Walking Street
For the son of man came to seek and to save the lost
Luke 19:10
Walking Street
Pattaya is known to be one of the most popular destinations for sex tourism in the world. It is difficult to explain this city at night. The streets are literally jammed packed with foreign tourists who come, sometimes by the bus load, to walk the bar laden streets. Most of them are looking for sexual opportunities. It pretty much does not matter what it is they seek, sex with women, men, sex shows of every kind, even the opportunity to participate in horrific acts of torture and cruelty to these young women, anything can be found here. Walking street is the main thoroughfare of this area. It is wall, to wall, to wall bars filled with young girls and boys who are willing to sell themselves to any interested foreigner.
I learned that most of the girls come from the poorest villages of northeast Thailand. Their stories are all so similar. They come herewith great hope that they will find jobs and be able to support their families back home. The majority of them see this as their greatest opportunity to find a foreign husband who will take care of them and their families. The common misconception about Pattaya is that it is a city of great opportunity for them but they have NO idea what really goes on until it is too late. They remain in the bars hoping one day a foreign man will like them enough to marry them and provide security for their future. Sadly, it is not long before many of them are bought by the wrong man and it is common for most of them to have been beaten, gang raped and abused in the course of their nightly duties.
The tourists who come here are very interesting to me. Of course you would expect to find the groups of young men, several young girls in tow, drunk, drugged and out for a good time, but it is the old men I seem to notice more. Walking Street is full of them. Old men, many who appear to be the type from a purely physical standpoint that might struggle socially at home, fill the streets. You see them walking hand in hand, shopping, and eating at restaurants with very young girls in tow. The look of pride on their faces is what caught my eye. They have come here and purchased time with this girl, often by the week or month but it is apparent most of the time that they believe the girl is really interested in them and it makes them feel good even powerful, for the time being. Pattaya has an enormous suicide rate for this demographic as these men quickly realize when the money runs out, the girls runs with it and once again, they are slammed with the same rejection that broke them and drove them here in the first place. Some really believe this is an opportunity to find a girl who will love them and It is a cruel, deception that ends badly.I know it might seem to be a reasonable ending based upon sick behavior but that is not my call to make. I can't let my mind go down that road. They are broken, deceived and lonely. It is so sad.
It is funny but as I thought about it, I was also on walking street seeking an opportunity. It was my intention tonight to seek out those people whose hearts were ready and who needed somebody to come along and remind them that there is hope for them. These people are not hard to find. Sit down and buy a drink in any bar and start up a conversation. You will most likely end up hearing a story that will break your heart.
I believe Pattaya is indeed a city brimming with opportunity. Depending on what your opportunity looks like this can be a wonderful thing. I can see why the heart of God would beat so strongly for this place because he is always seeking an opportunity to save the lost, extend beauty for ashes and joy for tears.
The truth is no matter where you live, there are opportunities to speak life and hope to the broken. Every day if you choose it to be can be a day of opportunity for you to partner with God in his seeking!
Love from the road,
Julie
