Photo by Connie Rock.
Part of what our small team of six came to Thailand to do, is to reach out to the women who work as dancers and prostitutes in one of the red light districts here in Bangkok and show them the love of Christ. One thing that took me by surprise, something that I’ll always remember, is finding smiles and laughter even in the darkest places. Young women who are still so much like children smiling and laughing as we talk to them seems so out of place, like a ray of sunshine in the dark….I love the servant hearts we have encountered, tuk tuks, this place is a street food haven….love finding smiles in the dark in the City of Smiles 🙂
I love when God wrecks everything you thought you knew about sharing Christ and puts someone in your path to love that is totally unexpected. I met a young man at a local spa, during the introductions he shared with the group that his heart was broken because his boyfriend had recently broken up with him. In this moment I couldn’t tell you why but I was overwhelmed with compassion for this young man. I don’t agree with the lifestyle but I couldn’t forget about what he had shared. I made sure to return and made a point to request he do my face and head massage. I sat in the chair asking the Lord what to say and to give me boldness to be faithful. Afterwards while sipping tea, I called him over and told him that I remembered what he said and that I couldn’t get it off my mind and that I wanted him to take the friendship bracelet I was wearing, I wanted him to have it. He started to cry almost immediately….and then I started to cry! He thanked me, said this was a first for him and that he would remember me. He then left and came back asking if I was a Christian. I said yes, that I was. He said he wanted to give me something from his religion if it was ok. I nodded that it was. He gave me a token with a Buddha on it and told me that it reminded him of his father and he kept it with him wherever he went and that his father had passed away.
This is my joy from my trip, the thing that I love most of all is my new friend.
