Exceedingly More Than I Could Ask For

Last night, we threw the first of two parties for some precious ladies. We had 135 come from the red light district of Soi Cowboy and are planning on having more come tonight from the district of Nana as well as 30 from Soi Cowboy who wanted to be there last night. It is incredible to see God's hand move.

As our team and four Thais from Beginnings who interpret for us in outreach walked into the elevator to take on this red light district, there was so much adrenaline, excitement, and joy. We were about to go and purchase women in order to give them freedom for a night and possibly for a lifetime. They were about experience a night like none other filled with games, presents, crafts, food, and the message of our Savior. It was more than any of us could contain. Smiles all around, we walk out of the hotel and go our separate ways for this mission.

Soi Cowboy ahead....save face...enter in!

My team included Kristi, a wonderful and sweet teammate who came with her daughter, Nis, one of the brightest and kindest hearted women, and myself.

We first went up to this one bar that looked a little weary at first. There was alot of Thai dialogue going on, but her list of names of women that signed up to go the night before prevailed and we were able to purchase those girls as well as a few more that wanted to come. These women were filled with such joy- giggling because they were so giddy. It was such a sweet sight. My eyes will not forget. 12 ladies...as Kristi was about to walk them to the hotel, 1 girl was just showing up to work. Wondering where her friends were going she asked, and then immediately asked the mamasan, the manager of the girls who does the negotiating for them, and she just nodded and laughed. 1 more was able to come! Bar one- 13 precious girls.

Next, we went down to this other bar to retrieve the one girl who had signed up the night before. As negotiating was going on, many more came out to see what was going on and before we knew it....30 girls were now signing up to go and running in to change as the mamasan approved. From 1 girl to 30! It was unreal. However, God had more plans beyond this breathtaking experience.

Seeing as we were just finishing the money that had been passed out to us and also being out of the spending money I had exchanged at the start of the trip, Nis calls another Thai from Beginnings, Jit, and asks her for another 1,ooo baht. This is about 30 American dollars. She and Martha bring the money and end up walking many of these women to the hotel as we get the money figured out. Martha leaves her money with me, and God continues to work...

Nis looks over at me and says, "5 more?" So I hand over the money, and the number just keeps growing. Girl after girl, begging to come and being let out of this bar. As long as there is money, they were let go.

Let me just say, handing over this money was one of the most interesting experiences I have had. Part of me is feeling strange for adding to the industry, but this is the only way. Another part of me feels more liberated than I have ever been before. Again, you are all part of this experience! This was money we all donated to come together and be part of something bigger than ourselves. Handing it over for LIVES! It does not come close to weighing out. It's like a stab in the heart to think of this...this is a living person...but all that is cared about is the money. You hand it over, and they hand her over...wow! They deal with being an item for purchase each and every day. Every day they are viewed this way. Do you hear the cry and the chaos of this war??

Oh, how I pray that it would resonate in each heart as it does in ours.

As the purchases keep flowing, and Nis giggle with glee each time she looks at me to ask if we can purchase more from this bar....35...38...41..47...51...I begin to run out of the money that was added to ours...I search my purse....but more want to come....53....56....57....58....

(You must know that Ann had me purchase a bunch of lotions from a store that is even more expensive here than in America. So I took 32 lotions from this store to Thailand, where Ann offered to pay me back in Thai baht. The night before, as I am almost ready for bed, she decides that she would like to receive the lotions and pay me for them...strange, but whatever fits the schedule! Little did I know that the Lord was preparing provision for the following night...)

As we are out of money, I remember that I had placed the Thai baht Ann gave me into my purse in a separate section from my spending money...I search and we have just enough with a couple dollars left over to purchase the remaining girls desiring to go. GOD IS GOOD! Is that truth so real to you? I pray so. He provides in big, small, and real ways! We do not know what is going on, but all the while, He is forming His beautiful plan just ready for it to explode in all its glory and splendor. What a mighty God! I am at a loss for words at how He works....all I can do is thank Him, praying that He knows my heart of gratitude and hears the words that I cannot seem to utter...

His plan was to bless these girls exceedingly and abundantly more than we could ask for or imagine because He is at work within us, and He is able to do more than our greatest request. Ephesians 3:20

As if this experience was not enough for my precious Jesus to do to show me how great He is and what He has in store...I had been talking with two men the entire time. I will take you to the conversation...

They first open the conversation by watching Nis write names down, and asking me if we are forming a convent. I give a smile and say "no" to appease the clever wit, and they continue to ask what is going on. I tell them of the Christmas party, and from there it all took off. Asking repeatedly that I allow them to buy me a drink so I can sit with them and they can probe some more, I politely decline and tell them I will stand where I am at to chat. They assumed I was part of a Christian organization, I affirmed; they asked where I was from, I told them; they asked why I was here, I told them. They asked what I did, what I am studying in school and what my intent was. Knowing about Counseling, one then assumes that I have a large scale plan of inviting the girls out to this party to let them enjoy a fun time and then to get intense and counsel them there. He thought it was "a brilliant plan." I assured them this was no grand scheme of mine of trickery to charm them and then make them pour out their hearts, but that we gave them a night of freedom in hopes that maybe they could see there is another option. If not, for one night they experience something they may never get the chance to again: Freedom, not being itemized, love, presents, abundant food, constant smiles, a great speaker, a party they will never forget, and a message that could change their lives forever. They admired the idea and liked that the organization raised money that did exactly what we promised it would do.

Neither one thought that the party was a bad idea- they actually loved it. When they asked what it was for, I responded, "Do you not think that they deserve it?" They said yes, that most people, especially men, treat them like trash, for a better use of words. They continued the questions, so I too began to ask them some. Where they were from: South Africa. How long they lived in Bangkok: 3 years and 15 years. One was married to a Thai, the other had a girlfriend, but both go to the bars to relax from work and "be nice to the girls by buying them drinks and talking with them.." I agreed. They said, "It's about time someone does something nice for these girls, and helps them out." I looked at them and said, "Why don't you?"

He said, "I am only one person." I said, "Well I was only one person, invited my two roommates this summer, then we were 3 and 9 more joined us for this trip. It always starts with one. It is an overwhelming though, but even if something just starts with one, it grows as people join your cause." He said that being the one is just too hard. I explained again that that is how it all starts..."if you know it should be started but are not willing, who is to say that someone will feel that same passion that you do, and have the same capabilities to do so?" I told them, you are one...if there is something you can do for something or someone, you should do it. If you can, why not?

As the conversation grew deeper, they just got more and more intrigued...asking about Beginnings, asking what happens when I return home- thinking that I was the brains behind all that went on at the organization or on this wonderful night. Assuring them I was nothing but a mere helper trying to do God's work, they asked what I did when I got home and I began to tell them of Freedom 4-24. This was around the time Martha had walked over. Already having told them about Beginnings, I also was able hand over her Freedom 4-24 bracelet.

Pray these men are as intrigued in the cause when they are home or by a computer. I pray that they read up on everything. Their interest was no defeating feat..God took over with every word. I had no eyes of anger or detest as I looked at them and entertained their every question. He took over and spoke words I could not have said in my own strength in this situation. Have I mentioned how great our God is? :)

The party was incredible! These girls enjoyed themselves to the fullest degree and were treated like they should be each day. Nothing was requested of them but to love on life and enjoy themselves. There were so many smiles, and their grateful eyes were more than I could bare. This created a smile on my face that brought me to the point of my cheeks hurting, but I could not have cared less. There was so much joy and laughter and relief in that room. It was amazing! Not to mention that so many raised their hands showing interest in a relationship with Jesus. 31 decisions were made and they went into a separate room after to hear more about the Lord and the love He so freely gives. They all walked out with even bigger smiles than they walked in with, which was unimaginable to me before, but it happened. They were ever so grateful and made my heart want to burst with the love and joy I have for them. God reigned true as always. Pray for these lives. Pray for this truth to resonate within them.

These glimmers I am able to give you are nothing compared to what went down last night. It was incredible.

Thank you all for the prayers. God is answering in ways I could have never imagined. The party last night went as well as it did because of your donations and support in prayer! God hears and is so faithful! Remember: Our God, the One and Only, is so great! Even asking Him to bring along men that I could enter in conversation with- I never thought that kind of dialogue would occur. It truly was riveting.

I am captivated by the love our Lord gives and the way He answers prayer and gives us gentle whispers that change our whole world. Sweet sweet Love.

Pray for tonight's party. I know it is going to be amazing.

Praying for you all! Watch as God turns your world upside down for His wonderful purposes.

Flashback...maybe not.

Being back in Bangkok just five months later after living here for a month turned out to be a lot different than expected...

I had thoughts of feeling like it had been such a long time since I was surrounded by sweet Thai faces and that I may feel like I was starting all over again here. Little did I know that the Lord was going to make it as though I had not missed a wink of it.

Ann, the house mom at Beginnings, greeted us at the airport by saying, "Welcome Home!" That is a bit how I feel being back here. We are staying in the same room at Beginnings, in the same beds, and seeing so many of the same faces we once spent time with every day...this is going to be so hard to leave in a few short days.

For those unaware, we are back here in Bangkok, Thailand to throw 2 Christmas parties for 2 different red light districts. They will be held on the 16th and 17th and will be filled with food, fun, presents, games, and a speaker who will share the Gospel.

Both today and tonight we went and did bar outreach, and I will honestly admit that I was a bit intimidated by the girl that was here this summer. She was brave, she trusted God with her whole heart, and she had a passion to do whatever it took- big or small to see these girls either come to freedom or be closer to it...this was a process to come to, but it happened here this summer. Reading my journal and what my heart poured out was nothing like a distant memory, it was all there with each word I read. However, I was scared to not be able to live up to my first reaction and how the Lord aided in what we came here to do. Yet again, the Lord overcame my silly flesh as He always does, and coming back, the Lord brought me back to where I once was.

As I walked down the streets, the very same paths before, I began to feel overwhelmed by what is going on here. In a sense it all felt like something I had seen before, something I knew all too well to a possible point of detail-by-detail recollection.. like it was just a "part 2," if you will. After this mundane moment of my blast from the past, it hit me even harder than ever what is going on in this city- the lives that some of the most precious people I have ever met have to live out each and every day. My heart is burdened even more than before for this women, this nation, these men, and everyone in the world who is oppressed. This was my prayer to let it be more real to me and feel as He feels, and God answered. This is not flashback...this is reality...this is their day in and day out nightmare... I never knew my burden could get heavier or feel more real than it did when this reality hit me the first time, but it did and it is. Any sweet face means more to me than even before, every smile makes my heart ache to see them walking away and living a life of freedom, every laugh makes me pray harder that we can enjoy true fellowship in being Christ-followers.

I pray that God would use us in ways that we cannot even comprehend. I know that He is faithful and I know that He has something crazy amazing in store for this week and for these women and for these parties we will be holding tomorrow night and the night after.

I pray that they will know us by our love.

I pray that He does more than we could ever think or imagine.

I pray that God becomes their heartbeat and that freedom becomes their song.

Please join me in this battle cry...this truly is the midst of war, but God is good and faithful and true. When all else fades, He remains.

Ashes to Beauty

Friday night was ashes to beauty in all of its splendor. We, and by we I mean all of you included, took the Beginnings girls and staff out to an amazing restaurant that is located in the tallest building in Thailand. The restaurant is a few flights below the revolving top floor where you can see the whole city. Bonita and Roy were telling us, after, that most of the girls have never gotten to eat like that, out to such a nice place, or been at such high heights in their life. Thank YOU!

It was such a gift to see them enjoy it. They were astounded by all the buffet's food, and just ate to their hearts desire. I have no idea where it all went or how none of them got sick, because I was just wide-eyed at their appetites. We laughed a lot about it, and they were just so appreciative. So to all of you who are on this journey with us, whether it has been prayerfully, financially, or anything, we and all the girls and staff at Beginnings thank you for an absolutely wonderful evening at Crystal Grill in the Baiyoke II Tower.

Now I want to tell you of the beautiful Cinderella's that were in attendance.

As the girls came down the stairs to congregate before we left for the Baiyoke Tower, I was struck. I could have cried they were so very beautiful. They were so happy...so excited...and I found myself to be so blessed. They all had their skirts and dresses on, hair and make up done, and big smiles as we commented on how suay ("pretty" or "beautiful" in Thai) they looked.

We kid alot in this household, but really, it was all so beautiful! What I saw was more than pretty faces and laughter, I saw redemption at its finest. As each girl came into the kitchen I saw the love of Christ, the old made new, genuine joy, relief, excitement, beauty...I saw, in true form, ashes traded in for beauty. Lives of freedom...

The girl who has been plagued by false idols...redeemed. The girl who wore a number on her uniform, as a mark of available purchase, as she waited drink tables in the bars...redeemed. I saw the girl who was gang raped on her trafficking journey...redeemed. The girl who does not remember her story or what village she was trafficked from...an orphan to the world, but completely claimed by the Lord...redeemed. The girl who worked on the streets prostituting herself to feed her children...redeemed. The girl who has been spared of this lifestyle because her sister, who is still involved in the industry, brought her to Beginnings so that she would never know that life...redeemed. The girl who explained her coming to the faith as a love affair between Christ and Buddah, in which she had to choose...redeemed. The girl who talks to her child each day...redeemed. The girl who went from sex slavery to loving Jesus with all that is within her heart...redeemed.

I have seen such immense darkness here, but I have also seen the fulness of Christ's redemption, grace, and mercy in such precious lives. It is heartbreaking, incredible, and Isaiah 61:3 in true form...

"to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor."

A display of his splendor is here. Pray for more lives to be redeemed here in Bangkok, as well as in all the world. Do all that you can by any means you can to be that link to our great God. His work is such an amazing masterpiece.

Some pictures to enjoy...because of you:

grace like rain

The rain here is intense. One minute it is hot and sunny then suddenly....monsoon! It brings in this cool air, and the sound of it crashing is just so sweet. It is washing it all away...

It reminds me of God's grace. His good, undeserved, unending grace that He pours down on us with love.

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are- yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:15-16

Steve Fee's "Grace Will Be My Song" continually filled my head today with its anthem so true.

Jesus Jesus Jesus
You ransomed one like me
Jesus Jesus Jesus
Your blood, my liberty
And now my shame is gone
And grace will be my song

Jesus Jesus Jesus
Lover of the weak
Jesus Jesus Jesus
With strength to carry me
And now my shame is gone
And grace will be my song

Glory Glory Glory
To the one who saved my soul
Glory Glory Glory
To the Everlasting Lord
Glory Glory Glory
To the King who sits enthroned
Our God

What a wonderful truth! My prayer is for these women and children to be able to sing and rejoice one day:

"and now my shame is gone...and grace will be my song"

Urgent prayer

Hey guys,

I know you are already praying for what is going on over here, but I have a specific request. Two girls who have already become very dear to us have some serious stuff going on, and we need such prayer for them. One situation is specifically being handled within the next few days. The stuff you are about to read is pretty intense, so if you do not want to read, it is understandable.

Thank you again for all the prayers you already have put forth! The Lord hears and He answers beautifully.

Because He Chose the Nails, Janette

This is straight from Bonita and Roy's prayer letter:

___________________________________________

Beginnings brushes with trafficking victims regularly. While we work with women in the sex trade, it is inexorably linked to human trafficking. The following is a tale of my experience as a trafficker!

For two years we have enjoyed a young woman (age 12 at arrival – now 14) in our Beginnings family. We’ll call her Pon. She is delightful. She loves Jesus. She is playful. She is creative. And she is illegal.

She was abandoned by her mother at birth and raised by her grandmother who died just before her journey to Bangkok. While we have spent hours searching the internet for her possible homeland and village, it has been to no avail. Her recollections mostly resemble Burma, but we are not certain. She has no ID card, no mother, no father, no siblings, no nationality, no homeland.

Because she is at such high risk of being “caught” and then of being trafficked, we have been vigorously seeking a way to protect her with legal papers. (Both the military and Thai police are notoriously corrupt and have been accused in multiple trafficking cases.)

A friend from Laos who has helped others gain residency said she could help. After questions, prayers, and tears, we sent Pon with our friend on the twelve hour bus ride to Laos. The bus was stopped eight times by police who boarded looking for illegals. Pon hid in the bathroom but was discovered at the last stop. Because she was heading “home” to Laos, she was allowed to leave – not on the bus but on the back of three different motorcycles driven by three different men through the jungle -- alone. God protected her.

After two days of meeting with various officials, it was determined that Pon would NOT be able to obtain papers there – unless we wanted to pay off the officials for their corrupt demand of about $5000.

Now the most difficult dilemma: How do we get her BACK?

After hours of heavy silence, prayer and tears, our plan was to rent a van and driver and travel all night to Ubon (at the Laos border) where we would pick up Pon and, prayerfully, “traffick” her back to Beginnings.

Before Ubon we were stopped twice by police. We all had papers so we were allowed to advance. We counted at least 15 police stops on the other side of the road – we would have to pass through AFTER we had Pon.

We slept in the van for a few hours and then met a tearful, frightened Pon and friend. We determined we would take the northern route, assuming there might be fewer stops. Before the northern turnoff we were stopped twice. The officers looked in each of the van windows, asked multiple questions and even identified our “sleeping” Pon as a foreigner --- and then told us to have a good trip. God protected us!

We were not exempt from stops even on the northern route. We approached the first turnout where the police had stopped a bus and two vans. We were waved on. God protected us!

We came to the next turnout where the bus had been unloaded and passengers were holding up their ID cards. We were waved on. God protected us!

At the next turnout, four police had stopped a couple vans and were busy with the inspection. Two other police were talking, looked at us but did not seem to see us. We drove on. God protected us!

Lunch, back roads and hours later we were approaching the place where the northern route connects with the southern route about 100 kilometers outside of Bangkok. We knew this would be the most difficult. In anticipation, we stopped at a large vegetable stand. There we pondered, purchased, prayed and finally returned to the van. Within minutes an enormous cloud gathered above and it rained torrentially. The clouds seemed extraordinarily full of water. We passed at least four police stops – saw their cones and flags – but never saw them. God protected us. Even the winds and waves obey Him. What a mighty God we serve!!

We reached Bangkok without incident. When pulling off the freeway onto our street, Pon talked for the first time in twelve hours. She was home! We were home!! --- So young, so vulnerable, so frightened, she experienced the protective hand of God in her life. It is a lesson none of us will soon forget.

******* Another of our residents cannot boast the same story. Len was also trafficked from Laos. She, however, was not loved by her traffickers. She was made to wait in the jungle for many hours. While there she was gang-raped by several men and told that if she did not cooperate they would leave her in the jungle to die. When the refrigerated truck came by for the pick up, the back door swung open and it was packed with women and young children. There was no room. They were told to make room. The largest of the women got in first and the lighter sat on their shoulders for the entire twelve hour trip to Bangkok. They were then sold to various labor and sex establishments. Len was sold for sex. We found her in one of the bars we often visit. Pray for Len. The same God who protected Pon, loves Len and has brought her to this place of safety and hope.

Pray for Len, for Pon and for our continued struggle with finances. You are pivotal to this ministry and we love you!!

Blessings, Roy and Bonita

Just a few snapshots

Beginnings.

For those of you who thought that NYC was the city that never sleeps...

It is not a rare occasion to see these homeless dogs all over Bangkok...

There are also many methods of transportation.

New experiences... eating bugs.

Fish spa!

Some of the girls enjoying some sour mango

Sweet Lek and I

Precious BeBe.

Ann bought BeBe a pancake maker...the girls approved!

The darkness is everywhere.

Yet, we have hope in our midst...Heaven.

Minimalistic.

These past couple of days have been interesting, tough, and lovely all at the same time. We sat down yesterday with Bonita to talk about what to expect and how to react to the outreach ministry. Her details were intense. That is all I feel needs to be shared on the matter because of the knowledge that you all already have of these girls. They are exploited. Plain and simple.

Upon receiving this information, it was time to put these years of longing to be here, and times of training into action. Stepping into the bars for the first time.

During my walk to the bars with one of the outreach-able girls from Beginnings, I was not sure what to expect. I did not want to "lose face," I did not want to shame these girls or make them feel bad, I did not want to react...I just wanted to show love. I prayed the entire time. I have been praying for months now about this specific initial reaction to being there, and still felt as though I was not sure of how I would respond. I just had to trust. We met Bonita, and entered.

God is so very faithful to prayer! I thank you all for your commitment to pray for us, yet again. He hears and answers. With His strength, He gave the ability to have conversations with some of the women, to have an inviting face, and to actually smile and laugh with them. It was a blessing far beyond the requests in prayer. God is so incredible and amazing. To Him all credit is due always and forever. How His beauty can shine through any and every situation blows me away, and my heart rejoices at His power and majesty.

**"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

The first conversation I had was with a women who radiated with happiness, yet was so eager to be cared about. She loved conversing with us and was so sweet. I was not sure of how much English she knew right off the bat, but before I knew it, we were discussing our ages, nationality, family, and jobs.

I ask her how long she has worked there specifically- she says, "8 months." I ask if she liked her job- she says, "it's so-so...not really." I ask her why... She said some things that capture all of this in such a true, yet dark and somehow hopeful light...

"It is nothing. The men...no one cares about heart. All they want is you. They want that. To do things. They do not care about your heart. It is not for love (as she motions her hand to heart and then to mine)..no heart. They are drunk and they crazy (she imitates) They just want look...pretty face...body...but no heart."

This is real. The hope is that can we pray and love with no limitations, and ultimately hope that they would let the Lord fill that void. I pray that you do not take this information and use it as you will, but to just pray over it and these women and children involved. There are things I will only share with the girls I am here with, and some things I may only take to the Lord. On whether to share any of this or not, I have prayed so much...and I think you need to know this depth. Let it cause you to pray all the more, to be aware, and to love all you come into contact with.

This is war

at its best

on its finest day.