Pattaya!

We arrived in Pattaya on Thursday. Then that evening we went to the prayer house at the Tamar Centre.

On Friday we started with team worship, then headed to prayer walk on Walking Street. Since we went in the morning, it was hardly alive, but at night, it’s a totally different place. One of the most lively places for sex tourism. When we were there, we came across a man tired and old and worn out, sleeping on the street. We started talking him, and prayed for him. He was quite depressed, but received the prayers and words of encouragement very well. 

On walking street....

Then us girls went along the beach handing out cards for free English classes to the prostitutes on the beach, and just talking with them. Then we went for bar ministry where we bought a coke and just talked with the girls. Listening to their stories and sharing about the English classes… just loving them with God’s love.

Walking Street!

I talked with this one lady who was in her thirties or fourties. She had been working in the bar just recently because her husband had just left and she needed a way to provide for herself and three kids. So she left her kids with her parents in a village near Kon Kaen and came to the bar (she said that I reminded her of one of her daughters). Most of the stories of the girls here are like that.

They grow up in poor villages (often from already broken families), without money for education for better jobs, so they just end up selling their bodies as prostitutes. But most of them are not making money just for themselves, but for their children, grandparents and other family members. Often times it’s to support relatives addicted to alcohol and drugs. Even if there are other family members who could provide, they don’t always do it, so it’s left to these girls.

These girls are like these gorgeous birds trapped in cages....

We also spent a lot of time at the Tamar Centre, where we taught the girls English and prayed for them and hosted a party for them. But all this ministry with the woman was all done by us girls. The guys weren’t able to do as much, unfortunately, but they did do prison ministry and went to this place called ‘The Crossing’.  A place for youth to play games, skateboard and just hang out.

The Tamar Centre is on another street that is a common sex tourism location. Aside from the English classes, they run a beauty solon, give counselling and have a house of prayer. They have another centre where there is a bakery and where they do card and jewellery making.

Since coming here, my perspective on this sex trade has changed.

I came here thinking that most of the prostitutes were forced into it. But the sex slavery is only in some hidden areas of the city. Most of the prostitutes are willingly doing it, but they are still in slavery nonetheless. Yes, what they are doing could be called sin, but we need to look at the big picture here and understand the reasons why. When you think about it, it’s such an easy option for someone to make money without having much education. Another thing is that they really are longing to love. In the villages they hear stories about girls working in the bars and them some nice rich foreigners falling in love with them and marrying and providing for them. They go to the cities delusion with high false hopes. They long for support and someone to depend on. It seems like they are all under that delusion that somehow a guy might love them if they’re pretty enough or sexy enough…

But really, these girls are just normal, real girls. When you sit down with them and just listen to them, you’d be surprised at how tender and open they are, especially to Jesus’ love. I really like the bar ministry because it’s really easy to just sit down and talk with them. When you ask about their lives, where they’re from, their stories and especially their children, they really start to open up. When we give them the cards inviting them to free English classes, they just stare at them for the longest time, really interested in them. When we start talking to them about Jesus, of course they are super open because as Buddhists, they worship many gods. Jesus is just another extra one for them. Many times, even if they accept him, it’s still takes a while for them to understand the gospel fully. But one thing that is very easy for them to understand is when we show his love to them. This one lady said to me; “I really love Christians.” That’s because she has seen how they give time and love to people like her.

We cannot say that these girls are just a bunch of filthy sinners. It’s not that they enjoy living this way. It’s not that they decided to be prostitutes because they PREFER that job in some way. How could any girl ENJOY being thrown some money, grabbed by the wrist and dragged to some stranger’s bed. And then a few hours later just dumped so he could go to the next girl. Every girl longs for love and commitment. It’s unnatural to have sex without wanting those things. They are hurt people. But they are getting paid to make the men think are special. Paid to say that they love doing this and paid to fulfill the dirty needs of these men. Really, if there wasn’t such a demand from foreign sex tourists, there would be so much less of this.

The team in Pattaya!!

That brings me to another point. The tourists. Oh man, it is so hard for me not to judge them and feel anger towards them. Most of them are old European men, coming here to enjoy the alcohol and sex without anyone at home knowing what they’re up to.

It’s so easy to feel overwhelmed by the darkness. At first, prayer walking on Walking Street, it was so hard to take. I saw a sign for a bar, advertising “Living Dolls”. Really, that’s all these girls are; toys. They are just objects used to bring superficial pleasure. What kind of value does this give these girls? How might they feel? I feel so bad for them and so much compassion on them, but I’m helpless to fix it all. But even in these dark places, God is still bright. In fact his presence shines all the brighter because of all the darkness. Walking in this city, I feel like a warrior, fighting against the spiritual darkness. This is not a battle against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual darkness. I have just felt like worshipping God so much. I feel filled with a spirit of worship. Really, it’s praising God in these places that really does the fighting. And I find so much joy in it. I feel like such a rebel against the darkness. The Enemy wants me to be all dreary and overwhelmed, but instead I’m really filled with joy and praise. God is definitely working in this place.

Leading worship and intercession at the Tamar Centre.