why dont we catch up....

Hello Everyone,

Tony:

Sorry its been so long since we have updated our blog, this last week was busy and the internet has been less than reliable from my house(Tony's house). So now lets see if we cant catch you all up on what happened this last week.

It was our first week working at NightLight. Annie Dieselberg (da boss) was out of town, so we never got a chance to sit down and find out what we could do for her, so our time was taken up with creating some sales template e-mails for seasons (Christmas, Easter, etc. ). We have been spending a lot of time with the other volunteers here, and feel very blessed that God has brought all of them into our lives. also, we have been learning and trying new Thai phrases all the time, but we are only understood about half of the time.

Last night was a blast because a bunch of us went bowling and did Asian karaoke, which means you get your own private room with just you and your friends. Everyone was extremely silly, and we all had a lot of fun.

Megan:

Aside from the Jewelry business at NightLight, there is also a huge outreach focus. Every Tuesday and Friday, a group of women meet for prayer, dinner and then time trying to develop relationships with prostitutes in the red light district. Initially I didn't think I would be part of this team. Mostly, I was afraid of the unknown.

After getting a chance to talk with the other women who have already participated, they all assured me that there is nothing to be afraid of. And mostly, that our God is more powerful, bigger and stronger than anything we could encounter in the bars. I had also read a verse that morning about not being afraid, and decided to go with them that Tuesday night. After prayer and a dinner of pat kra pow gai (some kind of chicken with sauce, and rice with an over easy egg on top) we headed out.

There were four of us that night, a smaller group, so I was then led around the area. The first level is beer bars, but the next two are more like strip clubs. We headed into the bar, and immediately one girl reached out and touched my arm saying "You are beautiful!" I stopped to talk to her. She was so kind, as many Thais are, and also very affectionate. (Although, I'm told that sometimes you have to establish that you are not a lesbian when you are in the bars.) But in general, women generally walk down the street holding hands as friends. She asked me my name and where I was from, and then we all sat down together. We ordered our cokes and began to pray.

I have never been in such an environment. A million thoughts were going though my head. About how this bar and the next bar and the next bar are supported. Why does this area even exist, why do people come here, why do so many western men come here, how did that girl on stage get here, how long has she been here, what are her hopes and dreams, what is the difference between me and her, why do I get to sit in a booth while she has to dance on stage?

I had pictured the men that go into the bars being very drunk and obnoxious. But I was surprised that all the men in that bar that night came in quietly, sometimes alone, sat down, ordered a drink and watched. They would carry on small conversations with the waitresses. And sit there.

That night there was not as much interaction as usual I was told and we soon headed to the other red light district a couple streets away. There, more Eastern men are present and many trafficked women are located. They are mostly from Uzbekistan and Africa. This was no dimly lit smoky bar, but a very nice hotel, well lit. And women don't go to you, but you go to the women. There are already connections there, but some of the women don't like our group because they think we are reporters. This makes them not talk to us. One girl went to talk to a couple new girls but they were too scared to talk to us. Also, in this area, the men are much more direct and will call out things to women and wink. Ew.

And that was my first experience on outreach. Praying for change for each woman I saw, for the waitresses, the bar tenders, the DJ, the men in the bars. Against evil spirits- as there are many idols in the bars and many girls have tattoos where thy have invited evil spirits into their body.

It is an odd walk to the area and back from it. It is like the whole world passes you by. Every language is being spoken, every color of skin brushes past you, every style of dress, different religions, different idols, every kind of food is being sold on the street from bugs to chicken kabobs, every designer brand is sold in belts, watches, t-shirts, purses, shoes, illegal DVDs, jewelry, wooden carvings, people crawling on the ground because they are missing a leg, mothers with small babies begging, children selling small trinkets, and street walkers, not to mention elephants with people selling corn for you to feed them.

Yes its overwhelming.

Yes, this is real, these problems are real and now I am responsible for what I have seen.

Prayers would be appreciated for: protection when on outreach, for tony to sleep at night (with no AC, and me too for the time being), to serve with a joyful heart, and to be used to serve in new opportunities.

Love from Thailand