Opened Eyes

Good Morning,

Today we had the privilege of taking the girls at a pool bar whom we had formed strong relationships with out to lunch and get ice cream. We paid each of their bar fines and four of the girls and the three of us road the sky train to a huge mall with a Thai food court, which was very nice! The girls loved it, and just giving them a few hours off to just be out and share Christ love and friendship was a huge privilege for us! I am learning that Bangkok is so much more than a dirty looking city full of sin on display. Within it lie the heart and soul of Thailand, whom I believe are the girls working 28 days a month in a bar, selling themselves to support not only themselves, but their children, parents, brothers and sisters. They endure so much and pay such a high price so their families and siblings never have to sell themselves.

The day out with the girls was so nice, and we have formed such wonderful relationships with them. Kayln, Savannah and myself laughed as we walked down the street and literally had the bar girls shouting hello across the street, then we saw the bakery lady where we get our coffee from waving us down also, just to say hello and give us a big smile. And then a little further down, we ran into some of the girls from the house, and other girls from the bars. It felt oddly homey! And to think this was a place I originally came and wondered "why would anyone come here?" And now, the bar girls look for us, hug us (HUGE in Thai culture) and even the bakery lady and the street venders go out of their way to say hello and smile. It is such an honor and I am learning that if we open our eyes, and look beneath the surface of our surroundings and even the people we meet we will see the light God has placed!

Current prayer requests: The thought of coming home is so bitter sweet. We all miss home and our families, but these girls and this red light district has become another home. And the friendships we have formed, well what now? I know my stomach sinks when I think of leaving and maybe never returning. So please pray that God will help us, that we will rely on His strength and timing and trust that He is and will continue to water the seeds He has allowed us to plant. Also, I know the emotional exhaustion is really hitting us, as the reality of leaving these girls physically behind is beginning to set in. Will you pray that we have greater faith and trust in that God will provide and finish the work He is doing here regardless if we are physically here in Bangkok, or half way around the world back home. I would also ask for everyone to continue to pray for protection; physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. And that we would remember and trust that Christ is in this city and that He is bigger and stronger than anything we see or feel!

I want to thank you all for your prayers and support! We love and miss you all and are having a hard time right now.

Blessings and love,

Trisha