I'll let them tell you what happened! :0)

 

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

 

Hey, Everyone! 

 

I received this news a few moments ago and watched to share it with you. Please forgive me for two posts in one night... I wanted to get it to you as soon as possible.

 

The owner of the building Asha House has decided to rent it to a different organization for a higher cost... which means that 30 kids and 5 staff need a new place to live- before December 17. There is a building available, but it needs serious repairs - like bathrooms- made before that date. Please watch the video and pray about how you can help... and pass it on to family and friends. Thanks!

 

Have a great Thanksgiving!

I really hope you enjoyed reading about what God did in Thailand! Thank you so much for praying and for your encouragement and support. I am so thankful for you! Here are a few final photos I wanted to share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like I talked about here, while each trip contains a day to "play", it's really just another ministry day. These days are so important, because they give the team the chance to enjoy and get to know the culture even more, to see more of what is important to the country, and to also give them an opportunity to look for ministry in "life". The truth is, there are no off days for Christians... we always have the chance to share Christ with someone! Some of the pictures on this post are from the off days, one from an afternoon on the coast, which was two hours away, and a second day providing the opportunity for an elephant ride! This was my first time seeing the Pacific ocean! Beautiful!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The sign above makes me laugh. Always remember... safty frist!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My favorite of Connie's photos:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We saw the guy above every single day. He never had a shirt on, and he was always reading or sleeping. It left us wondering about his story! Then, one day, we were up early and saw him not only moving, but pushing a cart! It was miraculous!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Couldn't resist! (Above right)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last February, I walked the grounds of one of the hundreds of Killing Fields outside of Phnom Penh, picking my way through the clothing, decomposing teeth, and pieces of bone that still rise out of the earth more than two decades after the genocide of the Khmer Rouge Regime, which birthed sex trafficking in Cambodia.

 

For Thailand, it was the Vietnam war. With Thailand being so close to a country torn in two, western soldiers would travel for a night--or two--in search of escape.

 

Decades later, it's a cancer the entire country breathes in, day in, day out. In Pat Pong alone, over 4000 women work the bars and the streets. The majority of them are from Northern Thailand, from a place called Isaan, and entered prostitution as a way to work off their families' debts. Culturally, Thai women are the moneymakers. Their families depend on them, just as the responsibility falls to the males in Western culture. 

 

I discovered some interesting facts about trafficking in Bangkok. First of all, for many of the women, it was a choice either they made (often not knowing the full extent of what they would be doing)- or their families made for them. It's likely the families know exactly what the women are doing, but they don't talk about it. There are cases of extreme abuse, where the women aren't able to leave, are starved, imprisoned, beaten, etc. But for the most part, at least the places we went, the women are free to leave--whether that's to go to another bar or to leave the Red Light Scene altogether. The sad truth is that there are many more women available to replace them, traveling to Bangkok every day. But for many, the money they make dancing or "servicing" customers pays the bills in the way a regular job can't. If they have children, they often send the children to live with their parents (the kids' grandparents), while they continue to work to pay the bills.

 

In short, a woman who works in a bar can make anywhere from $200- $300 a month. They get 2-3 nights off a month, total, working from 7pm to 2am all other nights. If a man buys a lady a drink, she gets 60% of the cost of the drink as pay (which is why we went in and bought the ladies' drinks... because then the girls could sit with us and we had the chance to talk with them). If a lady leaves the bar, the man who is taking her has to pay the bar manager for the cost of losing her for the rest of the night, which is a minimum of $18. After that, whatever he "purchases" her for is negotiated between her and the customer. Now, this is for the "less seedy" bars, if there is such a thing. Apparently, fewer the customers during last week (because of the flood), were a good and bad thing... because with fewer chances for money, the more aggressive and competitive the workers get with each other. After all... everyone has a debt that needs to be paid.

 

 

(Photo by Connie Rock).

Many of those working in this industry become calloused as a way of protection. If they are going to be used, then they will give it the best they can -and get as much money as they can. It's the sad result of a fallen world desperately seeking Paradise.

 

Many of the women we met didn't want to be there. We had so many conversations with women, teens, and even girls who tried to hide their tears behind smiles. They welcomed the words that Jesus loved them as healing water, for they don't know what real love even looks like.

 

 

There are two ministries in Bangkok that we worked with. They each focus on one of the three main Red Light Districts in the city. The first one, Rahab, works in the Pat Pong District. Our teams were met with Rahab and shared a meal with them, heard a presentation on the ministry of Rahab, had the opportunity to get involved, and even shop!

 

Rahab works directly in the women in the bars of Pat Pong, often doing outreaches after the bars close at 2am or meeting with girls before the night begins. For those who wish to leave the bars, they provide a place for them to learn a trade (nail art, hair styling, jewelry making, or crocheting), as well as learning life skills like typing or speaking English. Rahab provides a home for women to live as they transition out of life in the bars. For many of these women, it's the first time they've had a bed or a room of their own!

 

But Rahab doesn't stop there. For the women who choose, they will take away on a retreat. This is a BIG deal because this is mainly for the women who are still in the decision process of if they want to leave the bars. In order for them to go on this retreat, it means they are choosing not to work for several nights... meaning they will lose possible income. But if they choose to go, Rahab pays the "nightly fee" of taking a girl from her bar for a night. And over that weekend, they are taken out of Bangkok to a place they are safe, can relax, and open to being introduced to the gospel.

 

And... Rahab also takes the women on missions trips! To those who want to, they take a team of the Karen tribes (pronounced Corrin) of Northern Thailand. This tribe is most popularly known to the Western world as Burmese refugees who live just across the border from Myanmar. They are so remote that it takes hours of driving to reach them. And the women in at least one branch of the tribe practices wearing series of rings on their necks, arms, and legs, like this lady.

 

While in Bangkok, our team was able to shop at Rahab's physical store, but I wanted to give y'all a chance to support the ministry as well. So click here to see there beautiful jewelry! And the prices are in baht, so just divide by 30 and you'll know the price in USD.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Photo on bottom right by Connie Rock).

The second ministry we worked with was Nightlight, which also has a base in Atlanta. Nightlight focuses on the influence of Business as Mission (both as a business and as a non-profit) in Bangkok, bringing women in and teaching them a trade so that they can find means of alternate employment. It's a great ministry with a big heart and influence. 

 

Each team went on a night outreach ministry with Nightlight, going into bars in the Nana District (the 2nd of the three Red Light Districts in Bangkok). They also were able to do an outreach during the day in the Nana District, giving away free brownies, and cupcakes, inviting people inside to make crafts, and handing out balloons.

 

Nightlight also teaches their women to make jewelry, as well as screen print t-shirts, make Christmas ornaments, and silk flower arrangements. To visit their store, click here. These prices are in USD. 

 

Below are pictures of Nana District and ministry with Nighlight:

 

Ministry is hard here.
 
It's easy to start a trip like this with thoughts of grandeur and the need to resolve and defend. Quickly we find it's more about the simple expressions of love that speaks volumes of who you truly are. No one has ever been able to show me the love of Buddha. No one has ever been able to share with me how he died and rose again for me. No one has ever been able to tell me that he created me to worship him, that I was not created to be sold.
 
I look in so many eyes of women, young girls, children, and ladyboys and see no hope that anyone and any god can save them. I would even go so far as to say that I see some of that same desperation in the men who frequent the bars as customers. It just wears differently on them.

 
This is life, no less, no more. Which is why I believe simply loving on them without expectations is a huge testimony of how God loves us and calls us to share that love. No other god loves like that!
 
So when we walk the streets of Pat Pong, we walk with a purpose to be light and show love. We smile, say, "Sawatika", give out friendship bracelets, and share however God leads us. Taking the time in a bar just to hear a girl's story can be so powerful when it seems like most of her life revolves around pleasing others, why would we care?
 
Again, it's simple, relational ministry. Are we moving mountains? Maybe not yet. But that's the Lord's job, not ours. We are called to worship, to be a Light, to love at all times... even to the men. The heart of our Savior loves both the women and the men equally ... and so should we.
 














The gospel is not for the "cleaned-up, ready-to-go" soul. It's for the broken, the lost, in need. For the girl forced to sell herself in a bar in Bangkok to the girl in Phoenix, Az waiting for the one man God has for her. In His eyes, we are the same, a daughter of the King. That's what Love does.
 
I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself - Jeremiah 31:3

(words by Rachael Ward, photos by Kristen Torres-Toro)

 

Below is a post written by one of the team participants, Rachael, about ministry to children in Pat Pong:

 

1 John 3:18 "Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other, let us really show it by our actions."















The first night the surrounding adults gave us looks of uncertainty, but were curious as to what we were doing. They'd come up to the table and smile while keeping a watchful eye on us. The second night they warmed up a bit  and asked our names. By nights 3 and 4 we were welcomed by them shouting our names across the streets of Pat Pong to say "Hello Rachael!" and shake hands. Our bar maid even showed us what table we could use and brought more chairs for our growing VBS! On our last night there were heartfelt goodbyes and tears as we sent the kids back to what they knew: long nights from 7pm -2am and only God knows what else.

i could do this every night, this would be my ministry here. The effectiveness of simply showing love--His love--by our actions with these kids opened so many doors to share with the adults and be a light. Even the western men stopped and asked if we were teachers or if we worked there - and if not, why we would sit here and play with these kids? My only answer is because it's what Jesus would have done-- simple, relational, real. Light casts out darkness. That's what Little Pong did. In a place where it seems only darkness reigns, the Creator allowed us to take over the night to bring Him glory.

Let your light so shine before men.

On that corner for just a few nights our friends stopped selling sex shows all around us and allowed themselves to enter into the joy these kids were having. I am amazed and humbled at the work of the Lord. Watching these little ones and how the adults reacted to us showed me that maybe the best defense again trafficking - or selling yourself - is to end the cycle before it begins: Red Light Miinistry with the kiddos!

"Jesus loves the little children, all God's children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world."



*First and last photos by Connie Rock; others by Kristen Torres-Toro

Fifth, and this really isn't a surprise so much as it is a joy-- I saw the power of the Gospel.

Night after night, girl after girl, teen after teen, child after child, ladyboy after ladyboy, homeless person after homeless person... we shared the love of Christ. It isn't illegal to be a Christian in Thailand, meaning we could openly proclaim on the streets, "Phra Yesu Ra Kuhn" - Jesus loves you. And to the women, "Kuhn suay mahk"- You are beautiful. It literally brought light to the darkness, found smiles, and let us go places where we couldn't enter before. It even encouraged me to say it to them, reminding me that yes, Jesus loves me!

 

Thailand is traditionally Buddhist, meaning that to be a Thai is to be Buddhist... as is being Indian is to be Hindu. Religion is so culturally ingrained in life that conversion would mean possible exile from the family and the desertion of practicing so many things that are believed to make a person "Thai" (observing certain holidays, traditions, etc.) We met so many people who said that they were Buddhist because their families were, and for that reason, would not think of any other religion. Thankfully, we weren't there to share religion! And the truth that Jesus Loves You can't easily be forgotten.

 

The reality of Buddhism in Thailand was the most evident to me the day our first team went to the Grand Palace. We planned to take the second team there was well, but it flooded two days after our first visit. As we walked the grounds that hot October morning, I was struck by how beautiful it was. The PL for the first team, Lynn, said that was part of the allure of Buddhism - it was enticing and pretty... not scary with gods with grotesque features demanding worship. As I stood in the Emerald Temple and watched people bowing before the Buddha (which is interesting, because when Buddha was alive he said he didn't want to be worshiped), it made me incredibly sad. I wanted to tell the crowds about the One who loves them... who sees them, who hears them.... instead of the silent, golden statue incapable of anything.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hesitate to share this next story, simply because I don't ever want to bring any kind of recognition to myself. But I want to tell it because personally it meant a lot to me.

 

On our team off day, everyone decided to go to the Floating Market and Elephant Village, where we would be able to ride elephants. It was something we were all looking forward to. And something we talked about in the team is that even though it was a "day off", we're never really "off the clock" when it comes to being Christians. We just need to be listening to the Holy Spirit and watching to see where He is leading. So really, that morning we left for another ministry day.

 

A van came to pick us up and as the team of 8 started to pile in, we realized one person was going to need to sit in the front. Since I get car sick, common sense said it needed to be me. As I climbed into to the front bench seat (so there was a driver, the tour guide, and myself on this seat), I found myself missing my team. I could hear them laughing and talking in the back and I wanted to be a part of it. But I figured, maybe this would give me some introverted rest, time to pray... maybe even sleep. So I settled in.

 

Then the tour guide, Lek, started talking with me. He asked me questions about America. He asked me to edit his tour itinerary in English, so that Westerners could better understand it. I asked him questions about Thailand.

 

We were stuck in this vehicle for 90 minutes, so I figured a great conversation would make the time pass quickly.

 

When we were half an hour away from the market, Lek's questions changed. He asked about Christianity and rules, so I told him about grace. About how before Jesus came, there were a bunch of rules we all had to follow, and that if we broke any of them, that we had to pay the price. But God knew we couldn't keep the rules by ourselves, so He sent His Son to pay the price of our sin. Jesus came and died on the cross - and rose again- and that if we choose to worship Him as God and live for Him, that He forgives us when we do wrong.

 

 He asked about the Old Testament and we talked about it and the Ten Commandments. But I told him that Jesus said that there are really two commandments: to love God with all of our hearts, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. And that if we keep those two commandments, we will keep the Ten Commandments. But that if we don't believe in Jesus and we break one of the Ten Commandments, that when we die, we will go to hell.

 

He asked more questions, and I kept praying that God would give me the words. I told him that if I killed someone, I had to go to court. I'd be a murderer and there would be a punishment. I could go to jail for life or be killed myself as payment. But it was as if Jesus stood there in court and said, "I will take Kristen's punishment, so that she can live. But she has to accept it."

 

Lek said, "Oh." When I told him that  the Bible says that if we break one part of the Ten Commandments, we break them all (James 2:10), but that if we ask Jesus for forgiveness He will give it, Lek said, "Oh" again.

 

About 10 minutes before we arrived, the van, which had conversation still going in the back, was quiet. My team told me later that they heard a little of the conversation and started praying. And I know that God was giving me the words, because I have never had an opportunity like that to share the gospel as clearly as I was able to. Even now, retelling it, it isn't as clear as it was on that day. Simply, it wasn't me. That's all I can say.

 

As far as I know, Lek didn't make a decision for Christ that day. But Lek is a thinker. I could tell he wasn't just talking to me as an American tourist. At first, yes. He wanted to know if all the homes in America had internet. But then, his tone changed. His questions changed. I could see him thinking.

 

Lek had told me that in order to improve his English (which is important for a tour guide to Westerners), he read the Bible sometimes. So before I left, I gave him a list of verses to read, verses that said the same thing we talked about. And I gave him the name and address of a local church, where he could go to find answers to his questions.

Will you pray with me for Lek? Pray that he keeps reading the Bible? That he doesn't forget our conversation... not because it has anything to do with me, but because of Christ? Will you pray that he keeps seeking until he chooses Christ?

 

 

 

" But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15

Hey, Everyone!

 

I'm back from Thailand, currently sitting outside enjoying the Autumn wind and the leaves swirling all about me. Flying back into Atlanta was so beautiful, with the riot of colors and the awesome skyline! Definitely something I will never forget. 

 

So, Thailand is now just a memory for me and that's something I find hard to believe. How can three weeks go by so quickly? It felt like a week at most. But here I am. The calendar says mid-November, so our planet spun around a lot faster than I expected it could.

 

Coming into this trip, I had a lot of expectations concerning Thailand. It's a place I've heard about a lot in the past few years. Most of the people at AIM have been to Thailand, especially females. As the stats and the truth about sex trafficking have been increasingly made public, so has the desire to go and set the captives free. It used to be that everyone was clamoring to go to Mexico and Africa. Not it seems like Haiti and Thailand are the hot places for ministry, simply because the need is so new and so desperate.

 

I've heard a lot of stories about Thailand. I've seen pictures, and watched a growing number of Thai restaurants spring up in Gainesville. Because of a peanut allergy, I've stayed away from the food. But though I've watched the culture, I knew embarrassingly little about the country. I don't like to research a location before I go; I want to be surprised - to smell the spices in the air myself, to watch facial expressions, and see what awesome cultural things make up the country itself. Exploration is so much fun.

 

We talk a lot at AIM about living without expectations. That's what I try to do. Still, I found myself surprised by what I found in Thailand.

 

First of all, I didn't expect to be caught in a flood.

If you were watching international news, then you heard about the flooding in Bangkok, the worst it's been in 50 years. Water was up to chest deep in places. But we were staying in the central business district of the city, and the government wanted to do everything it could to keep it dry. The bad news is that in order to do that, they had to divert the water into the residential areas. The good news, for us, was that the area we were in was water-free. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We still saw the effects of the water, however. Sandbags were piled outside stores and in order to enter, you had to climb over them. Shelves were bare of supplies, water boots and floaties were sold on the street, and one day when we did venture out of the city, we drove through a foot of water in another area. Cars were parked up high on bridges (picture Spaghetti Junction with cars parked along one side of every bridge, and you'll envision the interstate bridges there), and at the airport, the parking lots were all quadruple parked. It's going to be a nightmare when people return for their cars, because they are all blocked in, albeit dry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(photos of vehicles driving in water by Connie Rock).

Second, I didn't expect to find deaf ministry!

One night, in Pat Pong, the first team handed out cards that had Psalm 139 on them. This girl came up, started reading it with her hands, and made the "deaf" sign. The next thing I knew, I was signing to her! Then, at two separate occasions during meals, people came up to me with the cards that said they were deaf and were selling handicrafts to make money. I was able to once again speak with them. And then the last few nights in Pat Pong, I met vendor after vendor who were deaf. We were bartering in sign, actually talking. I am so rusty, but now definitely need to brush up on it before I return in May! There was one man in particular who broke my heart. We talked with him a few times, and the last time I was able to go back and tell him that God loves him. Everyone I met was so kind to me, even though I wasn't speaking perfectly - I think they enjoyed the surprise of a "tourist" who could speak with them!

 

Third, I didn't expect to speak to any men at all.

With the type of ministry we were doing, the focus is completely on the women. Our team talked a lot about not judging the men, and how to respond when they talk with us. Anti-trafficking ministry is so sensitive and a lot of time brings up a lot of personal stuff in the hearts of the participants as well. We had a lot of intense debriefs as people processed their pasts and the people they met/things they saw on the trip.

 

In general, when I'm overseas, I stick to speaking with women, teens, and children. I believe that ministry to men needs to be done by men. At the same time, if someone speaks to me and I am in a safe location with others from my team with me, I will respond kindly, but not engage in a long conversation. Several times we were able to share God's love with the men we met, some of them as they were sitting with the women they'd purchased!

 

Connie and I staffed the first trip there and then led the the second, she as the Project Leader and me as the Support Staff. The first team ranged from ages 19- mid-70's! The second team was twenty and thirtysomethings. Both teams were so full of joy! Both so full of laughter. And I genuinely feel that I made some friends on those teams... and feel so much richer for it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(First photo: Missing Connie Rock, who took the photo. Second photo- we're all there!)

 

There are more stories and pictures to come, so please stay tuned! God did so many incredible things during those three weeks and I want to share as many of those stories as I can with you. Thank you so much for your prayers. Thank you for your support. Thank you for your encouragement! I was able to read your comments and emails while I was in Thailand and they made me so happy! Thank you for taking the time to respond! I thank God for each of you!

Pat Pong Market, one of the most infamous Red Light Districts in Bangkok, is a seven minute walk from our guesthouse. The first day we went there and prayer walked, I was absolutely shocked - some at the things I saw, but most of all, that it was literally across the street from McDonald's, where I'd eaten at every day since arriving in Bangkok. We'd been across the street from one of the most wicked streets in the world... and I'd had no idea.

 

The thing about Pat Pong is that you wouldn't know it was there during daylight hours. Before four in the afternoon, it looks like this:

 

Every day, in late afternoon, vendors start arriving and putting up their tents. Bars open, signs light up, and the street completely transforms.

 

(Photos by Connie Rock)

 

And when darkness falls...

 

 

Our team spent a lot of time in Pat Pong, walking the streets, meeting people, even going into the bars. Our focus is ministry to the women and ladyboys. We've gone in with bracelets, given them out, and prayed for those who allowed us to tie it on their wrists. We've order drinks and watched the women dance so that we could spend a few moments talking with them when they are allowed a break from the stage. So many of them wanted us to pray for them. They wanted to share about their lives. When we told them in Thai, "You are beautiful... Jesus loves you," they'd smile, hug us, and their eyes would light up - a completely different demeanor than what we'd see on stage.

 

Every time I return to Pat Pong, I see something new: the sign, higher than all the rest, of Lucifer, watching down on the entire street...the men walking through, looking at all the goods to buy and staring openly at the half dressed women dancing on stage and standing just inside doorways... western women walking beside their husbands/boyfriends (I just can't understand this--how could someone want to bring or even be with their significant other in such a place?)...the Thai children peeking out from underneath tables, sitting next to displays of lingerie... and walking holding the hands of western men... the dwarf who works outside of the German bar...the ladyboys forced to dance in a cage high above the street, so that everyone walking can see them, the fetish bar complete with a bright red metal cage and leather handcuffs hanging just inside the doorway.... the heartbreak, the depravity, the darkness the desperate need for Christ.

 

It's hard not to be so angry and disgusted by the men. 60% of Western tourists are officially here for "pleasure", but there is also a high rate of Asian men who are customers as well. And it would be easier to want to punch someone in the face, to wish them ill... but they are broken too. They need godly men to show them what true manhood is and isn't. The same for the ladyboys, who are officially considered Thailand's "third gender" - female from the waist up and male from the waist down, literally with no place they can feel safe and as if they belong.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Final pic of man on the left and handcuffs - above- by Connie Rock. We are very limited in what pictures we can post, because of the nature of the Red Light District. Hopefully these pictures give a hint of what we've seen without being too risque).

It can feel overwhelming, seeing all the need and knowing you have so little time. And we found we had a lot of questions on things like "etiquette"... could we just walk into a bar and star talking with a go go girl (dancer)? What do we say? What can we say? How can we best share the love of Christ?

 

The truth is, if we are open to where God is leading us, listening for Him, and willing to obey, He will lead us to people to speak to... and bring people to us. People like Nok Nok (below). Our first night in Pat Pong, I was wearing a new pair of shoes I'd purchased just for this trip. Nok Nok came walking down the street-- big hair, hobbling on her heels as if she had hip pain, and a tired face. She walked up to me and said, "I like your shoes". That opened a conversation for us. She told me her brother lived in Santa Ana, California, and that she had been dancing at a bar for three months (for her safety, I'm not going to say which one it is, but it's name is one of the most degrading on the street... not that they all aren't in some way). "Many baht," she said (baht is the currency in Thailand). Soon, she had to leave, but not before I was able to hug her and pray over her silently. I told her I'd look for her whenever I came back and I have. The thing that scares me the most--for her--is that the bar she works in starts on the second level of the buildings. We aren't allowed to enter a bar beyond the first level, because the farther up you go, the worse the conditions/things you see are. What kind of danger is Nok Nok in every night? What things must she do? Does she know that God loves her?

 

 

 

And then there's another girl I met, a dancer standing in the doorway of a bar, inviting men to come inside, scantily clad in a bikini. That night, we had orange cards with Psalm 139: 13-19 on them in Thai and were handing them out, asking people to read it to us in their language. With her big eyes and soft voice, she began to read out loud. Standing in the middle of Pat Pong with "Lucifer" directly overhead, the words of the Lord about her were proclaimed. When she was finished, she looked up at me and smiled. I asked if she understood and she nodded. We talked for a few more minutes; I was able to pray for her, and then I left. I'm sure that not long after, she had to go back up on stage.

 

That first night, prayer walking in Pat Pong, there was a moment when everyone in my small group got the chills. As we read the signs that said, "King's Girls" and watched the people prepare for work, we began to pray for the continued process of freedom for those who are trafficked, for those who work sharing the love of Christ in Pat Pong, and that the market would one day be no more. And as we prayed for the women and men to come to Christ, we prayed that they would return to Pat Pong to share their story and preach the gospel on the same streets... that even a church would be built there, upon that very rock.

 

From the Red Light District to a thriving Church - Lord, please let it be!

 

One great thing about the threat of flooding, Pat Pong has been virtually empty of customers for the past 3 nights, meaning the girls get a break! Praise the Lord!

 

 

Here is a story about a woman the team met in ministry this week, written by Connie Rock (photos by me):

It was night in Bangkok and we headed out for a prayer walk in the infamous red-light district in Thailand, Patpong. It hasn't gotten any easier the more we visit. In fact, it seems to get harder. You notice more of the little details...the small print in posters, the girls peering at you from cracks in doors, and the sadness in their eyes.

This was a test of faith for many. It was putting into action what they did not know they could do. We are not sure how the girl is now, but we walked away in faith believing she would be healed not just physically but also spiritually. Her name is impossible to pronounce, so let's call her Faith. Please pray for our friend, Faith. Kristen and I hope to run into her again this next week as we continue the ministry there with our second team.

 

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I fully believe that moment, as our first night of ministry in the Red Light District, was the moment the Lord gave the team the opportunity to step into active ministry by talking with and touching those who work in Pat Pong. It was the moment when all what they prayed for, raised money in order to come, and hoped to do happened right in front of them and it was their decision how they would react. It was so cool to see them minister out of the compassion the Lord gave them, and I cannot wait to walk those same streets with the team coming tonight/tomorrow morning!

 

An update on the flood: so far we haven't seen any water, although there are reports that the water is getting closer. Supposedly, if this weekend passes without us seeing water, the worst is over as far as where we are.