Red Light Districts

I sweat the entire day, everyday here. It typically rains at least briefly everyday, but never for most or even half the day. I consider this a good thing. The rain brings some relief from the heat, but once it stops it becomes difficult to tell if you're wet from the rain or sweat. Perhaps I'll become more accustomed to the heat as the month continues...

 You could spend a fair amount of time in Bangkok and remain unaware of the world that exists in the red light districts, but in certain areas ignorance quickly disappears. I won't go into much detail beyond what I personally witnessed, and I'll even spare sharing some of those due to not wanting to describe some of what took place. Instead, I'll share what a typical time of outreach looks like.

We go to the bars in the mid- to late afternoon, because the bars aren't too busy and the servers will have time to talk. They typically are applying make-up and getting ready for the evening. We'll go and buy something to drink, and offer to buy them a drink, too, as they earn a certain percentage made off of the drinks purchased. If we don't buy something the owners wouldn't want us there, and the servers would have no reason to spend time with us. The system is set up in a way that highly encourages these servers to spend "additional time" with their customers outside of the bar. Many massage establishments and even salons offer other "services" so you have to know what to look out for if interested in going to such places.

We offer the women (girls may be a more accurate term) alternative work at Samaritan Creations (SC), where they can make jewelry, dolls, and apparel. They hope to offer more work in the future, as finances allow, such as selling baked goods. Let me share my experience.

"Go-go" bars are those with dancers

 


















Our first evening out we met a server named Maggie (not really her name) who is 18 years old and has worked in the bars 2 months. She seemed to enjoy talking with us and we offered her another job if she was interested along with telling her why we were there in the bars: Jesus Christ and His offer of salvation. We gave her contact information for SC and told her we'd try to meet her again.

A couple evenings later we went out again and saw Maggie. She seemed excited to see us and we sat and talked with her more. However, the conversation eventually grew sad. The previous night she had gone out with a customer and made extra money, and as more potential customers sat in the bars she was losing interest in us. The lure of money and the possibility of marrying a wealthy foreigner had a higher priority.

The area we spent most of our outreach in

The complexity of the situation makes it difficult to adequately explain in a concise way. I'll provide further examples in the coming days and would ask for your continued prayers. You're welcome to check out more of my day to day activities at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U7sk8yy0Lma0JqVzCoP_MKEA9wsRcFo_wAGXamoi3Kc/pub, which I will do a better job of updating!

*Pray that God would redeem those working and paying in the red light districts. 

*Pray that we would be a light in the darkness - even in our hotel! We're staying in the same place for the whole month so we've had a chance to meet many of the staff. We will even try to meet with one of them to teach English. So many people here have never heard of Jesus and how His sacrifice allows us to have a relationship with God.

*Pray for our health and protection. 

Blessings.

CT

Back in Thailand

Bangkok. A city of 8-12 million people (depending on what areas you include). A city of extravagant shopping malls too numerous to want to count. While wealth increases, those who have money to spend find new ways to spend it. As in most cities, those without struggle to survive and find shelter in slums.

Slightly hidden from the shopping malls and plain sight are red lights districts boasting a far greater number of prostitutes. Who would want a job offering their bodies for another one's pleasure? The answer may be no one, but when there are mouths to feed and parents to please, for many it can often seem like the best option.


Perhaps the better question is who would purchase another person for their own pleasure? Unfortunately, the answer is many, which is why the salary is hard to beat.

I've now met several women who have come out of such circumstances. Instead of selling themselves in the bars, they are now providing for themselves and some for their children and families by making jewelry and apparel at a place called Samaritan Creations. Many are also finding redemption and joy in Jesus Christ as their lives are transformed. Much of our work during the week will be with them, which will include doing outreach in the bars 2-3 evenings each week.

One of the women showing Parker how to make a necklace, a task he won't be doing.

Workers at Samaritan Creations

Some living arrangements in the slums

 Additionally, we will be serving at a church in a slum area, helping with the children's program and doing community outreach. 

Children's program at the slum church

Interested in reading more about my daily activities? Check out the link here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U7sk8yy0Lma0JqVzCoP_MKEA9wsRcFo_wAGXamoi3Kc/pub

Prayer requests:

• Ask our Father in heaven to bring more women out of prostitution and into a loving relationship with Himself.
• Pray for our time serving in the slums and that the church there would be a light to the community.
• Pray that my team and I would have God's heart while we are here, and for our health and His protection.