Bangkok outreach

*Some explicit material - not suitable for younger audience*



In October I visited Bangkok and did some of my own bar outreach in the local sex districts. i haven't been to the red light districts doing outreach since 2001 when i volunteered for 5 weeks with a local ministry in the Patpong sex district. this kind of work can consist of visiting beer bars (girls working there to serve drinks and befriend customers for sex), go-go bars (these bars consist of girls dancing on stage in bikini's - usually with numbers on them so they are easier to pick out from the crowd), topless dance shows, sex trick shows (they are more seedy and involve various graphic acts...i'll spare you the details).

first, i did some street and bar outreach with a local NGO working with women in prostitution. we basically 'street walked' for 5 hours in the Nana red light district - meeting up with some locals they knew, as well as checking out some go-go bars. it actually wasn't as busy as i thought it would be, consisdering the area has grown significantly since i was there 5 years ago. this area is much more 'lively' and caters to all kinds of ethnicities - there is a lot of diversity in BKK!

it is a surreal atmosphere to be in - walking about and intentionally praying for something to happen - whether it be a good conversation with a local worker, a new interaction with a girl in need, aide to be given out to someone desperate, or identifying important details to remember to look out for next time.... It's so disheartening to see girls up on a stage with barely anything on, with numbers on them, like branded cattle. these girls are not here by choice - not at all - at least not in the way WE have choices. Some are forced, some are coerced, some are deceived, some are desperate, some are born into it, some are disillutioned about what their life has become, and others are fufilling their place in the world that people expect of them.

on the next night, i visited the ministry i used to work with (5 years ago) with a girl from the conference interested in helping this population. unfortunately none of the women i worked with were there anymore - but i heard that one has her own beauty parlor now ministering to others! (so great!) so, i took my new friend into a 'trick show' in one of the upstairs bar. i have seen this kind of show before, but again, it was so surreal - meeting with a woman there and talking with her in that circumstance - totally weird in theory, but not that uncomfortable...like a normal 'nice to meet you' situation in a restaurant or bar - except with the other not really wearing any clothes! i know that you won't understand this kind of experience - it sounds so far fetched and far away but this is NORMAL here! i am the outsider in this world, yet i am treated better and assumed to be a customer. strange stuff! in the middle of this, i am keenly aware of the disgusting habits of the men here - foreigners and locals alike - getting their thrills from degrading women this way. sitting near them in a bar like this and trying not to be overwhelmed can be challenging.

but it was an interesting night and i felt blessed to be able to introduce my friend to this kind of ministry - at least to open her eyes another world here. (not that it is for everyone, cause it's isn't!) but it was encouraging to meet someone interested in lending a helping hand and being compassionate towards those that don't experience much grace or forgiveness in their lives. i see the beauty and goodness in thailand everyday...as well as the oppression and poverty - hand in hand and in astounding proximity of each other. these are beautiful women in desperate situations - degraded and devestated - all for money. what kind of world do we live in?? we should all be ashamed....

keep these women in your prayers and know that God is near - even in the midst of evil and trials and snares... He is good and mericiful. there is good here...there is hope.