Another Side to Bangkok

Since God first directed me to Bangkok, I was exposed to the problem with prostitution in Bangkok. I shared with you about it, prayed about it, and you sent me here to help spread the Gospel here. Jesus always found the places of most darkness to share His light, and I visited one of those places a couple of weeks ago with my friend from language school. She works with a mission agency who cares about the women who work in the bars. She invited me to outreach with her one evening and meet some of her friends.

The building is actually three floors high composed of multiple bars.

The place was full and the music was loud. But as we walked around, many women waved at my friend and we easily found some friends of hers to chat with.

We chatted with these two friends for almost an hour. It felt like we were in a bubble of reality with all the customers and women around us being fiction. These women shared about their families. One's mom is too old to work, so this woman to the right sends her money (Thai custom) and cares for her. She asked many questions about God and we talked about Him and her own life. She's been in this business for three years. The girl to the left, only one year. My friend said she almost left to be helped by this agency last year, but was persuaded against it by her sister. Another woman, not pictured, who's been working for the bar only a year since a divorce happened, and has found out that both she and her infant daughter now have HIV. Reality. The first person I have known that had HIV. Please pray for her and her baby and all these women. Pray that the Lord works through this agency and in these women's lives.

Some Light: my friend's agency helps these women to have another choice for life. They offer housing, education, Bible teaching, and a means of earning money. These girls have come into this home and out of the bars.

Please pray for me as I look at finishing language school in February. There are so many areas of darkness in Thailand--so many who need to know the Lord. May God direct me to where he wants me to minister. Jesus ministered to the tax collectors, Pharisees, prostitutes, and disabled. May He show me where He wants me. May His Word shine to all of Thailand!