Greetings from Bangkok, Thailand! It has been quite the "day." We left D.C. at 11 a.m. on Wednesday arrived in Detroit at 12:30 p.m., left for Tokyo at 2 something, arrived there at 4 p.m. Thursday, and finally arrived in Thailand at midnight on Friday.
It has been quite a trip, but we are so glad to be here! I pray that all is well with you and where you are and what you are doing.
Upon stepping onto Bangkok grounds, I was not sure what to expect but have been asking the Lord to keep me steady and solid. Tiffany, from Lynchburg, along with Courtney, are also here at Beginnings and have already told us of some things to expect, learn, look out for, etc. It is so nice to see familiar faces. However, nothing can truly prepare eyes for seeing the evil over here.
On our way to Beginnings tonight, we drove down this strip that is like a line of darkness. If any of you have seen the movie Taken, there is a scene where there are some girls on the street and men pulling up in cars to take them for the night...that gives a slight comparison. It was already 1:30 a.m. and terribly dark, there were far more girls, and of younger ages, and it was right in front of us. The same hurt I knew we would feel was felt, but I looked out and thought of my sister, my mom, my cousin, my best friend...if I someday have a daughter...they were all there, because to someone that is who they are.
Some using their charm and body language, others looked miserable, others seemed sad that they weren't being invited in to these vehicles... all-in-all, there was such a heaviness and darkness that surrounded us, yet I know in my heart God is here.
As BlueTree wrote while in a brothel in Bangkok, Thailand, "For greater things have yet to come, and greater things are still to be done in this city." He truly is the Light in this darkness, the Hope to the hopeless, and the Peace to the restless. There is no one like our God.
These verses made my night brighter, as I hope they will to you.
Psalm 16:8,9 says, "I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure."
If any are reading this and can't see the whole post, or simply that you feel it doesn't make sense, then you are in the same boat as me...here is what I figured out...copy and past to word document and you will be able to read the whole thing.
ReplyDeleteJanni; I am praying for you without ceasing. I am so proud of you. God has truly blessed my life with you as my daughter. I am confident that the Lord watches over you and the girls and that He has prepared the way for you there. oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox Blessings, Mom
I've never wrote on a blog before so I hope I'm doing this right :-) I've been and will be praying for you girls while you're there. I know exactly what you mean when you write about the darkness that you see and feel. It is overwhelming at times. Remember everything you are seeing...let it be etched into your hearts and minds forever, so that you will never be the same again. My heart breaks as you write about the images you're seeing because I have seen them myself and it always brings tears to my eyes to hear someone else describe the same frightening images that have plagued my mind. And at the same time, I want those images to never be forgotten. We must never forget or turn away from the suffering of the poor and broken-hearted. My prayer is that God will move you in such a way as you have never been moved before, that your hearts will become closely knit with the heart of Jesus. I love you all!
ReplyDeletePS is this a blog that all 3 of you will be using? or is this just Janettes?
Christi-Anna