Tiffany Berkowitz, a racer from the June 2009 I Squad, spent a month in the red light district in Chiang Mai, Thailand, sharing Jesus with the women who earn a living there. She shares the story of spending the night with two of these women and the trust that was developed by hanging out with them.
Music filled the hot, sticky
air as the neon lights widened my eyes to see all that surrounded me. We
turned the same familiar corner, bringing us to our usual spot in the red light district in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Previously our team had
spent time in prayer crying out for God to move. We were all so tired,
and not really wanting to go out for the night. But as we sought him in
prayer, we knew that he was ready with an incredible plan and purpose
for the night. He is big. He is love. And he transforms lives. We were
ready for a big God to do big things, so we strolled down the string of
bars with hearts rooted in him, eyes ready to see through his, and minds of Christ prepared to fight in his name.
air as the neon lights widened my eyes to see all that surrounded me. We
turned the same familiar corner, bringing us to our usual spot in the red light district in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Previously our team had
spent time in prayer crying out for God to move. We were all so tired,
and not really wanting to go out for the night. But as we sought him in
prayer, we knew that he was ready with an incredible plan and purpose
for the night. He is big. He is love. And he transforms lives. We were
ready for a big God to do big things, so we strolled down the string of
bars with hearts rooted in him, eyes ready to see through his, and minds of Christ prepared to fight in his name.
The women were lined up in a row in front of 
each bar, looking absolutely
stunning in their mini skirts and flashy tops. Still their smiles out
shined any of their glitz and glam. We were welcomed to sit at one of
the bars that we had been to the night before. Fon sat down with us to
challenge us to a game of Connect Four. (Side Note: women working the red light district in Chiang Mai are expert Connect Four and Jenga
players.) A pool game began soon after. Becky and Fon on one team,
Heather and Nitnook on the other. Our laughter overwhelmed the noise
coming from the bar beside us where six women were dancing on the bar for a
man probably somewhere in his sixties. The men here are just as in need
of a Savior as the women.
each bar, looking absolutelystunning in their mini skirts and flashy tops. Still their smiles out
shined any of their glitz and glam. We were welcomed to sit at one of
the bars that we had been to the night before. Fon sat down with us to
challenge us to a game of Connect Four. (Side Note: women working the red light district in Chiang Mai are expert Connect Four and Jenga
players.) A pool game began soon after. Becky and Fon on one team,
Heather and Nitnook on the other. Our laughter overwhelmed the noise
coming from the bar beside us where six women were dancing on the bar for a
man probably somewhere in his sixties. The men here are just as in need
of a Savior as the women.
Near the end of the game of pool that Marissa and I
were playing with a couple other women, Heather asked me how much money I
had on me. Our team gathered and pitched in everything we had.
were playing with a couple other women, Heather asked me how much money I
had on me. Our team gathered and pitched in everything we had.
Because of the way things are run, in order to have
time with the girls outside of the red light district, you have to pay
for their time. It’s difficult to sit and talk with the women in the
bars. They are doing business. When a man comes around, they are all
over him. They have to be. Having their full attention is impossible, and
hearing their hearts can be quite the task (between the accents, the
loud music, and the horrible atmosphere). So we paid for an hour. We
were all pretty sure that they were under the impression we were
paying for their time, for what people usually pay for–their
bodies. We could not wait to see how God was going to move when they realized a bunch of dorky Christian girls just wanted to hang
out with them.
time with the girls outside of the red light district, you have to pay
for their time. It’s difficult to sit and talk with the women in the
bars. They are doing business. When a man comes around, they are all
over him. They have to be. Having their full attention is impossible, and
hearing their hearts can be quite the task (between the accents, the
loud music, and the horrible atmosphere). So we paid for an hour. We
were all pretty sure that they were under the impression we were
paying for their time, for what people usually pay for–their
bodies. We could not wait to see how God was going to move when they realized a bunch of dorky Christian girls just wanted to hang
out with them.
Heather, Becky, Marissa, Hannah, and I piled into a
small tuk tuk and headed to our next
destination. The whole way, all seven of us were breaking out in random
songs. I can honestly say it was one of the best times of the entire
Race for me. I was just thinking of Jesus, and I realized that this is exactly what he would be doing on a Friday night. Hanging out with
prostitutes. Loving them. Judgment free.
small tuk tuk and headed to our next
destination. The whole way, all seven of us were breaking out in random
songs. I can honestly say it was one of the best times of the entire
Race for me. I was just thinking of Jesus, and I realized that this is exactly what he would be doing on a Friday night. Hanging out with
prostitutes. Loving them. Judgment free.
We arrived at the karaoke restaurant, and I can hardly express how
the night progressed. I don’t think a minute passed when we were not
laughing hysterically. Fon and Nitnook are girls, just normal girls
that I would hang out with any day of the week. They reminded me so much
of friends back home. They told us they hated working at the bar.
Nitnook is raising her four-year-old son on her own, and Fon is a
brilliant young girl with so much potential. We sang and danced on the
dance floor, we talked about what their lives are like outside of work,
and we became the best of friends. Our team has fallen in love with
these two.
the night progressed. I don’t think a minute passed when we were not
laughing hysterically. Fon and Nitnook are girls, just normal girls
that I would hang out with any day of the week. They reminded me so much
of friends back home. They told us they hated working at the bar.
Nitnook is raising her four-year-old son on her own, and Fon is a
brilliant young girl with so much potential. We sang and danced on the
dance floor, we talked about what their lives are like outside of work,
and we became the best of friends. Our team has fallen in love with
these two.
So we got ready to pay for the food and drinks, and
the card wouldn’t go through. We literally had no other way of paying.
We began to design an elaborate plan of having two girls go back to the
bars (we only had Fon and Nitnook for an hour), having two girls run
home and grab the cards, and someone going to an ATM. In the midst of
all of this, Fon volunteered to pay until we can pay her back. I was in
awe. She trusted us. At that moment God spoke to me: “She sees something
different in you girls. She sees me, she just doesn’t know it yet.”
the card wouldn’t go through. We literally had no other way of paying.
We began to design an elaborate plan of having two girls go back to the
bars (we only had Fon and Nitnook for an hour), having two girls run
home and grab the cards, and someone going to an ATM. In the midst of
all of this, Fon volunteered to pay until we can pay her back. I was in
awe. She trusted us. At that moment God spoke to me: “She sees something
different in you girls. She sees me, she just doesn’t know it yet.”
After we left the restaurant, they walked with us back to the
house, we paid them back, and they sat for a bit before heading home.
They wanted to take us out during the day to show us the best places to
go for Songkran (The Thai New Year- and the world’s largest water fight). We exchanged numbers and were all so excited to
see each other again. After they left, the team got together to end the
night in prayer.
house, we paid them back, and they sat for a bit before heading home.
They wanted to take us out during the day to show us the best places to
go for Songkran (The Thai New Year- and the world’s largest water fight). We exchanged numbers and were all so excited to
see each other again. After they left, the team got together to end the
night in prayer.
We could not stop talking about how amazing God is.
He is so faithful. He says he is a big God, and he really is. We were
blessed with the opportunity to treat these girls to a real night out.
Where they could be free, where they could be safe, and where they could
be loved. The best part was that they decided not to go back to work after
leaving us.
Who knows what God has for the future of Chiang Mai? I
believe a church is going to break out in the middle of the enemy’s territory, and I am ready to go to battle for it.
He is so faithful. He says he is a big God, and he really is. We were
blessed with the opportunity to treat these girls to a real night out.
Where they could be free, where they could be safe, and where they could
be loved. The best part was that they decided not to go back to work after
leaving us.
Who knows what God has for the future of Chiang Mai? I
believe a church is going to break out in the middle of the enemy’s territory, and I am ready to go to battle for it.
Do stories like these touch you and make you want to jump into the action? Check out our two remaining January routes and our four brand new July routes, and consider applying for the World Race!
