This blog contains graphic details about child trafficking. Use your own discretion with the reading and sharing of this blog. I can’t stomach actually going into detail, so take it upon yourself to do more research. We are held responsible for what we know, so realize the gravity of all this. And let your heart be broken.
The buying and selling of children for sexual favors is way more common than any of us would care to admit, which is a lot of the problem.
Here are SOME of the facts:
-Thailand is the sex tourism capital of the world.
- 60% of all white males flying through the Bangkok Airport at any one moment are in Thailand for the purpose of sex.
- 90% of Thai men have had sex with a prostitute.
- The average age of a girl in a brothel in 1997 was 17. That was 13 years ago.
- In 1999 the average age was 15.
- In 2003 the average age was 13. In 6 Years the average girl in prostitution was 13!
- In 2007 case workers found that there were girls as young as 3 years old being sold in brothels.
-There are hundreds of thousands of children sold into the sex trade in Thailand alone.
-Families will sell their daughter for a few times before finally selling them permanently into a brothel. This is because virgins get more money.
-Yes, their virginity is sold multiple times. I don’t know how to write this appropriately at all. Their hymen is sewn back up, a pimp comes and has the doctor confirm their virginity, and they are re-sold.
-Honestly, as I’m sitting here in my bed, surrounded by little girls that were saved from this (one of which just came and kissed me goodnight and told me she loves me), trying to google facts and information, I want to cry and throw up. I can’t stomach the internet search anymore, so here is one link with some information.
So, here we are at Remember Nhu. The statistics above are staggering. When you go into the Red Light Districts and see the women and children that have been sold into the industry, you can’t help but wonder WHERE IS GOD IN ALL THIS?! It is the most gut-wrenching thing in the world, and it’s SO easy to be angry at these men, and God. This is the facebook status one of our squadmates posted today:
What?! That is normal, NORMAL, day to day life in the sex tourism areas of Thailand. I want to scream.
So. What about hope? What about a good God? Honestly, if I only saw the bars and brothels, with ministry ONLY being rescue and intervention, rather than prevention, it would still be hard for me to see His goodness. And honestly, I’m really struggling with this one. It’s hard. But here’s the good news. It’s two words…
REMEMBER NHU.
I sleep tonight in a giant room, with 48 beds, full of little girls who were saved before any of this started. This isn’t an orphanage or normal children’s home that claims to save children, they only accept seriously at risk children, and every. single. child. here. has been saved from the wounds and scars that this world so desired to be put upon them.
Three beds away from me sleeps little X, one of the most beautiful two year olds I’ve ever met. Recently, the house mother here went to the market, and along with the fruits, vegetables, cheap cell phones, and trinkets, was this little girl. Part of a family so desperate for money that they were willing to sell her virginity. At age two. She went to the market for groceries, and came home with a new daughter.
God is so good. He has saved so many children through Remember Nhu. Our God IS a God who prevents hurt, who intervenes. And their testimonies are those of a gracious, loving, and saving God.
It is definitely a reminder to me about my testimony. I don’t have the sex/drugs/alcohol type testimony with some big crazy turn-around. For those that do, and God has saved you and shown you about true life, AWESOME. But I’ve never done any of that. And sometimes, I’ve felt like God just forgot to write a cool story for me. But being here with these girls has reminded me that I am so blessed to have a story, and a heavenly Father, that shows faithfulness, prevention from pain, and grace.
These girls here are never told what they were saved from. Little X may never know why she was taken from the market and brought here. And sometimes, in our lives, we never know what God has saved us from and is saving us from. But we can trust that He is a good and Sovereign God, who is active in our lives at all times.
Thank you, Daddy, for saving me from hell, both on earth and after I die. God you are so gracious and so loving to have protected me all these years. And tonight, as these precious little girls are sleeping around me, keep protecting them. Thank you for reaching down and scooping them up into Your loving arms, rescuing them before all the hell began. And tonight, be with every woman and child in the brothels – the ones that have not yet been saved. Comfort them, bring them hope, and let us be the answer to our own prayers. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
Amen.
Steph,
Not many words to add to what you’ve written. I sit here coonsumed by the Holy Spirit, remembering the evil of my past abuse, overwhelmed by God’s mercy for rescuing me, and so humbled by your amazing calling. Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world . . .
Love you.
Dear Stephanie,
Thank you for sharing such a traumatic lifestyle with us. Sounds to me as though there is a GREAT NEED for a training program for the males of said country to learn respect for themselves and the females of their country.
Much prayer is going to our Father for you and all those coming alongside to aid this very hard situation.
May God be glorified in all of you and with the heart sacrifices you make on behalf of those you deal with daily. God knows, God allows, we trust, we follow His leading.
Be blessed by Him.
Love and hugs to you all.
It’s early Monday afternoon, and I’m sitting in my nice office preparing for my next sermon. As I think through Romans 12:1&2, I came across your latest blog. It’s hard to read scripture with tears in my eyes. It’s hard to sit in my comfortable chair when I hear (from you) what’s going on in our fallen world. Thank you for living Romans 12:1&2. For now, be our arms and eyes and feet as you are for Jesus. Very few can do what you are doing. Be strong. Be safe. I love you, my daughter! Dad Rom 12:9
The ravages of sin and selfishness are so vivid in this form of evil. The hurt for the children, the indignation toward the families, and the anger toward the abusers. It draws me to consider that my sin and selfishness are no less ravaging in the eyes of God.
So I pray, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, Oh Lord!” May I always overflow with You to others … and not overflow with me.
I pray the Father fills you, the team, and those of us walking vicariously with you, with a deep sense of His presence and His guiding hand even in this desperate place.
His protection is indeed a beautiful gift coming in many forms and in many places. You and these precious little ones are not alone – and He has not abandoned any of those in dark circumstances. “Though they walk through the valley of the shadow of death … He is with them.” I pray our Father uses you to cast His light and give His hope and that He fortify you so you do not “grow weary in doing good.” And I ask that our merciful Father chains you to Himself for protection. My prayers are with you … in the Power and the Name of Jesus!
it’s been five years since I went ministered in the red light district for the first time. and every time i read a racer’s blog about their time there, my heart breaks again. thank you for being the hands and feet of jesus and doing your part to break the chains in Thailand.
Stephanie, thank you for sharing your heart. May God fill you with grace and peace in this dark and broken place. Love and prayers.
We sit here….in our homes never in our wildest imagination that anyone would sell his/her daughter once let alone many times…and that surgery, those doctors are satanic perverts! When I think the world cannot get any worse I read someting like this and sob! I know God is weeping also. God has sent you there to help set captives free and show them that in the midst of hell, Jesus loves them and DIED for them! They are not forgotten, WE are in prayer for them, praying in the name of Jesus the most powerful name in Heaven and Earth. Praying a hedge of protection around you and your team! Satan cowers at the name of Jesus!
Love, Susan
Dear Steph,
I am horrified to read these details, and don’t think I can visit that link just yet. However, I can see the perfection in God’s timing in bringing you to this location so far into the Race. He has shown you and brought you through so many heartbreaking situations so far, and has worked in your heart so powerfully so that you would be able to handle what is now before you and still not lose sight of the goodness of God in what seems to be one of the darkest places on earth. It’s hard to deal with in just reading the facts in your posts — I don’t think I can really grasp what it must be like to see this stuff in person. I can’t even bare the thought of having to sell my child (a mere infant)just for the money to live, and never seeing her again — even if it was to a loving family — but to think of what’s actually happening to these girls after being torn from their families is unfathomable!
I say “Amen” to all the prayers that have been posted, and I pray: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful man, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”(Heb. 12:2-3) “Show the wonder of your great love, O Lord, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.” (Psalm 17:7) I pray that even though you and your team can not take away this evil, that the Lord will enable you to get the message out that there is a loving Lord in whom they can take refuge from their evil foes. Heavenly Father I pray for your hand of protection to be over Stephanie and her team. I pray that they will continue to trust in you as their Shield and Protector. I pray that you would surround them with your angels to keep watch over them in a place where there is so much evil. Lord, you have said in your word that even though evil people try to destroy the righteous, you will not allow it (Psalm 37:32-33), so please protect Stephanie, her team, and the girls; do not allow them to be harmed in any way. Help them to not lose heart, but to continue to believe that they will see your goodness in their lives and in every situation; deepen their relationship with you, O Lord, and may we all give you the glory and praise for what you will accomplish through them, praying and asking these things in Jesus’ name.
With love,
Angela
Stay strong Stephanie…satan is near. I share that sick feeling in your stomach. The difference is Im sitting at a desk in my comfortable home. Thank you for being the “hands and feet” of Jesus where it really matters. Im praying for safety and direction for you as you minister to these women and children in the midst of such evil. God be with you sister!
Your dad told us bout this on Sunday. We prayed for you during the service! So appreciate you commitment to God and His ministry. So sad what is going on w those girls. What hope there is that God is working in minisrty to help! Your are in my prayers!I like how you said ” we may never know what God has & is saving us from” Sometimes we get so caught up in pain (&life itself)that we have been through that we miss what lessons God is trying to teach us. Or what ohers may be expreincing. May God continue to give you strength & His grace in the next few days!
I AMEN to Angela’s comment – Keep your eyes on Jesus. He is our rock! Let us also remember that this isn’t just in Thailand but all over the world – child abuse still occurs everywhere, including NJ. We still live in a fallen world, but WE have hope in God OUR ROCK! Let us spread the news of that HOPE we have in Jesus that can carry us through everything.
Stephanie – may God carry you and your team mates through this and may they all see HIS light thru you.
Peace to you and your team mates and those around you,
Helene
Words can’t express,whew… is all i can say.
the burden that you and your team is the Lord’s burden for sure.
praying for you all.
Love you for going for all of us.