“Sex Trafficking is is one of the greatest forms of modern slavery. However, to a lot of people in the Western world, it is nothing more than sad stories of this generalized population. Thailand, as beautiful and incredible as it is, has a tremendous shadow that feeds a devastatingly growing industry.
Both men and women travel from all around the world to visit these hubs of seemingly encouraged prostitution. It is estimated that Thailand alone takes in almost 6.5 billion dollars from the sex trafficking industry alone. If we look at numbers over the last 50 years, prostitution is continuing to grow with no end in sight. The government, only in recent years, has started to open its eyes to the reality of the situation that lies on its doorstep.
The men and women who find themselves working here, for the most part, have no choice. They have been sold by relatives, promised false opportunity, and even been kidnapped. For the men and women who seek these places out, for some of the them, it is the last place to turn for intimacy and acceptance.
Societies, governments, the lies of the world, and human depravity all make red light districts a convenient gathering place for those of us searching for something that seems to have eluded us for so long: love and belonging.
I believe that we can transform a life with life-changing moments through the unconditional, radical, and unavoidable love of Christ. Love is what has brought us to where we are all at, and it is what is going to bring others down this path of freedom, fulfillment, and hope.
For the men and women going to these places to find love in a purchase, they can find love in the One who has already paid the price of love. For the men and women who have lost hope of finding what real love is, they can find in the One who heals their scars and makes beauty from their ashes.”
(Mason Smith-the other participant of this trip)
Thailand is a country that the Lord first broke my heart for back in the summer of 2015. I have since been back in December of 2015, and in the Bangkok airport this past year during a layover ;) each time that I have stepped foot in this country, the Lord stirs something deep in my heart that is unlike any other. Asia was never a place I even dreamed of going to, or even had the desire to go really. Up until about 3 years ago when I decided to take the step of faith into international missions. For 7 weeks during that first summer, I was absolutely broken from the sights that I witnessed. The brokenness and darkness I could physically feel while stepping foot into the red light districts. Women and young teenage girls lining the streets and bars, men frequenting them with a lust in their eyes. I was so angry. I was mad at the men who purchased services, mainly because I needed someone to point the blame on. “If they were to just shut down these places, people wouldn’t be able to buy sex and this wouldn’t be an issue!” is what I thought. But the root goes so much deeper. The root is sin and brokenness for both parties. Manipulation and a longing for more lies in the heart of both the men and women of the red light districts. Those selling and those purchasing. My eyes were opened to all the different ways that the sex industry reveals itself. Through karaoke bars, strip clubs, restaurants, brothels, and straight up street workers. It looks like Las Vegas; the atmosphere feels “fun” to the world. Flashing lights, loud music, people laughing and dancing, it would seem as if everyone was having a great time. Diving deeper past shallow conversation and small talk, you learn from both parties that they are lonely, lost, and broken.
Women who are just working in order to provide an income to their families in the countryside, or money for an education. Who are promised bright futures or the temptation of marriage on the horizon.
Men who are married but have lost intimacy with their wives, they are depressed or addicted, sometimes they just want a companion to listen to them. (Not all men buy sex in the red light districts believe it or not). Some men just want a young pretty girl having a conversation with him to make him feel alive and like he has worth.
So where do we point the finger when it comes to so many circumstantial dependents? We point to sin. The root of it all. And the only thing that can break the power of SIN is the LOVE OF CHRIST.
Upon arriving home from the World Race, I felt the Lord calling me back to Thailand once again. Why? I told the Lord, “seriously? But I’ve already been there, people aren’t going to want to support me in this. I hate asking for financial support Lord. Especially when I had to raise $17,000 just for this past year. I don’t think people will want to give anymore”.
He laughed and said “Stephanie, if I have called you, my provision is true as well. It’s not about you convincing people, it’s about what I do in people’s hearts: NOT YOU!”
Dang. My pride overtakes my mind a lot of times and I try to attribute these things to my own doing, when in reality it has NOTHING to do with me. It’s about the Lord working in hearts out of generosity and people who want to advance the Kingdom.
Then I tried to put it off, decided if He really wanted me there, he’d make it obvious. Not much later, I got a message from my friend Mason who was a squad leader on my Race. He says, “Hey Steph, would you have any interest going back to Thailand?”
So I said “Absolutely.”
The Lord has made it clear, and he has continued to since I received that message.
After I came to terms with the financial aspect of it, (my trust is in the Lord in this), I tried to say “well God I really want to settle down! I want to have a job and if I go, no job will allow me to be gone for over 2 weeks”
Then he provided me with a job as a substitute teacher in the school district (flexible job that would allow me to take off two weeks and really work when I want), and the District just happens to be short of subs so they are letting people without an education degree to apply. My desire is to invest in this trip as much as you, but I don’t have the means to do this fully yet. I need your help!
My goal is to raise $1,600 by December 1st to raise the full cost of the trip (airfare, food, lodging, ministry costs). It is extremely cheap because of our prior contacts that both my friend and I have in country. We will be going as individual missionaries as a small group, but not necessarily connected to a broader organization. This is us acting out what the Lord has put in our hearts to do as his people. To show the world a Love that is beyond circumstances, beyond understanding or comprehension.
We know what Love is because we were first loved. I am asking you to partner with me this winter to pray, support, and go. Please consider partnering with me today.
Thank you,
Stephanie Lohn
