turn anyone away, and simply trust that if another girl decided to come through their doors, God would certainly provide the money for SHE to support them. So, when we go into the bars, we talk to the girls, and if the opportunity presents itself, we tell them about SHE and invite them over to lunch to visit with Mark and Sharon and with the Thai girls that work there. After that, it is up to them. They will no doubt make more money working in the bars, but is it worth selling themselves every night to make that money? Sadly, for some, it is…but for many, SHE provides a choice they didn’t know they had.
It’s such a blessing to be a part of this ministry and to meet and become friends with these beautiful women…to be able to share hope with them. Hope is such a simple word, but without it in our lives…nothing matters. These girls need hope. They need someone to come alongside them and help them in a very practical way…and in doing so, we get to show them the heart of Jesus. And these girls long for that, whether they realize it or not. We get to tell them that they have value, that they are loved, that they are good beautiful women, that it’s not okay for people to treat them like a piece of property, and that they can have incredible hope for their future.
We’ve been here for a little over a week and a half, and already we’ve had seven girls come visit the center for lunch, and many more are close to coming to visit…praise God! There is much spiritual darkness here in Patong, but there is also great hope as well…we are seeing the light penetrate the darkness.
If you would like to be a part of what God is doing in this ministry, there are many opportunities. First and foremost, please pray for them…for favor and protection and discernment and clear direction from the Lord. Their greatest tangible need at the moment is for general financial support, so if you would like to give a tax deductible donation, please visit their website, http://www.shethailand.org/. You can also look at the jewelry for sale on their website and consider buying these items as gifts or for yourself, or even talk to churches or other organizations who may be interested in selling their jewelry to help raise awareness and support for this ministry. Another great need is simply ideas. If you have any marketing, product, or branding ideas, please pass them along to me, and I’ll make sure they get to the right people. Our team has fallen in love with this ministry and is working to support them any way possible…and I’m excited for you to join in the process!
