A Perfect Circle?????

Today was another day of outreach.  Monday and Tuesday have been days for us to go out into the Pool Bars (Beer Bars) during the afternoon and then into the Red Light District at night.  Personally, I don’t even know where to start about today.  The emotions that were stirred up, the sights that we saw and the words that were shared have all become a blur in my head right now.  This whole industry-no this whole country- just seems to me to be defined as a big circle.  No matter where you start, the girls, the bars, the government, the justice system, the corruption-it all just circles around and around.  There is no end and no beginning.  Every cause seems to lead to another cause never to a resolution.

This afternoon we had the privilege to sit and talk with a young girl who has been working in the bar for 3 months, she is the middle of 5 children-2 older sisters and 2 younger siblings.  She has a mother and a step-father back home (12 hours south of Bangkok) that she sends money to.  She spoke very highly of her mother and step father and how he is a very good man.  She says that she knows of step-fathers that are very mean and “force to have sex” but her step-father is very nice.  Her mother is a wonderful woman but she says that “her mom like older sister and youngest sister best”  you can tell in her face how it affects her, but she calls her mother everyday to make sure her she is ok.  Her mother and father think she is a cashier in a bar, not taking customers.  If they knew that they would think very lowly of her, yet they continue to remind her that they need more money.  She speaks very good English, is very health conscience, knows a lot about fitness and has a bachelors degree in marketing from the university.  I asked her if she liked her job (fully aware of the answer I would get) and she says “No No.” “Then why don’t you work somewhere else,” I ask?  “You could work at the spa or at a store?”  “I make more money here.” she says   What do you say to her?????  When did money become such a God?  How did we ever get to the point that we sell our dignity, self-esteem and pride for big homes, fancy clothes and motor-bikes???  She says she wants to have babies so bad and she oogles over my pictures.  Her desire for true love and a family are enormous.  What she would give (her body and self-worth) to find a husband.    

Evening-Soi Cowboy

The street is lit like Vegas, men in business suits and men that probably haven’t showered in days sit high up on their bar stools sipping on their beers.  Watching these girls (anywhere from age 14 and up) walk by holding signs advertising Girls XXX, beer, music.  We walk behind a curtain with our Thai translator and the girls come running towards us.  They already know we are coming and can’t wait to sign up to come to the Christmas party.  We have a seat between 4 men, 2 to our left and 2 to our right-ALL wearing wedding rings!!!!  The manager comes over to us with her pen and pencil righting down numbers (cuz that is what they go by, numbers not names) as fast as she can.  We look at the list…10 have signed up.  There are at least 100 girls in the bar, quite possibly 200.  They keep coming over…..20 girls on the list now!  The men to our left lean over to us “What is going on over here?” they ask.  “We are having a Christmas party for these girls in their honor” my friend replies.  “Ooohhh, so you’re having a stripper party, huh????”  “Not exactly!”  “Is this a religious thing then?”  “A religious ‘thing’????” We roll our eyes and lose the conversation.  It has gone from simple inquiry to just plain stupid.  I look down at the list 30 GIRLS!!!!”  We look at our Thai friend “Time to go” she says.  We exit the bar getting hugs from every girl on our way out “See you tomorrow” “See you tomorrow”  they say!!  Outside the bar our Thai friend says 60 GIRLS!!!!!  That is 60 girls from 1 bar that our coming to the party to hear about Christ’s love and about a chance at real freedom!

Was this all in one day?  It feels like worlds apart.  1 moment you are so distraught you could cry then next you are so excited you could cry!  My head is spinning and the emotions are swirling. 

Tomorrow we go to pay “Bar fees” to buy out the girls for our first party.  Please pray for God’s hand to be upon the day and ask for favor in the mamsan’s heart  (bar manager) that they will be willing to let many girls go from EVERY bar we have gone into.