The last month of our time in Thailand has come to a drastic end. I am a bit beside myself, confused as I always am when chapters of my life end and change. Although I am deeply looking forward to being in the arms of my friends and family again, I am fighting to not forget all the doors, windows, and hallways God has opened up in the home of my heart these past months- in order so He could come dwell and live. While living in Phuket I had a hard time dealing with the urgency for justice. That if God is as faithful, as loving, and as just as I know Him to be why can’t He just fix every evil unjust thing from happening on earth? Can the suffering end for those who never deserved it in the first place? There was an instance this past month where my team and I were walking the red light district at night as we often do to pray, and I asked God to simply highlight someone who I could smile to- hoping it would relay some impact. Towards the end of our prayer walk our team stopped to gather everyone before heading back home and my eyes caught notice of a short Thai man selling flowers. His hands and feet were immensely shriveled and deformed inward, many of his fingers and toes missing or underdeveloped, and his head facing the ground. My heart swelled. As I glanced at him, his face lifted, I smiled timidly, and He smiled brightly- to the point that I felt my soul physically soften and illuminate in reaction to his joy. I will never forget that Thai man or his sweet smile. If I am being honest, I will always wrestle with God and His design for justice because I’m feeble minded, I’m human and I want to know everything. However, there is more to the story with God. On days when it feels like evil is triumphant the promise that justice is coming is true, it is the final word, and the final hope of Jesus. I’ve learned that we must embrace living in such a temporary tension of what it means to live in a world where we fight against injustice while also believing in the hope of perfect justice to come. In the meantime we can pray for the hope of Jesus to break the chains of injustice on a daily basis. I believe more in the power of prayer, the power of speaking the name of Jesus, and the power His love brings because of my experiences here in Thailand. Here is one last story to encourage you about the power of our good God. A few of our friends from the bars were able to come to our thanksgiving dinner this past week and it was so much fun to spend time with them outside of work. Before arriving at our church home one of our friends, Orawan, was offered by a customer to come spend the night with him and to sell herself away. Something miraculous happened. She said NO to the customer because she wanted and already had plans with us. Literally God redirected her heart and physical body to our arms- what a victory. I pray this story helps us all be encouraged to advocate for those whose shame has forced them silent within the sex tourism and human trafficking industry. There is a hope for everyone, His name is Jesus, and we are all level and showered in grace because of His death on the Cross. The victory has already been won and it is being won all around us.
