Testimonies

Stories From Bangla Road
by Jenni Weir on 5/26/2009

There are over 200 bars and 1,500 women that work in Patong on Bangla Road. Within 3 weeks, we had met and build relationships with over 60 bar girls – girls that worked in the bars, selling drinks until they were “bought” at a price of 2000 baht ($60USD)!

Yet, rather than judging, we chose to love. Rather than walking away when we were “grabbed” to have a seat at a bar and have a drink, we chose to walk away, or if we felt called, have a seat and have a soda or water with the women while playing a familiar “bar” game of Jenga, Connect Four, Jackpot or the Hammer game…

No matter the age of the women I met in Patong, they all held a special place in my heart. There are a few women who touched my heart deeper than the rest. One was a young 25 year old girl. She has only worked at her bar about 3 months. We saw through her loneliness and despair and quickly learned that it was her last night in the bar, as she was leaving to head “home” for a few days before going to an unknown Country “willingly” yet fearful knowing what is to come….selling her body in a dark room, where she has no control and no say. She told us she has a dream of being a baker…how perfect for SHE, yet she felt “stuck” and unable to escape. Her story goes so much deeper than I can explain, as this young women was in a terrible mess, one that I could do anything about other than pray…and that I did – all night. She needed it. She still does! For more of her story, check out Stephanie’s blog…

Pon is a young mid-twenties girl who doesn’t like her job, yet won’t leave. She was so loving and accepting and interested in what goes on at SHE, yet would never make an attempt to get together. On the last night of ministry, I said good-bye and she asked me to hand her number over to SHE! Praise the Lord…God is moving

There is Hope. There is a Choice!
Another story is of two women from a bar we “stumbled” upon by no accident – but by God’s leading. It was a birthday, and who’s to turn down a “party” with free food…there we sat, playing games with these women with no distractions – the bar was empty and the manager and owner’s were not around. We poured out the love God has given us. These women, Nung and Jum, quickly became friends and within a week, this bar has been changed. The way they interacted with us every time we walked their way…and watching them laugh and smile was a blessing! The hard part came when I would watch the girls I was close with leave my conversation to go “woo” a man is – especially when you know she doesn’t want to, yet it’s part of her job. It was a hard and long good-bye. This is a bar I learned a lot about the “job.” Just before posting this blog, I got a phone call that Nung is coming by to look at SHE sometime this week…she is so interested in this place and new job opportunity. God has her in His hands!!

There’s always the young energetic girl. The one seeking attention, love and acceptance. This was my petite Ann. I only saw her twice, but in those two times, God moved. She is very touchy-feely and it was hard to accept at first, yet I knew this woman needed more than physical touch. She needed love. She longed for love. She sought after it in any and every way possible. She repeated she loved me more times than I could count. She just held me the entire conversation, looking into my eyes, kissing my cheeks and embracing someone who finally cared about HER not just what she can “put out.” This women melted my heart. I tried calling, yet it never worked. She cried when I told her about SHE. She didn’t like her job and wanted out. After the second time I talked to her, God was moving and I was hoping and praying that calling her would bring her to SHE and give her hope…yet I could never reach her. Not by phone. Not even at the bar. A week went by…still no sign of her. The bar hasn’t seen or heard from her…last they knew, she left drunk the last night I was with her, and haven’t heard from her since. Please pray that she is OKAY and out of the bar scene and onto bigger and better things. There is hope and she does know that she can be happy and not have to work in a bar to be happy or get money!

As mentioned earlier, there is Hope…a Hope in Christ! God hears our prayers…Raise your voice and take a stand! Together, we can make a difference and impact the darkness around us.

Reading Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, as well as the book of Hosea…and talking with the women at SHE and being surrounded by the women in Patong opened my eyes and my heart to these women. They are no different than we are…they have a life to live. They have value. They are important. They are beautiful. They need love and Christ as much as any of us do! They are not mine to have and hold onto – God, I give them to you. Take them, mold them and use them for your glory!

Christ has come to set the captives free…

Loud Music
by Renee Ramirez on 5/29/2009

Loud music, dark area, the smell of alcohol fills the air. Lust and depression are at every turn. Temptations are following. Food, shopping, gambling, smoking, sex, drugs, alcohol; whatever your vice, it’s at your finger tips. Women are the most gorgeous you’ve ever seen and the men are as handsome as those in magazines. Bangla Road is filled with every temptation a person could have. Any strong hold a person has dealt with, it is there. Every thought must truly be taken captive.

You walk into a bar and there stands a beautiful woman with a smile that is so warm and inviting. She waves at you and asks you to sit down. You sit and began to talk to her. She speaks English quite well. Praise God for the good conversation you know is about to take place. The darkness begins lurking in the background with every word coming out of her mouth. She speaks about her past jobs. She speaks about her current job. She tells you how much she wishes she didn’t have to do the things she does, then she tells you all of the reasons that she feels she has to stay there. She has a mother and father to take care of. She has children. She has relatives and family back home that need her to work. She is alone and needs to provide for herself. She needs to make money quickly to help people in her family who are poor. It’s only for a short time. It’s not for long. It won’t last forever. These are her excuses and lies the enemy is filling her with. You try to fill her with God’s truth and love but as you begin to bring hope to her, a customer comes in and she has to leave. Another night in this dark place.

Now imagine that same woman. She gives you her phone number right before she leaves. You tell her you’re going to call her to meet for lunch. You call her. She doesn’t answer. You call her again. She still doesn’t answer. You call a third time, she answers. She is still with her customer from the night before. She tells you she will call you later. Imagine talking to her again. This time she tells you about another job she’s taking. Imagine finding out she’s decided to work in a darker area. Imagine she tells you she is leaving the country where she will be working for a set time. Imagine her telling you she doesn’t want to go, but she has to. Imagine knowing that she knows what she’s doing is wrong, but also knowing there is nothing you can do to stop her. Imagine staying up all night in prayer. Imagine not sleeping for days because you’re interceding on her behalf. Imagine. Imagine living in a world that is completely opposite of everything you know. Imagine this is your reality. Imagine not having parents. Imagine not knowing Jesus. Imagine not knowing how loved you are. Imagine never hearing the words “I love you”. Imagine only seeing yourself as a product. Imagine drinking every night to run away from the hurt and pain of what you feel you have become. Imagine being trapped in a dark room with only satan spreading lies to you and speaking death over your life. Imagine not knowing there is grace and mercy and love waiting for you right outside that door. Imagine never knowing there is light and all you have to do is ask for it.

Imagine you are a man who is so lost and confused, you aren’t even quite sure how to live. Imagine living your days as a man. Your family sees and knows you as Mr. but your nights are spent pretending to be a woman. Imagine being so lost and confused that you’re willing to be a spectacle for others.

Imagine being so hurt from your past and feeling so lonely you are now willing to pay just to have someone by your side. Imagine searching for something to feel the gap in your heart, but never finding it, and constantly turning to alcohol, sex, and addictions. Imagine finding your self-worth by paying for sex with a beautiful woman.

Imagine being a family who takes their children to see the spectacle down the streets of Patong. Imagine walking down these streets hand and hand with your children taking photographs of all of the “ladyboys” and bargirls. Imagine finding humor instead of compassion as you see all of the lost and confused people. Imagine being so lost.

the ONE
by Tonya Norman on 5/15/2009

The numbers can be staggering to think about…on one street alone along Patong Beach, there are 200 open bars and over 1200 girls working in those bars. These girls are paid small amounts for drink commissions, but make almost all of their money by selling themselves to the male tourists who flock to this infamous destination. These men are known as sex tourists. They are old, they are young, some look sleezy, some look like the guy next door, there are married couples that come, and shockingly enough, many with their young children in tow. This place is unlike anywhere I have ever been. The task for our team of seven women going out, is to try to reach these girls and make an impact in the environment we are surrounded by…seems like an impossible when you look at the facts. But what I am learning is that this ministry really is about the ONE.

Each time I go in a bar, I sit face to face with ONE woman. I look her in the eye and I listen to what she shares with me. It may be a story of how this is her first day of working in the bars and she came to work in Patong out of shame after a bad breakup with her boyfriend. It may be the story of a single mom who knows no other way to provide for her 2 children. It may be a story about how she is one of three sisters that came together to work here out of desperation to provide for her sick parents and kids. Which are all true stories. These women are all ages…the ones I’ve talked to range from 20 to 47. They sit and talk to you (if they speak some English), they laugh with you, they play games with you, they hug you, they talk to you. Some as you walk by are sitting with men already, but they reach out and grab your arm, desperate for you to come talk to them and rescue them from their obligation to “entertain” these men. Some women though, want the money more, so they reach out to the men that pass by while you are talking to them, to try to entice them into their bar. I ask almost every woman I speak to if they like their job…and only one that I recall has said yes. Most shake their heads no, some laughing at the absurdity of the question, while some look away more somberly acknowledging how deeply they wish they weren’t here. They aren’t there because they like it, they’re there because they don’t think they have any other option…but they do.

SHE (Self Help and Empower) is the name of the ministry we are serving with this month in Phuket, Thailand. It was started by a British couple named Mark and Sharon Biddell in 2006. Their purpose is to provide another option for these women involved in the commercial sex trade industry here in Phuket. SHE will train them how to make jewelry or how to make chocolates and bake, give them a full time job, and provide a safe place for them to live if they want it. It is a Christian work environment where they have morning devotions and Bible study once a week with the staff. Most who come through SHE become Christians over time as they live and work around those who display the love and hope of Christ. SHE is funded 100% by donations. They never turn anyone away, and simply trust that if another girl decided to come through their doors, God would certainly provide the money for SHE to support them. So, when we go into the bars, we talk to the girls, and if the opportunity presents itself, we tell them about SHE and invite them over to lunch to visit with Mark and Sharon and with the Thai girls that work there. After that, it is up to them. They will no doubt make more money working in the bars, but is it worth selling themselves every night to make that money? Sadly, for some, it is…but for many, SHE provides a choice they didn’t know they had.

It’s such a blessing to be a part of this ministry and to meet and become friends with these beautiful women…to be able to share hope with them. Hope is such a simple word, but without it in our lives…nothing matters. These girls need hope. They need someone to come alongside them and help them in a very practical way…and in doing so, we get to show them the heart of Jesus. And these girls long for that, whether they realize it or not. We get to tell them that they have value, that they are loved, that they are good beautiful women, that it’s not okay for people to treat them like a piece of property, and that they can have incredible hope for their future.

If you would like to be a part of what God is doing in this ministry, there are many opportunities. First and foremost, please pray for them…for favor and protection and discernment and clear direction from the Lord. Their greatest tangible need at the moment is for general financial support, so if you would like to give a tax deductible donation, please visit their website, You can also look at the jewelry for sale on their website and consider buying these items as gifts or for yourself, or even talk to churches or other organizations who may be interested in selling their jewelry to help raise awareness and support for this ministry. Another great need is simply ideas. If you have any marketing, product, or branding ideas, please pass them along to me, and I’ll make sure they get to the right people. Our team has fallen in love with this ministry and is working to support them any way possible…and I’m excited for you to join in the process!