Christmas Visit 2010

As many of you know, each year, Freedom 4/24 sponsors two Christmas parties in Bangkok through our partner home, Beginnings. These parties provide as many as 400 women with a night to be honored, loved, and to be shown a pathway to freedom. One of our partner churches, Brentwood Church, sends a team each year to help throw these parties. This year, two members of our leadership will be traveling to Thailand with the Brentwood team. We are so excited to see God’s hand at work through the ministry at Beginnings, and through the faithful support you have given over this past year. We’ll be keeping you updated while we’re in Thailand, but in the meantime, here is an overview of how you can pray for us each day we are there.

Back row: (From left to right) Stacey Reighard, Jill Stroud, Sarah Mullins, Katelyn Bowers

Front row: Martha Heinlein, Amy Sabatini, Tammy Dupin

Prayer Requests for our trip to Thailand:

Thursday December 9th- Our team of 8 will be traveling from Washington DC to Bangkok, Thailand. Pray for safe travels and for smooth flight transitions. We will be switching planes in Tokyo, Japan. Pray that as we fly, we are able to get rest and that the 24 hours in flight would pass quickly. Pray that we are all able to stay healthy while in Thailand and that our hearts would be tender to the Holy Spirit’s leading during this trip.

Friday December 10th- We will arrive the night of the 10th in Bangkok. Pray that we are able to get through customs quickly and will have a good night of sleep upon arriving at Beginnings.

Saturday December 11th- As we wake, pray our bodies will be able to make an easy transition into the new time zone. Bangkok is 12 hours ahead of Lynchburg. Pray that as our first-time team members are introduced to the sex industry in Thailand, that they would be able to process what they are seeing and would be able to “save face” while seeing the evil that is going on around them. Pray that as we go over our plans for the week that as a team we would be unified, flexible, and ready to serve in any way possible.

Sunday December 12th- Pray as we start doing outreach in the bars that our hearts would be broken for the plight of these women. Pray that we would be able to communicate clearly, even with the language barrier, and that many would be able to commit to come to the parties. Pray that we will be able to continue to fight jetlag and transition into the time zone and culture in Thailand. Pray that we would continue to save face and to show the women we come in contact with the unconditional love of Christ.

Monday December 13th- We will be doing outreach during the day and at night. Pray that we will be able to continue to communicate clearly with whose we are inviting to the parties. Pray for favor with the bar owners and mamasans to allow us to spend time with the girls in the bars. Pray that we would not be numb to what we see, but that it would stir our hearts and strengthen our resolve to give these women a pathway to freedom. Pray that as a team, we would continue to be unified, and would be able to communicate openly and clearly with each other. Pray that we would be the hands and feet of Jesus not only in the bars, but to the residents and leadership at Beginnings. Pray for the residents of Beginnings as they will be helping with outreach and the parties as they are completing final exams at university.

Tuesday December 14th – We will be doing outreach during the day and at night. Pray that we will be able to continue to communicate clearly with whose we are inviting to the parties. Pray for favor with the bar owners and mamasans to allow us to spend time with the girls in the bars. Pray that we would not be numb to what we see, but that it would stir our hearts and strengthen our resolve to give these women a pathway to freedom. Pray that as a team, we would continue to be unified, and would be able to communicate openly and clearly with each other. Pray that we would be the hands and feet of Jesus not only in the bars, but to the residents and leadership at Beginnings. Pray for the residents of Beginnings as they will be helping with outreach and the parties as they are completing final exams at university.

Wednesday December 15th- We will be preparing the banquet hall in the morning and afternoon, and then going into the bars in Soi Cowboy, one of Bangkok’s redlight districts, to bring girls to the Christmas parties. Pray we have favor with the bar owners and mamasans, and that they will allow us to take many girls to the parties. Pray the girls who have verbally committed to attend will be able to come. Pray that all logistics with the party and transportation to and from will run smoothly. Pray for meaningful conversation and points of contact between our team, the residents and staff at Beginnings, and the girls attending the party (This is key for follow up and outreach after the parties). Pray that the girls will feel loved, honored, and respected. Pray their hearts will be open to the message of Jesus Christ that will be presented at the party. Pray they will consider moving into Beginnings and leaving the sex industry. Pray that we will rest well after the party and have energy to move forward with excitement for the next day’s parties.

Thursday December 16th – We will be doing last minute preparations for the second party, and then going into the bars in Nana Plaza, another one of Bangkok’s redlight districts, to bring girls to the Christmas parties. Pray we have favor with the bar owners and mamasans, and that they will allow us to take many girls to the parties. Pray the girls who have verbally committed to attend will be able to come. Pray that all logistics with the party and transportation to and from will run smoothly. Pray for meaningful conversation and points of contact between our team, the residents and staff at Beginnings, and the girls attending the party (This is key for follow up and outreach after the parties). Pray that the girls will feel loved, honored, and respected. Pray their hearts will be open to the message of Jesus Christ that will be presented at the party. Pray they will consider moving into Beginnings and leaving the sex industry. Pray that we will rest well after the party and be refreshed the next day to follow up with those we have met at the parties.

Friday December 17th- We will be resting in the morning and spending some time as a team re-grouping and sharing what God has revealed to us in the last few days, and doing follow-up with the girls we met at the parties in the evening. Pray we will be able to make meaningful connections with the women we met. Pray these connections would bring them to trust Beginnings, and that it would be the beginning of a long term relationship between them and Beginnings. Pray as we visit them, they would see a genuine spirit in us and would seriously consider making the difficult decision to leave the sex industry.

Saturday December 18th- We will be having a free day and will be getting out and enjoying the city. Pray for a fun, relaxing day for our team. Also, we will be packing up and preparing to head back to the US. Our flight leaves at 11:55 pm on Saturday evening. Pray for safe return travels, and again, that we would be able to rest on the flights. Pray that our flights would not be delayed, our baggage would arrive safely and on time, and for good weather in DC upon our landing.

Sunday, December 19th- pray for a safe arrival at Dulles. Pray specifically for Stacey, who will be driving us back to Lynchburg. Our team should arrive back in Lynchburg Sunday afternoon. Pray that we will all be able to rest and transition back into the new time zone. Pray that we would be forever changed by what we saw and experienced in Thailand.