Beach Trips and the Red Light District- Weeks 3&4

I can barely believe it but my month of training with ISM is up, I’m moved into my new place, and I officially start at NightLight on Monday!

Training was one of those times that seemed to last 50 years and five seconds at the same time.  I just met these girls, we were together constantly for four weeks straight and now some of them are onto other parts of Asia for their internship placements and I didn’t realize until this morning when it was happening how sad it would be to say goodbye to them.   Even though goodbyes are never fun, I try and always be thankful for the hellos.  I’m now living with three other girls from ISM- Kate, Leesh, and Liv. We are all working at organizations that work with victims of the sex industry here in Bangkok and Liv will be at NightLight with me until late April.  I can hardly wait to see what sharing life with these women brings!

Since my last post, so many awesome things happened during training.  One highlight was our highly anticipated beach day.  We loaded up a giant van and drove 2 hours to Ko Samet, a lovely island beach with bright blue water and palm trees and white sand.  After having class or outreach every single day it was a much needed refreshing day!  My favorite part of the day was parasailing.  As I was casually flying through the air surrounded by blue ocean and sky, it sunk in a little more deeply that I am really here, that God really did call me here.  His glory was oh so abundant in that beautiful place, such a sweet reminder to have. 

On a more sobering note, we did a prayer walk in the red light district.  It was surreal.   I can’t believe all of the events, big and small, that have led up to that moment.  Who would have imagined that I would be here in Thailand, spending a year of my life?  I had many, many, thoughts and feelings about it.  The heaviness was palpable, yet so was the hope.  More than any of the sadness, anger, or disgust that I feel, burns my passion to see these women know who they are in Christ.  I know that I’ll have much more to say about all of this once I start my time with NightLight. 

I appreciate all of your prayers and kind words to me so far.  I would especially love your prayers as I begin this new phase of my life here, for my work at NightLight and for my new little home here.  Pray that our adjustments to our placements would be smooth.  Thank you so much!

Ko Samet I love you

Love these girls so much!