Its funny how things that most foreigners would find annoying is strangely comforting to me:
crazy busy streets- zooming with motorcycles
shower heads that only reach my chin
The same warm smiles that stole my heart last summer are melting my heart again. I remember why they call Thailand the "Land of Smiles." Everywhere you turn people are smiling and greeting you with soft "Sawasdee kha"
But this summer feels very different, and its not just because I'm in a new city or with a new team.
Its because I've quickly seen the underbelly of the Thai society. The depravity of the culture is impossible to miss as you walk down the streets of this tourist city.
Never before have I witnessed such a darkness. Down one street in the red light district, there are hundreds of bars and massage parlors- too many to even count. Girls, barely dressed sit waiting for men to come and buy them out for the night.
Van loads, full of Western men pull up and then quickly leave with young Thai girls. Old, decrepit men sit and flirt with girls at the bar while they get them drunk.
Dozens of girls sit on barstools at Karaoke clubs and wait for parties of men to come and buy them. Some stand by the street and wave down cars and tuk-tuks.
Yet, the saddest sight of all is their smiles.
The only defense that many of these girls have is their smile. Because pretending keeps them safe. Not complying could easily get them beaten or killed.
So they smile.
But you can see the pain in their eyes. You can hear it in their voice.
You can see it in their tears, as they tell their stories of how their
mom forced them into this, or their family sold them, or they came to
learn massage or serve drinks- and now they're trapped.
And whether they were forced into this or not . . . they're all deeply hurting.
But they have to keep smiling.
They have to wear the mask.
Even though my heart burns with anger towards the men that are
victimizing these precious girls, I know that they are just as lost and
are seeking to fill that God-sized whole in their hearts.
Yet, there has been hope in the midst of this darkness. God is clearly
already at work through the women who have started this ministry. Seeds
have been planted and the Lord is faithful to send the rain.
Last night we were able to share the gospel with a sweet girl named O.
She intently listened as we shared the good news of Jesus. Tears welled
up in her eyes and it was obvious that the Lord was working in her
heart. She shared that she met a girl from Texas who has been talking to
her about Jesus. She said that she believes that the gospel is the
truth, but that she is not ready to give up her Buddhist beliefs.
Please pray for O and the many other girls that we will be in contact
with. Pray that these girls would not only be freed from this lifestyle,
but also that they would experience the true freedom that only comes
from Jesus.
Grace and peace,
Lindy