On Thursday night the guys of L squad went down to Patong Beach for the second time this month. The first time that we were there we could all feel the darkness and oppression that was so heavy in this street that is home to the women trapped in prostitution either through being trafficked into it or through another series of events that led them to feel as if selling their bodies was the only way for them to be able to live. Everywhere we turned our heads someone was trying to get us to enter one of the bars either through drink specials or through placards advertising “ping pong shows” which is just a playful name for a self-demeaning sex show that the women are forced to do for a boss in the back office who is making a quick buck off these beautiful women’s self-esteem.
The first night that we went to Patong all I could do was keep myself in constant prayer and worship. If I didn’t anger would have been surging through my body and I would have had tunnel vision. More than likely I would have ended up through the anger saying something I would later regret to one of the men on a sex vacation. What I would have said would probably not have shown Jesus to these men. I had to constantly remind myself that as Paul teaches in Colossians 3:8 that because I have being saved by Jesus, I must put away the ways that I once walked in. Including anger.
The second night that we went we did it a little different. Instead of splitting into two groups, we split into four. We also engaged the tourists on the streets in conversation as well. My group was Ed, Christopher, and myself. The three of us are all on the introverted side, so the idea of walking up to random people and talking with them was less than exciting. The first time we walked up the road we did it about ten minutes. Which is an extremely short amount of time to walk down crowded Bangla road. On our way back down to the other end of the road we ran into another group and stopped and prayed with them. Upon finishing Ed suggested to Chris and I that we find paper and make our own placards that say free prayer. The first shop we walked into gave us three pieces of printer paper and allowed us to use their Sharpie.
As soon as we started walking down the road people began turning their heads to read our signs. Everyone on that road knows the English world free. About 20 yards into the road a man that was trying to get customers to come into his bar glanced at our signs. We began to talk to him and eventually he allowed the three of us to pray for him.
As we continued to walk more people asked us what our signs meant. At one point along our walk a lady stuck her ping pong show placard in my face saying “Free ping pong”. I returned the gesture with my sign saying “Free Prayer”. By the time we reached the end of the road for the second time close to an hour had passed since we had begun, and we had the opportunity to pray with several people including a Burmese family inside of their tailoring shop.
I definitely did not feel the oppression as thick as I had the first night, but different team mates had said that they thought it was much thicker on the second night, so it is definitely there. I continue to pray that Jesus will show up big for the women and for the tourists on the street. It is in need of so much prayer and love to get these women out of the lifestyle that they are trapped in. Please keep Patong and SHE ministries in your prayers as well.
I want to thank all of you have gotten me this far on the race, whether through prayer support or financial donations. I would not be here if it wasn’t through the support that you offer. I am still in need of $3,549 to meet my final deadline and be fully funded. That means that Jesus has already provided SEVENTY SEVEN PERCENT of the funds needed for me to stay until the end of the race. THNAK YOU JESUS!! I would like to ask you to pray and ask God if He wants you to make a donation with the money he has entrusted to you. Thank you all for your prayers and support!!
