Patong & Obedience

This blog contains TWO parts. A) A poem written on Jan 4th, concerning my frustrations and conversations I’ve had with a bar owner that have been frustrating to say the least. B) A blog I wrote before Christmas concerning a fairly good night we had out and more insight to what it’s like and how we operate. :) C) Check out our team blog (link on the right) for more from my team. :)

PATONG

1.4.11

This place makes me sick,

and it’s not just the smell of the sewage,

But the odor of your intentions,

The stench of your justifications.

Anger seeps through the cracks,

of a heart building scar tissue,

that begs to acquire brokenness,

God’s love for His lost sheep.

The reaction is nearly identical,

Picture perfect, a thousand words,

“No,” you don’t really like it here.

The new blood; a fear in your eye,

A quiver in your lip.

The unlikely “yes” seems to strike a nerve,

Simultaneously packaged with a smile.

You, Mr. Sea Dragon,

Mr. “Mid Life Crisis.”

Mr. “I came in early to check on them.”

Mr. “I take Fridays off to see my Godchildren play sports.”

Mr. “I haven’t even slept with any of my girls yet.”

If there is a light in your eyes,

it’s too small for me to see.

Your rhymes of “choice” and “opportunity” make my skin crawl,

But God’s grace is sufficient for you,

Just as it is for me.

SWT

-2011-

Intercession & Obedience

12.21.10

Bar ministry night #3. We had our teams split up this afternoon. Me and Robert worked in a field, preparing for a new SHE house! Some of the girls worked with the girls on paper mache and some did a prayer walk thru Patong...where all the action is at night.

This followed by some good prayer and worship time before we went out. It seemed to really focus the team and God seemed to direct a lot of conversations tonight. I learned a lot. The first bar we went to was the very first bar me and Steph went to when we arrived in Phuket. We talked to the same girl and she remembered us. Though hard to see, that light in her eyes was there. We asked a few questions about her job and she was struggling to understand our english and “yes” and “no” was about all we were getting...unsure of whether or not her answers were understood. We then started speaking with another girl, who ended up being her sister. She spoke more fluent english and it helped a lot. Steph ended up suggesting she could help her find a better job (through the organization here) and she said she “wasn’t ready.” We gave her some information. Please pray for these sisters, one could heavily influence the other. (Update: We have gone back twice since New Years and haven’t seen them there, when we mention their names the girls aren’t sure where they are. Pray, they left and will do what is best for them, possibly coming to SHE.)

Briefly, I spoke with another girl. She was 19 and only has been working here for 4 months. She hesitantly said she enjoyed working here...I said really? And she shook her head no. The language barrier is quite frustrating at times. Thai is a tonal language and the need to not only speak simple english, but slow it down and not sound flat is something I will have to work on. I would love to find something to LISTEN to Thai...because it is tonal and it is a completely different alphabet. Trying to read it phonetically is really hard. If you have any suggestions feel free to pass em along :)

In passing you see parents with children at these raunchy clubs as well as elderly couples. It’s quite dumbfounding and I hope to one night interview some people and ask them WHAT THE HECK THEY ARE THINKING... The girls grabbing at you and smacking your behind doesn’t help much either.

I tried at the last bar to talk to some of the old male tourists. Between me bothering them and the rest of my team playing games with the girls, I think we scared them away. Thank God! They were from Germany and there for 6 months, when I asked what they had planned I was ignored multiple times. They turned away flat out...likely out of shame or ...annoyance. They are just as broken, don’t forget. I ended up talking to a “lady boy” (a male turned female) who was a little more obvious than others in Patong. His voice was female sounding, but his awkward shoulders gave him away. Most Thai ladyboys go quite extensive (removing the adams apple and taking voice changing hormones) to the point where their hands are really the only way of knowing. He said that he enjoyed working the bars but when I asked about his hopes and dreams he shared that he would love to open an internet cafe. I asked if the opportunity to speak better English and learn more retail skills would interest him and he said it would. I hope we can find some options for ladyboys. They need to be reached and helped out just as much as anyone else there. At this point, SHE doesn’t have a program for ladyboys. There are others out there though.

Our leader stressed the importance of praying in advance, which is key and helped a lot tonight. Also, our lists of girls are going to grow into the hundreds in the next few weeks...imagine meeting 5 or 6 each night of the week. So, obedience to what God is saying and not just trying to rescue everyone possible is key. We will burn out too quickly on our own power. Keep us in your prayers...it’s only Monday. Overall, it was a great night of becoming more familiar with this crazy place we will be dealing with for three months.

Love you all, please keep us in your prayers and ...write me, I'll write ya back :)

Sam

PS. I have almost ALL of my funds raised! Thank you so much, I only have a few hundred left to go. If you can donate, anything will help...ten dollars gets my team to and from the bars for one evening.

www.paypal.com

My account name is my email address: stbtome@msn.com

Much love!