Matt and I were walking down the sidewalk a few days ago and stumbled into some western men. We began to talk about what brought us all to Thailand, and as we did I realized these men represented those we had come to expel. Soon I learned that one of these men, Don teaches an English class nearby. Just down the road from the school where this man teaches Casey holds his ministry. Casey teaches English as a means to educate young girls in this rural area, which provides so many girls to the bars all over Thailand. The action of teaching English is both a means for ending this issue, as well as providing income to Don to further it. This issue seems unaffected by even our best efforts. Justice can not come out of our actions alone.
I heard another story about a family in leadership at a nearby church, who are in a financial crisis. They want to send their daughter off to Phuket to work. They want her to find and marry a foreigner who will provide a financial way out. The girls parents know it is not good, yet they want to feed their family. They are in a bind, and they know this will get them out. As I hear these stories, I am overcome. How do we help?
I am beginning to see more and more that it is less and less about our actions. We have a creator who loves them more deeply than we could even comprehend, and He will go to greater heights to set them free, then we could dream. Our creator has called us to partner with Him. As we partner with the loving creator of these girls, who desires His perfect will for their life, then our our sowing yields an increase. only he can bring restoration, and we can be a part of that process.
It is not about bringing a global end to human trafficking, but the restoration of individuals. One individual at a time. The girls, her parents, the bar owners, and the men exploiting the women. Love.
We are called to love.
Casey and his family are loving families in this area in many ways. Through conversation and relationship the family at their church decided not to send their daughter off to the bars.
Love. Love bears all things. Love believes all things. Love hopes all things. Love endures all things.
I will love these broken hearted only to the degree I understand they are loved. I will understand they are loved only to the degree I know I am loved. I will only know I am loved to the degree I know God loves me. I will only know God loves me to the degree I know His love. I will only know His love to the degree I gaze at Him. When I gaze at Him I will see His love and respond in love.
Father, show me your heart. I want to know your heart for the broken hearted. What is your will in heave? Let your desires to come to the relight districts of Thailand tonight! Speedy Justice for the oppressed!
We are called to this radical thing called love, and that is all.
A group of women from Lancaster, PA handed out flowers to show women in the bars they are loved and valued. Love covers a multitude of sins.
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