Children in Thailand

*Photos by Connie Rock.

Our mission in ministry here in Thailand is focused on human trafficking, the sex trade in particular. So you may wonder why I am writing about children in Thailand. 

Most of us have been blinded by our own safety net. We are routine, methodical, and Christ centered. We go to work, go run our errands, take care of our precious family, and go to church every Sunday. The children I have encountered on this trip have no safety net! These precious little souls face unimaginable horrors! My heart breaks and I want to take them all home with me! Put them in my safety net and give them joy. But I have to trust the Lord to protect them! To think that the Lord is not here with these children would destroy me heart and soul. My sister-in-law was in Bangkok years ago adopting my nephew and she encountered many children on her journey, she gave me this wisdom and comfort:
“Knowing that the Lord is sovereign and still in control, that He loves those children more than we do – helped my heart and if he isn’t in control – it is too overwhelming to think of the pain they go through.  

Matthew 18:10 helped me a lot as I would see these little ones – Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father in Heaven.” Yes, it eases the heart knowing the Lord God is in control.

On Wednesday night, I saw a little girl at the BTS in Bangkok, sitting at the bottom of the stairs.  You could see a darkness so deep was hanging over her. She was “put out” to beg for money. I almost guarantee that she reaps no benefit from what she collects other than what people give her in prayer, in food, and in the love strangers try to bestow upon her. She needs our prayers. She needs the love of Christ that she receives through us. She is 5, maybe 6, and she should be home in her mama’s lap reading a story. She should, but she is not, and may never have been. That night I reached out to her with a bracelet and in prayer. She couldn’t muster a smile but maybe she will remember the kindness shown to her on that night.

There was a boy that same night doing the same thing seemingly all alone. He too was maybe 5 or 6. At first he was not interested in much, but then I brought out a friendship bracelet and his eyes LIT up! He then asked for 2 and me being the push over mom I am, tied on 3 bracelets! Praying with each knot and with each look into his eyes that he be found and loved by someone who is deserving of him! Yes someone that is deserving of having this boy or any of these children in their lives! Kristen leaned down had Cheez-its to give and fruit snacks too. That may have been the best “meal” he has had all day or even all week! Robyn leaned down to him, she was asking him to trade shoes with her! Ha! His tiny little feet switching with her adult feet was quite a sight! He was laughing and she was asking if they were too big or too small using her hands and giving him lengths! It was so cute! 

There are children in this city put into impossible situations for any child. We went into a bar to have a Coke, cool down and pray. There were the girls above the bar dancing in skimpy swim suits with no smiles and no real eye to anyone but their images in the mirror. We watched, prayed, let our hearts break a little, and rejoiced in the love of the Lord who brought us to this place to reach out to these girls. We were able to spend some time with a few girls that evening…. girls that in my estimation are 13 years old IF that! Beautiful girls who only need a parent to love and guide them and we are there to show them the love of Jesus Christ! It is a seed we have planted and now need to nurture! 

In comparison to the first two children we encountered, we encountered two little girls in the area we have been prayer walking in. These two girls are again 5, 6 or 7. It is so hard to tell the age of a Thai child. 

We sit at a table with Cokes in front of us and coloring books in tow! We sat alone for a bit, myself, Robyn, and Kristen. Then a little girl with roses appeared near us, Kristen beckoned her over and she shyly approached. Kristen broke the ice, got her to reveal her name, which means “Beautiful”. We asked her to color and she stood and started to color! We offer to buy her a Coke and she shook her head, “No thank you”. She colored a few more minutes then decided to sit so she can really COLOR!! As we sat, a vendor’s little girl across from us was encouraged to join us. She does so quite hesitantly as if she has been “fooled” or hurt before. We shone on her! Gave her some ease and prayed to the Lord to calm her. She started to color and glanced back and forth at Robyn’s coloring page! She is so beautiful! We buy both the girls Cokes and keep them with us for as long as possible. Linda is a lively and precocious. She does not make a sound, but her expressions convey her joy at being with us. She hugged me and I melted!! She hugged me and I am a complete puddle! I love this girl through Christ who loves me and I pray for her every minute I am sitting in that dark lonely market place.  My heart is overwhelmed with her personality, her smiles in the midst of darkness, her innocence at that moment!

If I could have brought this child home with me, I would have left with her by now and scooped up the little boy with the bright smile and the hollow little girl at the bottom of the stairs in my rush to take them home with me! I would take the girls who are dancing in the bar and give them a chance to have the life they have a dream of! The dream that Jesus Christ has given each and everyone of us and to let them fulfill that dream and honor Our Lord!  But I can’t take them physically, but they will be in my heart and prayers every day and every night. I will come back and I will pray to see them, and I will show my love through Christ to each and every child I encounter. I will do it gently and slowly so they can feel the truth in the one they are receiving. My heart breaks to leave them here but my sister-in-law has given me the verse to hold my heart together as I leave:

 

Matthew 18:10.