She looked a little more shy, out of her comfort zone. The
bar owner had her out front inviting customers in. When we ordered soda water,
it seemed pretty clear we were not typical customers. As we began talking to
her, M told us she was 23. She is from a poorer province several hours away;
several of the girls at this bar were from her home. She used to work in a
factory in Bangkok, but she didn't make enough money there to support herself
and her young son. She'd been here about two months, living with the
other girls near the bar. She had to leave her son in the care of family at
home while she earned the money to care for them.
A few bars down is another girl,
O, whom we have visited several times now. She also has a child, a daughter, who lives with family a few hours away. O used to work at a massage
parlor, but switched to the bar in the last few months. She had to quit school
at age 15 because that's when students must begin paying for school. For this
reason, most of the girls are done with their education at this age and begin
looking for work in the city.
Both of these girls are beautiful
and precious in God's sight. He has seen all they have been through, their
struggles and the pain behind the smiles. He also sees how both claim Buddhism
but seem to have no real personal attachment to their faith. We had the
opportunity to share with these girls the story of God from creation to the
cross. They listened intently, even though both said they had heard the story
once before. O teared up as she listened, saying she believed all of it, but
that she is Buddhist. The Lord was obviously working on her heart, but
something in her was not ready to surrender. Pray for these women as we
continue building relationships with them and sharing with them.
Pray for a our team as we go back to
see these girls. It is hard to watch girls we have shared with when they have
customers come in. All those we see downtown, the women and the men who use
them, even the ladyboys, are desperately in need of Jesus. They are sinners,
just as dirty as we were before Christ, as much as we don't want to recognize
that truth. Please pray that they will come to know Jesus and that their lives
will never be the same. "Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this
people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their
hearts back" 1 Kings 18:37. Please keep up the prayers! Our God is
faithful to hear and answer!
-Taylor