There’s a popular saying in Thailand – “Same Same, but Different”. That is the best way to describe this trip to Bangkok: being in the same hood, but seeing so many differences and God moving once again in amazing ways that I could not have imagined!
About 10 days before I left, martial law was declared in Thailand. This was due to a peaceful coup in the midst of going on. We’d witnessed rallies last November, actually. Sometime around January, they got a little more intense, but by spring they were peaceful. Tourism to Thailand slowed. One report said that while this nation usually has millions of visitors a year, so far only 400,000 people had crossed its borders in 2014 – a serious departure from previous years’ numbers. With tourism being a primary industry for Thailand…. And, sex tourism being a major part of that… you can imagine how it has impacted the nation economically.
Walking through the Red Light District, you could see the effect of these last few months of unrest: Rows of stalls empty, their lights out, bars closed and dark – including a landmark sign that presides over all of the street. I found myself with mixed feelings about it. Obviously, seeing closed bars that seems like a good thing. That means people aren’t being abused there, right? But I saw the worried brows on the vendors and desperate glances. A closed bar or stall means unemployment. I thought back to 2011, on the first trip there, when the entire city was threatened with flooding. Tourism was down then, too. And our contact in that Red Light District told us that while it seemed good, fewer customers meant fewer opportunities for the girls to make money. And fewer opportunities meant more aggression between those dancing/working in the bars to get the attention of the few.
Another organization working in a different Red Light District has always had an interesting perspective that I can’t forget. “Don’t pray the bars close down,” They said. “Because what you are praying for is the loss of someone’s job. In addition, as horrible as their situation is…. Right now they have access to the gospel and to make the choice to leave and get help. We know they are there. We look for them; we are aware of the pulse of this area. And praying to have the bars close down just means that they will move somewhere else – and that could be a worse situation in a place without the Light of the Gospel.
Instead, pray for transformation.”
That is something we’ve repeatedly prayed over the Red Light District we work in most. Rahab, a ministry who works with women and teaches them a new trade if they desire to leave, has a dream of the street becoming a neighborhood that worships God, of the bar currently called “the King’s corner” being the church. Of the hotel for customers being turned into a guesthouse, of the bars becoming health spas and tourist shops. This is something we pray as we walk the streets every night.
One of the closed bars is one our teams have spent a lot of time in. Connie, the team leader, has built good relationships with the manager, the bar owner, the bar staff, and the dancers. When she appears in the doorway with some of her “friends”, she is welcomed with open arms and laughter and people reach out their arms for the friendship bracelets we are known for. That bar being dark means several things: 1) “starting over” in a different bar that we’ve spent time in, but not as much and 2) wondering where those people we’ve come to care for are now. Praying the words of life spoken over the loud music, the smoke, and the din of shouted conversation will take root and we will one day see that person in paradise even if we never see them again on earth.
It felt incredible to be back in the night market – to see old friends and their families. Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for being a part of this, for praying and for giving financially. It humbles me and I am so thankful that I was able to go! Our friend the watch lady is doing well, as is her daughter. The dvd vendor, t-shirt vendor, and deaf vendors are also doing well. Again, they looked at us in amazement and said, “You came back!”
We set up “Little Pong” (vbs) at the usual place and children came. And one night, as we were about to leave, our little flower child skipped up to us, carrying her bunch of roses. Again, I asked her for her best price – still 100 baht (about $3)- and saw her fairy princess smile reach her eyes.
*Photos by Connie Rock.
While Connie took groups into a bar and another group played with the children, our prayer team back at the hotel (we had men on the team for the first time!) lifted us up. The group I was in prayer walked, talked with people we met, vendors, children, women.
My last night there, we were a part of something incredible – a party at Rahab, our contact in this Red Light District. Usually these are held once a month, late at night. But because of the curfew, it was in the afternoon before the girls went to work. My teammates had raised enough ministry money to throw an additional party – and 18 women came! We had pizza, rhambutan (my favorite fruit!), and soft drinks; played silly games, had a dance party, and then my teammates shared the gospel through song, a skit, and a testimony. God spoke in such an incredible, incredible way. When Jennifer finished her story, you could visibly see desire on the faces of the women. And then one of the staff at Rahab began to speak so lovingly in Thai. Suddenly 5 women stood up and walked to the middle of the room! Without a translator, I knew instantly what was happening and pretty much lost all words but, “Thank you, God!” Then we were able to pray with the women who became our new sisters in Christ!
*photos by Connie Rock.
Now, that’s the way to party in the Red Light District!
*Photo by Connie Rock.
Please be praying for these women, for the 5 who accepted Christ, for the others in attendance who heard the gospel but left without believing it for themselves. Please pray for Rahab– such an amazing ministry. Pray for continued transformation, of the new believers as they learn what it means to follow Christ, for those who desperately need him, and for the Red Light District itself.
And here’s another reason to celebrate- yesterday Rahab announced that one of the 5 women who accepted Christ has officially left the bars and is working with them! In addition, Beauty, who left last May, has officially left the Bangkok area and is working as a car saleswoman about an hour away. How awesome is that? She will be able to attend Rahab’s 25th anniversary party this month – and what a party that will be!
So incredible, what God has done!
*The entire group – Rahab, AIM team, and new friends! Photo by Connie Rock.
