A Little Piece of Home

Back home, I teach dance at a christian studio and at the local children's home. Work is probably the highlight of day. This morning I taught dance at a girls' juvenile prison in Thailand and I was reminded of how universal dance & the love of God really is. Although I barely speak any Thai, I'm in a different cultural setting, and I have known these girls for less than two weeks, I was so in my element!! I also got the opportunity to share my testimony with them at the end. I came to Thailand with no intentions of teaching dance, or even dancing at all this summer. But using dance as a ministry here this morning just made Thailand feel a little more like home. My home is not South Carolina, it is anywhere I am with God. So blessed to have had the opportunity to show them one of the ways I praise God. 

"So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love"

Ephesians 3:17

-Heather

A City Shadowed by Darkness

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:6-7

A big part of our ministry consists of going down to the red light area of the city and building relationships. Our goal is to start English and Bible classes. Crowds of young girls stand along the streets and lure people in to have a drink with them or get a massage. There are about 75 massage parlors and bars in less than a two kilometer range. The area we minister in is mainly targeted toward older white foreign men. We will often be sitting in a bar or a massage parlor and see a young girl slip out with an older man. Most of the "extra stuff" happens off of the property of the shop, but the relationships (or interests) start within the place of business. The sex trafficking is not something that is talked about or advertised; it is just an understood industry.

One of the bars during the day

Spirit house at the local grocery store

But, since this city is predominantly Buddhist, there are temples everywhere. The city is overshadowed by a huge temple that is on top of a mountain. You can see the tops of the temple from pretty much anywhere in the city. Most people just accept that they are Buddhist and we are Christians and they don't see anything wrong with it either way. It is their culture, not just their religion. How do you tell somebody that their culture is wrong? 

Buddhist statues in a temple

We have struggled getting classes and relationships started. But, we have been in constant prayer. We have to remind ourselves of Philippians 4:6 daily, staying in prayer and not becoming anxious. We tried to start one class with a group of ladies at a massage parlor and when we showed up on the day of the class, they told us that they did not have time and that nobody wanted to learn English. Then we successfully started another class and 10 people showed up! But, the next day it rained and their roof fell in, so we had to postpone class. Then we started one more at a bar, only to get a text the day before cancelling. It has been a bumpy road getting in to the ministry down there but things are starting to look very promising! The devil is working hard, but we are working harder! Our army of angels is too strong to be defeated that easily.

Please pray...

• That the Lord will open the hearts of the girls in the red light area.
• That we will have the endurance to keep going, no matter how many times are attempts are rejected.

-B and Kat

Loving Life

Well, I have been in Thailand for two weeks now and I can honestly say I am having the best summer ever! I so miss and appreciate Sumter, my family, and my friends!! BUT I am loving life.

Every day brings a new challenge that allows me to rely on God and trust in Him more. Every day also brings a new blessing that makes me love Him more. I've seen the Lord work in so many ways already! It's so true when they say "you have to be bold to see miracles happen". 

I've never seen the Lord work so much in such little time. But I don't think I've been in my comfort zone once since I've been here! I'm starting to realize that this is not just a summer calling, it is a lifelong calling. So who knows when or where I'll find my permanent mission field but this is definitely an awesome start!! 

The more relationships I build, the more I am made aware of the pieces of my heart I will be leaving here at the end of the summer. Thailand and the people here are so beautifully hand crafted by God. I feel so blessed to be here and to be a tiny contributor to such an awesome master plan!

-Heather

Prevention, Intervention, & Recovery

"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?"

-Romans 10:14-15

As a team of two, we are taking on the red light district in a city in Northern Thailand. All of our ministry work has to do with one of three things: Prevention, Intervention, or Recovery. 

Prevention work includes going to villages and sharing the word of God. There, we teach them about the dangers of sending their young girls into the city for a "better life". We go to two villages on a weekly basis and have church with the adults or play/teach English to the children. 

Intervention work includes going down to the red light area and talking with the girls standing outside of the bars and massage parlors. Our main goal is to build relationships with them so that we can start English and Bible classes, or just show them the love of God.

Male foreigners with young Thai girls in the red light.

Recovery ministry includes going to a safe house here in town. We help the girls sew, bake, and make jewelry so that they can make money to pay for school, their children's needs, and build a financial foundation. Another ministering opportunity we have is going to the girls' juvenile detention center twice a week. We dance, make crafts,  teach English, worship, tell Bible stories, and play games with them. 

Team members & Sue (translator) praying for mentally handicapped village girl

We have never had to rely on faith so much until now. With each new day, our plans, expectations, and schedules change. Sometimes bringing new hope and other times discouragement. However, having kept the faith, we persevere on. Being here within the past two weeks has given us a whole new perspective on the term "flexible".  We feel a stronger presence of God each and everyday. The Lord is working in more ways than we could have ever imagined!

Pray for the city!

• Please pray for us as we continue to build relationships and minister to the girls of Northern Thailand. 
• Pray that more doors will be opened so that we can teach English and Bible classes. 

-B & Kat

Roses of the North

"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" Romans 10:14 

A lot of people believe that they have been given a certain karma and that is what ultimately decides what their job will be. So, if girls are pretty, they can use their beauty and sell themselves to make money for their family. If they are not pretty, they can sell or distribute drugs. If they have money, they can go to school. Other times, girls get into relationships and do things out of "love":  being a drug mule. 

One of the main ministries we are participating in is prevention of the growth of the red light. A way that we do that is by going to villages and getting involved. We teach English, have Bible studies, and play games with the kids in one village. In another village, we have worship with the adults there. It is not elaborate... It is literally just gathering together. We sit in the living room of one of the women's home and worship and learn. Purely glorifying the Lord. 

Teaching English and Bible in a village.

Although sharing God's word is our main focus, we also share things like the "Priceless Cube". This is a method of educating the adults of villages in the dangers of letting strangers, friends, or even family members take the young children in to the city for a "better life". The cube helps them to know what situations are safe and what are not. 

Some of the ladies from church in the village.

Another prevention ministry we partake in is going to the girls' juvenile detention center twice a week. Some of these girls are here for drug trafficking, and some are in for gang related murder. Both of these have a maximum 5 year sentence. The government holds them equally as immoral. When we go there we play games, teach English, dance, worship, and share Bible stories. Right now we are putting on a skit! Not all of the girls are believers; about half of them have been baptized. This is prevention because our hope is that they will have a strong foundation in Christ when they leave and they will not get back into the red light.

Teaching English at the prison.

Please pray...

• That the prison girls will find the love and forgiveness they need in God. Pray that God will restore their hearts.
• That the girls in the villages living in poverty will come to know God and trust in Him to provide. 
• That God will protect these beautiful roses of Northern Thailand from the darkness that many of the other girls have already found themselves in. 

-B and Kat