Dear family and friends,
We have just finished our second month here in Thailand. It feels like we have been here so much longer than that though. We have really loved being able to take language lessons 4 mornings a week, and are starting to have some small understanding on this very difficult language. The five tones that are used here are very hard for me. Juliet however understands them very well. Depending on the tone of the word you say, it could mean up to five very different things. We are happy to be learning, and as our teacher says, “Mistakes are the best teachers.”
We wanted to write with some of the more interesting cultural experiences we have been having here. As you all know, Thailand is 94% Buddhist, and 5% Muslim. We really do feel that presence here in everything from the charms worn around the necks, the offerings in front of the spirit houses, and the bowing to statues, but even all of that really hadn’t really didn’t get to us for the first couple of weeks. When you open your eyes, the reality of the spiritual situation here is very obvious. One day, as we can around the corner in the early morning, we walked pretty much right on top of a crowd of about 30 people all bowing down on the ground, and one by one getting up to put their food offerings in the senior monks food bowl. Not wanting to offend or interrupt, we stood off to the side and watched. After each person had the chance to come up, the monk prayed a special blessing over the people, then walked to the other side of the street, where he continued to do the same thing with those who were over there. Coming face to face with the reality of the situation of how things really are here was a big wake up call. I don’t feel like I can fully explain it, but it was a very eerie feeling. You can sense the bondage that these people are in and it breaks our heart. We can never forget the reality of how things are here, and the reason for which we are here.
Another experience that was very hard for me happened about about four weeks ago when I went to try and get our internet set up. Judea had a long day, so I went by myself to the internet provider. After a tuk tuk ride, a short walk, and switching sky trains twice, I got to the area of town where the office was. This area is also one of the red light districts of Bangkok. Juliet had been researching ministries that focus on the girls who are trapped in the sex trade business here in Bangkok; a 30 billion dollar industry worldwide, though governments will not recognize it as even going on due to corruption. God revealed to Juliet even before we knew we were coming to Asia, the reality of what happens to the girls kidnapped and sold into the sex trade and his broken heart over it which naturally devestated our hearts as well. So when God sent us here, there was no way to not find a way to know more and get involved in any way we could to help. She had found one a while back, and we had been planning a visit to check out the site so that we might see what opportunities there might be for Juliet to work with these girls still stuck in the sex trade. The internet place was only a block up from this site, so when I got done there (with no luck in getting it set up due to lack of service in our area of town), I decided to try and find the site, as I had looked at a map of where they were located just before I left. There are two streets in this area that are known to have over 4,000 sex slaves, and this ministry was is located on the first street. I wasn’t even more than a few steps down the street when a pimp grabbed my wrist and pulled our a picture of all the young girls that I could have if I wanted them. He kept saying, “Very young. Very cheap… Very young. Very cheap…” I jerked my hand a way, and ran away the way that I had came. He kept following me until I yelled at him to leave me alone. As soon as I was away from him, another lady tried to approach me, but I just kept going. I don’t even know the full range of emotions I was feeling at that moment: anger, deep sadness, even hatred… My heart breaks for these girls, it always has, but that brought the heartbreak so much closer to home. Another part of me was so angry that I was approached. “Who does he think I am?!” I thought, but I was a white guy, all alone, walking on the streets known for child prostitution. What else would he think? It is estimated that 4 out of every 10 girls in Thailand will at some point in their childhood be forced into the sex trade. The majority of these girls come from the northern provinces where they are either sold by their parents, or tricked into thinking they are going to get a job in the city to support their family. In some places, 70% to 90% of the girls in these villages are sold. It is also estimated that 70% of men in Thailand are or have somehow been involved in the sex trade whether in participating, or facilitating. We knew the reality of the situation, but when you come face to face with it, it is a whole new thing. It is ironic that I will feel safer going back when Juliet is with me. We will go back, and we will do all we can to help out in whatever way possible.
On a lighter note… Judea has become a celebrity here. Everyone on our street knows here and is always calling out to her as we pass by. They love her blond hair, her white skin, and pretty much everything about her. People will reach out as we walk by and grab her foot or her leg, and then rub their hand on themselves, as if to put her whiteness on themselves. Being white here is a very big deal to the Thai people, as it means that you don’t do manual labor, so you are of a higher class. Girls on the street, or in stores, or at the market will compare their arms to hers, and then rub her hand on themselves. She handles it very well, and is starting to be comfortable with a select few people on our team. We also estimate that she is on probably a couple hundred (really! no joke) cell phones or more, as everywhere we go, people are pulling out their camera phones and taking her picture. We were even in a taxi the other day and when we came to a red light, our driver whipped out his cell phone, turned around, took her picture, and then turned back forward. It is very fun to watch people watch her. She is becoming very open and really loving the Thai people.
Another recent development is that we have been asked to move. We were supposed have been able to take over the lease of our friends who were going on a year vacation. Since that time, God has called them elsewhere, so they will not be coming back to Thailand. For some reason now, our landlord has sold the place, and gave us a months notice to move, which in a new city, with very little grasp on the language, and a small budget to work with, was no small task. But God is faithful, and He has provided us with a small three bedroom house, for just over what we were paying for this place. Before this we were seeing that all we could afford would be a studio for four of us! So this house is a true miracle… we are in awe of God’s provision and love for us. And we are very grateful to Him for that. We are moving this Saturday, and will be very excited to get it all over with.
We had our doctor’s appointment today, and the doctor says that we have a very healthy baby girl!! We are so happy that God has decided to bless our family with yet again, another amazing baby girl. We also praise the Lord for His continued protection over this baby that even when the doctor had wondered if there would be any malformation due to the trauma a while back, she is perfectly developed and right on track! The Lord has been so good to us, and just continues to teach us and grow us, and allow us to be more and take on more for Him. We are daily encouraged with His words that He will never give us more than what He will allow us to handle. He has given us a lot recently, but He has been our strength and seen us through.
Thank you for all your prayers and support. We are so grateful for your love, and your partnership with us means so much. God bless you all!
Jonathan, Juliet, and Judea.