Mike's Note: Many WorD readers will know that Linwood House currently has a team of 7 women (including my wife Sue and our Delta House mate Jen) working with our friends in Bangkok. Let me know if you would like to be added to the email distribution list. But in the meantime, here is this morning's update.
From: Jacynta Pitaway
Date: Wed, May 6, 2009 at 8:18 AM
Subject: Thailand Update
Hello everyone!!
We are so sorry for the lateness in our communicating with you, we have been run off our feet and have some great news to pass on!
We have the privilege of working one on one with the girls in English class. Some of the girls have great English skills, others are struggling but they work so hard. Today we sang in class, it was a lot of fun. What was great was when we found songs that were both in Thai and English so all of us knew and understood what we were singing. It was great and an amazing thing to see the language barrier crossed in such a simple way, music.
Today Sherri brought her 48 pounds of fabric to the girls.The girls are so gifted in sewing, what they create is truly art and so beautiful. Needless to say, the new fabric was exciting and encouraging. Sherri also was able to teach a sewing class yesterday where she taught the girls all sorts of new patterns, it was great to see everyone working together. These girls are so smart. They pick up things so easily and understand quickly. It was great to see the fusion of the two groups in this whole process. Despite language barriers, the girls were able to learn and Sherri was able to join and seemed quite in her element as she embroidered.
Last night was our first night of outreach into the bars. For Sue, Jen and Gwen it was a night of meeting old friends and making new friends. For the rest of the team it was a night introduction I guess you would say. Personally, I found the experience heartbreaking and shocking. These girls are so young and so beautiful and as we have found, quite smart, yet there worth is based on the amount of money someone will pay for them. Not only that, but there seemed to be an overwhelming number of girls whose faces were etched with sadness. It was sad. I was partnered with Anne, the Home of New Beginnings house mom. This lady is a machine, she is fearless in her approach and just covered with compassion. The first bar we went to, in a matter of minutes she was surrounded by four women intently listening to what she had to say. She was handing out cards like candy and getting ladies contact information, and we stood and prayed. The night continued like this. There was definitely a sense of light in dark places.
As a result of the outreach in the morning we found out that one girl that had been speaking with Kwan and Sherri came that night to the house and stayed! Not only that, just after we arrived two more, from the first bar where Anne was surrounded by women, came to the door and after a long conversation, made the decision to move into the house also! Three women in less than 24hrs!!!!! This is practically unheard of!!!! So we had a morning of rejoicing of what is to come in that home and the impact that this will have on these girls - Joy, Lik and Fa! Everyone is so excited!
Also early next week we will be getting some education and training on domestic violence.
All in all it has been a whirlwind beginning to our time here and has been full of sadness, hard questions, hope and rejoicing!
Please pray for -
The 3 new girls in the home. Joy, Lik and Fa. That they will settle in well, feel safe and make it there home.
For the outreach we will continue to be doing, for opportunity and that we will be a presence of light in these dark places
For the Domestic violence teaching we will receive next week
In general please keep our team in your prayers as we fight jet-lag, the heat, and very full days, and that we will continue to approach each day with joy and the hope of Christ.
Thank you so much!
From
Jacynta and the Team
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