รอยยิ้มสดใสของที่ดิน -The Land of Smiles (and monkeys and elephants)

Well, here we are again. It's been about 15 days since we first arrived in the Land of Smiles and I think it's safe to say we are all loving it. The first night we were at SHE we got thrown right into action: Mark (the owner of SHE, along with his wife Sharon) took us out to the bars in Patang to start getting a feeling for what we will be doing the next 3 months. For the next week or so, we continued to go out to the bars almost every night and almost instantly, starting getting to know and make friends with some of the girls working there. So first few nights, we all had different, individual reactions to the things that we saw while out there. Some felt a spiritual darkness and heaviness like they've never felt before. Some felt absolutely broken for the all people they saw around them. Some weren't quite as phased at first and were able to just concentrate on what it was we were there for. And others just didn't know what to make of the place- blown away by the bright lights, loud music, strange sights and smells.

       Here's an map of the area we walk down every night. Each offshoot that starts with Soi ("street" in Thai) is not a bar or building, but an alleyway, which have about 20+ open-air bars EACH. In the walking distance between each soi is at least one or two other bars..however many they can seem to fit in. The other side of the street is packed with bars as well. It's over-whelming, whether you're just a tourist there for fun or you intend to go into each of those streets and get to individually know and love all the girls in there.
      How exactly do we go about doing that? Around 9pm, after a time of worship and intercession at SHE, we head out to Patong, where earlier that day a few of us have gone for a prayer walk. Upon arrival we break into teams of 4. Then, taking time pray and carefully listen to what soi and which bar God is calling us to go to. From there we usually break into 2's, so as not to "mob" one single bar. Typically, as soon as we sit down, we have girls asking us what we'd like to drink, how we are, etc. A common thing is to play games with the girls, such as connect-four, jenga, or jackpot. We order a soda or juice (no alcohol for obvious reasons) then ask a girl to play one of those games with us. (We all expect to be master-minds at connect-four and jenga by the time we get home...and also have an stomach ulcer from all the soda...) While playing, conversations just flow naturally, well, when there isn't too much of a language barrier. We just ask them normal, get to know you questions like "what's your name?", "Do you have kids?", "Where's your hometown?", "How long have you been here?" and so on. Depending on how talkative and open they are, or how well we've gotten to know them over the last few days, we'll start to ask them about their job at the bars, like what exactly they do and whether they like it or not. Some say they do in fact like it (and there's many, many different reasons behind each of those answers), others will just straight up tell you they don't like it at all, but they have no other way to make money. Many of them are supporting children, parents, or their brother's college tuitions.

Wat Chalong- Largest Buddhist Temple in Phuket

         Within only the few days we've been out there, we've heard some heart-breaking stories. But we've also heard hopeful ones. And every night we SEE heart-breaking things. Every night we see the same stories played out again and again. Men, who very likely have a family back home, with young Thai girls hanging off them. Fathers who have brought their 14-16 yr. old sons here for their "initiation." Men sitting by themselves in bars, head hung, with an empty and lost look on their faces. And most breaking of all, the girl you've just been talking to, who's been telling you how much she doesn't like her job with a sad face, then has to turn around with a huge fake smile and loud, flirtatious comments to serve the male customer that just sat down. It's not easy. But the hope that even one of these girls lives can be rescued keeps us going. Satan's stronghold on this place is strong, but God is even stronger, and His love more powerful than anything that lives in that place.

On a lighter (and completely out of place) note, we've actually been on Christmas break the last 5 or 6 days. It's been a much needed break from the darkness of Patong. We've checked out a few of the local beaches and toured some of Phuket, including pineapple/rubber plantations, cashew nut factories, a tour of the largest Buddhist temple in Phuket (I'm convinced all the idols are made out of plastic), kayaking in the mangroves, being mobbed by wild monkeys, hiking in the jungle to a secluded waterfall, riding horses on the beach, and flexibility tests, sorry, I mean Thai "massages"..and getting our feet fish-a-fied, as I like to call it. (aka-cleaned by fish. It's a unique experience.)