They help Thai prostitute women by giving them an opportunity to get off the streets of Bangkok. 95% of tourism in Thailand is due to the sex industry, with a large amount of Thailand's GDP coming from this. Thai women can be forced into these situations for multiple reasons, but as 95% of Thais are Buddhist, the main reason is for women to attain merit for the "next life", by being able to support their family financially. Thai men have a different option as they can become monks to gain merit for their family that way. Unfortunately this does not help the family's financial situation and since women can gain a much higher wage by going into prostitution as oppose to finishing high school, prostitution is the path that is usually taken by Thai women. There are girls that are younger then 10 years old in prostitution (and can be over 40 as well). Although prostitution is illegal in Thailand, most of the bars that the women are working in are owned by Police officials so there is nothing actively being done about it.
"House of New Beginnings" helps the women to not only get off the street, but help with their education and working through the mental and emotional struggles that these women have gone through. They provide housing for the women (when they choose to get off the street) and a new life for these women to start. Currently there are 3 Thai ladies in the center, and 2 long-term staff as well as a thai assitant. This smaller atmosphere also helps so that I will be able to try out new things and have an input into how to reach out to the ladies. The 2 long term staff (Roy and Bonita) are from California, over 40 and headed up the ministry 3 years ago. I am really excited to be able to work with them, they seem very nice and genuine in this ministry.
I will working alongside both of them. So, I will be meeting the ladies in the bars and massage parlours and such. I will also be teaching english, as that is how they get to know the ladies better induvidually. They teach basic english and learn more about their life stories and talk about God throughout most of it.
Roy and Bonita are also involved in many other organizations here in Bangkok and I am more then excited to learn from them and their outlook on ministry and life. They both have masters and have such great outlooks on major themes in life, so thank the Lord that I am where I am. I could ask for nothing more.
Thank-you so much for your prayers they have really guided me through the stressful times already... honestly
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3 comments:
Wow Danae, House of New beginnings sounds great. I had no idea that it was going to be so small.
Happy thanksgiving.
Love you lots
Stefabn
hey danae! so sorry i haven't posted for so long... our computer crashed and lost all my links to blogs and i couldn't remember how to find you! so glad i finally did. wow, reading your posts is sooo interesting...the places you have been! i am so proud of you being brave enough to go it on your own so far from things familiar! it's exciting to see God's hand on you as you face challenges and make big decisions. i am certain that you will find your work in thailand very rewarding (and challenging) and pray that you will be amazed by all that God can teach you even as you teach others...obeying God has some awesome (and surprising) rewards! we pray for you always and trust God to keep you safe and always show you what to do.
you are an amazing young woman...keep following God's leading and life will never be dull!
love you lots!
auntie pam
Hello Danae. Had a good chat with your Dad last evening and he shared your blog address and so here I am. We're proud of what you and what you're up to. Really look forward to what God has in store for you and through you. I'm in the process of setting up a 2nd office in Winnipeg and so hope to see more of your family again. Take care. Keith (& Sharon)
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