Updates: First, we got new teams- I have not been blogging recently because whenever I sit down to do it, all I do is stare at my computer and then after awhile, I start logging onto Facebook or Skype, or both because I get discouraged, but there is much to say!
I apologize for not updating yet in Thailand. However, things are going wonderful, I love the country and I love the ministry we are doing. My new team consists of Andrea Gosselin, Jessica Sims, Ashley Van Houttom, Nathan Salley and Jonathan Beckman.
This month the guys and girls are separated for the long awaited “Manistry” and “Wo-manistry.” So I have not been able to spend time with the boys on our team, but the girls are amazing women of God and I’m already learning so much from each of them! We have different gifts and talents but all seem to have some similarities in where our journey is, so we can help each other grow for the remaining months of the race.
It’s scary how fast this year is flying by; trying to soak in every bit possible can be super exhausting-soaking up ministry, soaking up the culture, my teammates, the LORD! There is so much to do, but sometimes we just have to rest with Him and get rejuvenated to continue. Since the beginning my goal was to not let this year go by and have me saying after, man I wish I would have done _______!
What I really want to do is grow strong in the Lord get firmly rooted in His love so when I get home I can continue to serve Him in crazy ways! Our team name is Sequoia- their roots are deep into the ground and they team up with other trees roots underground to build strength and unity-this is our team focus.
The kids are just beautiful! The organization goes into five different slums, five days a week, so the neighborhood knows what day they are coming. They know what day they get to hear about God an
d have a nice dinner-as supper, fruit and water or juice is provided. We were able to lead games and silly songs with them, share a bible story and make a craft.They all got a small gift that they loved and three kids won bikes! It was one of my favorite things on the race so far- it was just fun and the impact was noticeable.
Thailand has been full of some favorites for me! We went to an HIV home and prayed for the patients there, I met a woman named LingLee, she could not walk and is very sick- I love when the Lord puts a random person on your heart right when you meet them, you can barely stand not running up and hugging them, praying for them and rejoicing in what the Lord is doing in their life! LingLee is a Christian and she believes in the healing power of Jesus- so we prayed-and I do not know the plans that Jesus has for her, but regardless of her physical healing, God has healed her emotionally and she has true joy in Him.
Her illness brought me back to a time when my grandmother was really sick, she died a year and a half ago, but sometimes it feels so much closer than that, especially around Christmas. I miss her so much- I miss her crazy comments, and her crazy love! I miss having to pretend that every present was perfect and fit perfectly so she would not feel bad. She always wanted to please people-and she did. She was never lacking in love, she always let people know how much she loved them. I know she’s with me, I could feel her that day-my heart stung for LingLee the same way it did when I would see my grandmother so weak in her flesh-but strong in Spirit.
During one of my fundraisers a lady who knew my grandma saw a sign for my event and she asked if I was “Bea’s granddaughter” she donated treats and came to support me-another blessing from the Lord-another sign that my grandma was there.
Anyway… that was a tangent- I love it here, I love Thailand, I love Thai children and Thai people, and I love being a part of bringing light to a nation full of darkness.
We went walking to a prayer house in the middle of the red light district-neon signs that attract the eye are full of women and children available for sex. At each bar there were around 5-6 women or lady boys outside, waiting for an invitation… some super young, looked like young teens, with gobs of makeup on, skimpy outfits, and a look of hopelessness. It’s said that women are responsible for supporting their families back in their village, so some feel they have no other choice but to sell themselves- and some are forced into this lifestyle. In this world, women and children are being traded and bought like property-their being subjected to treatment lower than an animal-forced to service their clients for little or no pay. They have their documents taken, they have a fee to pay the person ‘housing’ them and they rarely get compensated for their work. They are all at risk for STI’s and HIV. Most studies report that condoms are rarely used.
They are abused, beaten if they do not perform, they are costumed and primped to be certain characters or to fulfill certain fantasies. Writing this is hurting my stomach- you cannot pretend like this doesn’t happen, you cannot pretend that it’s only on this side of the world, it’s everywhere and it affects women and children in several cultures.
Women are still seem as a lower species then men in certain cultures, and it’s viewed as acceptable for men to buy sex because of their ‘innate’ need for it. The justification of it never ends, and there are officials in the police and political fields who are part of the industry, making it even harder for help to come to these areas, as trust is limited among the people that have power.
I’m not a scholar, I don’t know all the facts, but I do know that we need more of Jesus on this Earth, more of Jesus within ourselves. For those of you who still think it’s not necessary to put Jesus in the center, I urge you to reconsider-as there are people in this world who desperately need to see hope on your face, light from your heart, and comfort from you, who houses the Holy Spirit- and all that it represents.
Jeremiah 29:11- For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
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