jim larson's thoughts

Beautiful burden

One of many places dear to my heart in Thailand is a village in the Uthaithani province where 2 of our students come from.  I had a chance to visit last week along with Celeste McGee and several students from The Well.  As much as I love visiting these beautiful places with gorgeous people, these visits also add to my burden; seeing so many struggle with brokenness: children without parents, being raised by a poor relative; another young woman, dumped by her man, or caught in a cycle of abuse.  Here are just a few of the precious folks of Uthai. 

This girl is extremely bright, top in her county, but quit school after 9th grade.


The 2 girls on the left, both 16, have also dropped out, they say because of lack of funds.  The one on the right is in 10th grade, with the help of a sponsoring church in the U.S.  We would like to help many more in the same way.


Of course boys need help as well.  These guys stopped to visit late at night--boys with no direction, sheep without a shepherd.


Gai's uncle inspects a Bible. 

Jesus made them narimon.

I've done all sorts of interesting things working with The Well, and last week I had the opportunity to direct a fashion photo shoot for our narimon brand, which we're beginning to use for our products.  The name comes from a Thai word meaning ‘pure’, ‘immaculate’, ‘flawless’, ‘virgin’, ‘innocent’, ‘spotless’, ‘stainless’, ‘queen’, ‘fair maiden’, ‘beautiful girl’.  We're hoping to launch a web site within a couple of weeks.  Photographer Paul Cypert did a nice job, and our women were quite stunning, especially since I knew their stories.  Here are a couple of samples, and I've put up a very rough site landing page at narimon.org .

Bound for America

Prang will be visiting the U.S. from October 6 to November 6 to share her story and promote The Well, including the children's ministry and community development work she has begun in her home village.  She will also be a featured guest at showings of the girl. photo exhibit, which features Prang when we first met her while she was working as a bar girl.

Prang will travel with Michaela Weeks mostly in northeast Illinois and eastern Nebraska.  To arrange for them to speak at your church or gathering, please contact us .  

Upon this injustice

Nearly 7 years ago, at Urbana 2000 , I attended a late-night worship event at the U of Illinois Assembly Hall.  Just a few weeks previous I had returned from my second trip to Thailand.  The purpose of the Thailand visit was to research the need for more outreach to bar girls--was the need really that huge, and was there really that little being done about it?  Hearing and seeing a resounding yes to both questions, I had returned home with a clear sense of confirmation that God was indeed going to move us here.

That night at Urbana, one of the worship songs was Delirious' "Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble" (full lyrics here).  It's a rockin' song, and you can't beat screaming it at the top of your lungs in the round along with 18,000 others.   

My mind began to form a picture of the streets of Bangkok, alive not with thousands of women looking for men to buy their bodies, but dancing. Dancing upon this injustice.  My eyes watery, I screamed louder.  I sang that song many times since that night, every time with that picture in my mind.

Last night at a Newsong Bangkok worship gathering, I sang that song, or started to anyway, for the first time since moving to Thailand 3 years ago, so obviously my first time to actually sing it in Thailand.  It began just fine.  Judy had just left for the bathroom, so I stood alone and began clapping to the beat.  Then that picture hit, only this time I knew some of the faces in it.  Women I know and dearly love who have come from that injustice were leading a procession of dancers down the streets.  And there was Jesus at the front, holding their hands, looking back and grinning.  

I lost it completely, probably the most since I broke my balloon when I was 5.  I spent most of the rest of the song with my hands over my face, hoping no one would notice.  Judy came back near the end and saw what had happened.  She knew about my experience with that song, and told me that when she had heard it began she worried a bit that I would be ok. 

The dance hasn't happened just yet.  But look out, Bangkok, it's coming. 

Mom stories

One of the reasons we started The Well to reach families of bar girls, not just the women themselves, is the power that family has in a Thai girl's life, particularly her mom.  

When we first met Tik, she indeed looked like a young bar girl, 16 going on 25.  Within days however we started to see a real girl again.  She was the one at the beach who showed Mae how to look inside a jellyfish to find the starfish it had eaten.  At the same time, she remains one of our highest risk students for going back, because of her mom.  We're praying hard, and will try to work something out with her mom.

Sometimes it's just neglect.  I asked Pear, 13, what she understood it meant when we said we loved her.  She looked at me blankly then looked away. 

I asked her again.  "Do you understand what it means when we say we love you?"  She slowly shook her head.  "No one has ever told me anything like that before."

Pear told 2 of our workers that her mother has told her father, who is in prison, that she is now a mistress to a Western guy (me).  Yeah, right.  I met Pear's mother once, when she came by to request $30 to help pay her rent, a gift which I authorized.   Obviously she can think of no good reason why I would care for her daughter.  I'm actually sort of used to this sort of thinking, and it's one of the reasons I am very careful to never be alone with one of our students.  Gai, our house parent, will take Pear to visit her dad on Monday, and hopefully not only straighten things out but use the situation to explain just why we are different.

On the positive side, little Mae's mother came to visit yesterday.  They actually had not seen each other in a few years.  Mae was eagerly at the gate.  Her mother was very warm and affectionate.  Perhaps this is the break we've been praying for to help Mae open her open her heart to us and to the Lord.

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sallipod
Posts: 18

n
Reply #18 on : Fri January 29, 2010, 01:48:08

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<a href=http://www.google.com> http://www.google.com </a>

John
Posts: 18

Bangkok Prostition on the Rise
Reply #17 on : Tue January 20, 2009, 20:39:34

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As a foreign teacher in Thailand I came here to help children to improve their education in a developing nation but of late I have become increasingly concerned at the massive increase in prostitution especially in the tourist areas of Bangkok. It has clearly been here a long time but recently I have been totally stunned to see the massive increase in the number of girls stretching themselves in desperation to get money by any means possible. I have witnessed thousands upon thousands of women in these areas, especially Nana and the Sukhumvit around the Arab quarter, desperate to survive.
Forget the nonsense about stereotypical crack whore - oh no, these are Tesco girls, salon workers, beauticians, florists, fat girls, older women, short women, tattooed girls, ladyboys; every walk of life, desperate for money for a multitude of reasons. But nearly always the same basic reason - desperate for money and usually not themselves but their family. The price that many young girls pay, especially from Isan, is extremely high; attempting to live out the dream of coming to Bangkok to earn money for a desperate family is just all too familiar. The credit crisis really hits home here at the bottom of the pile-so many poor suffer for gross negligence of governments and big business. The human suffering at the other end has to be seen to be believed.
I find it incredible just to see bars filled to overflowing with women of all ages and less farangs than ever, as many tourists have cancelled flights (although the numbers of Arabs and other non-Anglo Saxon groups seems to be stable). Definitely less money from tourism, even if sex-industry based, increases the need for money for others as many poor lose whatever income they had and inflation continues. The money flow slows and causes a knock on effect for so many others. The result is a deep psychological impact on women.
I reject their claims of "oh it's just a job, or just don't think about it too much". Especially in highly conservative Thai society, these girls must suffer greatly. Yes it MUST be shameful to them when others find out, whilst they attempt to keep everything a secret to everyone else. If you push these girls to speak truthfully, then all the emotion comes out -none of them really want to do this work, they just hope they will get enough to overcome whatever problem they have. But the real problem appears for the long term effects especially in standards of their mental health and social status. Once they get used to the cash for “big” money (big by their standards, real cheap by farang standards) they get locked into a cycle.
Now the answer; well there is no quick fix! A police crack down is definitely not the answer and is open to all forms of corruption in any developing nation. No it has to be a combination of cultural change and governmental initiatives. The reality is until the Thai government manages to stabilize its long term political instability, improves rights and standards for low class workers, increases their leadership to look for visionaries not just bureaucrats, and then looks at improved fiscal policies with long term job improvement schemes; the poor, most of all will suffer. Combined with no real welfare system, it’s fairly obvious where especially desperate women will end up. I therefore applaud the actions of outreach workers who at least aim to assist in the interim and I can only wish them the best as my heart is heavy when I see Thailand going backwards in this area and hope the suffering of these women will truly one day be less.

Jeremy
Posts: 18

Project Rescue
Reply #16 on : Mon May 26, 2008, 08:33:14

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Ever heard of Project Rescue? I just heard about it from a friend who went to college with the founders' daughter. Seems very similar to what servantworks is doing!

http://www.projectrescue.com/frontpage.php

Earn
Posts: 18

the latest postcard
Reply #15 on : Tue April 01, 2008, 13:12:41

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I'm Thai and support The well a ministry of servant works through my pray, money. I am really appreciated what you are doing for those who have no opportunity in their live and live in the darkness. I am still support your ministries. But one of my concern and it is bothering me a lot is the latest postcard which I just received couple weeks ago. I truely understand what happen in Thailand about women and teenager. Of course they are disrespect to their body, mind, soul and God by exchange it through sex for money. Can you use another word instead of Thailand's sex workers. It's sound harsh and it is hurtful. I understand that you want to wake people up through this postcard but I think there is some way else to do it.
One more thing, in the picture I see young innocent teen. I don't know who they are. They can be one of them who exchange their body with money or may not. But if it is, they already have a poor live and why you make it worse by put their picture openly!! What going to happen when they grow up? We are adult suppose to protect them, aren't we?

Jan
Posts: 18

Concerns
Reply #14 on : Sun March 30, 2008, 13:18:43

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Hi

My name is Jan. I'd like to thank God and you all( The Well ministry) for a wonderful work for Thai woman and children who are from dysfunctional families. I've been supporting The Well for the past 2 years, and also had a chance to visit The Well in Bangkok twice.

However, I have a concern. I have received 2 postcards of the Well Ministry. I came to my mails couple weeks ago. The first time I saw the card, I did not feel anything much. But the second time I received the same post card, there is the thought that came to my mind. I saw the picture of a mother with her two beautiful daughters. They are beautiful children. Then I read the card...Thailand sex workers! I know the intention of this postcard is good. However, I think the language is too strong. Although, it is the truth for most cases. I am concerned about these children in the picture. Unfortunately, the children have to suffer from parents' poor choices and decisions. They've already been damaged and wounded. We should try to protect them. I don't think the language is appropriate, especially when there is a picture of children on it. If they can read and understand English, I can't imagine how much damage it can do to them emotinally and psychologically.

Blessings,
Jan

alan
Posts: 18

God of this city...
Reply #13 on : Wed March 12, 2008, 11:32:09

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hey buddy,
have you heard the new song, "God of this city"?

see
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d61LamkXfwk&feature=related

for u-tube version of tomlin singing it...the band Bluetree from Ireland was actually in Pattaya not too long ago, and they somehow were invited to perform in a brothel...while they were doing a 2 hr. worship set, they said God gave them this song. it is POWERful!

miss ya dude,
alan

edwin
Posts: 18

awsome comiing
Reply #12 on : Tue March 04, 2008, 20:26:18

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im with ya Jessica!
i really wanna be involved! i hate being lazy!!!

jessica
Posts: 18

hopefully coming
Reply #11 on : Tue March 04, 2008, 00:46:56

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My name is Jessica Wood my sister and I are in contact with servantworks about coming to bangkok this summer. Thanks for all your hard work and the genuine way you approach people... I lay awake at night thinking about this stuff....i really think God wakes me up so I will pay attention to his prompting for me to do something or say something for those trapped in the sex trade...i want to help and not just so that I can sleep easy..but because there is no other option..and becuase i deeply loves Christ and believe he sets people free....anyways just wanted to show encouragement and introduce myself

Edwin
Posts: 18

Re: jim larson's thoughts
Reply #10 on : Sun January 13, 2008, 13:54:02

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for "Win"

you are more than right..... those that follow Christ's really lay themselves low for other people... that is LOVE!

*hugs*

win
Posts: 18

=
Reply #9 on : Tue January 01, 2008, 03:40:30

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i'm da random...n i'm a thai gurl,,n i saw ur friends or sumone who knows u post bout wt u did in thailand..it's gd mannn...


i donno wt to say bt i never heard bout whites do stuff for helping ppl who isn't white b4


most of them jt drop sum shit here destroy enviorment...


anyway keep it