hope you guys enjoy the pictures. and i hope they dont seem like we are on a vacation. one of the pictures is the entrance to the bars and the others are of our adventure at the floating market.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
I was going to title this, "one week down" (because we have been here for one full week) but decided that sounded like i don't want to be here
hope you guys enjoy the pictures. and i hope they dont seem like we are on a vacation. one of the pictures is the entrance to the bars and the others are of our adventure at the floating market.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
bars/hotel
Our night started off meeting in the Nightlight office where everyone debriefed a little about the last bar visit. Then we spent time in prayer.
I really appreciated hearing people with experience speak about prostitution.
We ate dinner at an outdoor food court type place close to the bars. The place seemed full of foreigners (mostly men) some eating dinner with Thai women, as if they were on a date, I guess that’s what they would see it as. Some of the women looked like they were enjoying their time, but others seemed miserable.
The men I saw were mostly older, like 50 or something. As I looked at them all through out the night, I tried to understand why they are here. I think some are just lonely and when they walk into a bar and girls go crazy because you are there…. You are finally somebody… you feel adored, loved, manly…. An other reason, which someone pointed out to me, is they have no reason not to be there. Those are my current thoughts toward the men that I have been and will be thinking through.
We were walking through the city, turn the corner and boom, we’re in bar central.
I don’t really know how to describe it, maybe I’ll post a picture, but there were tons of different bars to choose from. We split up into groups, Sarah, a women here for three weeks, one of the founders of nightlight and I went into one particular bar.
I’ve debated over whether or not I am going to describe it or not and decided not to. Sarah might, I’m not sure. The women entertained and the guys watched. We have been told how to act and how to try to engage in conversation; Sarah and I didn’t get the chance. I have been realizing that the language barrier is just that, a barrier. The people we were with got to talk with some women.
It’s crazy to realize that the women we see everyday at nightlight used to be like that and it just echoes how good God is to bring people like the staff at nightlight to show love and hope.
(this is turning to be pretty long … thank you for those who are still reading)
we also went to a hotel. I guess this restaurant in the hotel is where a lot of trafficked women are. We saw about 30 Uzbekistani women sitting at different tables in the lobby, I think waiting for customers. I’m still learning about that whole situation.
I am have been learning a lot of different things and am still trying to figure out what my role is here. Thank you to everyone praying…. Because we need it and they need.
I really appreciated hearing people with experience speak about prostitution.
We ate dinner at an outdoor food court type place close to the bars. The place seemed full of foreigners (mostly men) some eating dinner with Thai women, as if they were on a date, I guess that’s what they would see it as. Some of the women looked like they were enjoying their time, but others seemed miserable.
The men I saw were mostly older, like 50 or something. As I looked at them all through out the night, I tried to understand why they are here. I think some are just lonely and when they walk into a bar and girls go crazy because you are there…. You are finally somebody… you feel adored, loved, manly…. An other reason, which someone pointed out to me, is they have no reason not to be there. Those are my current thoughts toward the men that I have been and will be thinking through.
We were walking through the city, turn the corner and boom, we’re in bar central.
I don’t really know how to describe it, maybe I’ll post a picture, but there were tons of different bars to choose from. We split up into groups, Sarah, a women here for three weeks, one of the founders of nightlight and I went into one particular bar.
I’ve debated over whether or not I am going to describe it or not and decided not to. Sarah might, I’m not sure. The women entertained and the guys watched. We have been told how to act and how to try to engage in conversation; Sarah and I didn’t get the chance. I have been realizing that the language barrier is just that, a barrier. The people we were with got to talk with some women.
It’s crazy to realize that the women we see everyday at nightlight used to be like that and it just echoes how good God is to bring people like the staff at nightlight to show love and hope.
(this is turning to be pretty long … thank you for those who are still reading)
we also went to a hotel. I guess this restaurant in the hotel is where a lot of trafficked women are. We saw about 30 Uzbekistani women sitting at different tables in the lobby, I think waiting for customers. I’m still learning about that whole situation.
I am have been learning a lot of different things and am still trying to figure out what my role is here. Thank you to everyone praying…. Because we need it and they need.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Day not really sure, it's tuesday here
Hi everybody! It's pretty hard trying to blog because everything is in thai..... but i figure it out. (does anyne know how to change it to english?)
Everyday we have a thai worship service from 9-10. all the women are required to come. we dont understand any of it, so we just sit and pray.
from 10-5 we work.
we have a lunsh break too.
yesterday we counted beads.
today we are not sure what we are doing. at two we are playing a game with the women.... sarah and i are incharge.... and tonight will be ur first night in the bars. we are excited and nervous.
ill let you guys know how that goes. please please pray for us though.
oh and if there is an older white male here, we have been told its normal to assume that he is here for prostitution, especially when he is holding hands with a young thai woman. sick.
NIGHTLIGHTBANGKOK.COM
Saturday, September 15, 2007
taipei to bangkok
Sarah and I found free internet in the taipei airport, we have three hours till our next flight. Our flight was good, I thought anyways, and went by fast. I slept, listened to music, annndddd watched four episodes of lost!!!! We can't wait to get to Bangkok, thanks for all your prayers!
p.s. it was really hard trying to figure out how to blog because everything is written in their language! lets hope this works.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
September 15th 1:20am...
... is when i leave. im excited/nervous. In the long term aspect I won't be gone long, which can be a good thing as far as missing family and friends here. To be honest Im tired of talking about it. I love that people care to ask about my trip, but some how i feel like the tables got turned (i probably turned them) and this is more about me than God. So if you think about praying for me as/while i am gone, please pray that i approach my time away with complete humility and the desire to know the God I claim to serve.
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