SUAN PHLUI never really use this blog - and I never really use it to talk about anything meaningful. Until now. Kyle and I have the priveledge of living in an exciting part of Bangkok. Exciting because it is in the city center, it is where the notorious sins of Bangkok take place. We are priveledged because of our neighbors. We live behind a market in a small Thai apartment building with many friendly families who greet us regularly with awesome smiles, and we have become particularly close with 2 families who live on the bottom floor - they have inspired us in so many ways.
So I want to name drop - and share some of what we have been exposed to, and some of what we do along with teaching at our schools.
One family originally from Boston has been living in Bangkok for 4 years as 'contemplative activists' with Word Made Flesh a missions organization that desires to serve Jesus among the poor. One aspect of what they do is build relationships with vulnerable families who do business at night in the red light district. I have joined these friends on night walks in Phatphong and Nana where they enjoy time with friends they have made - these friends usually very young girls, but also whole families, make a living by selling flowers, drugs, themselves, or by asking for money. There are numerous organizations we have been acquainted with who focus on providing an outlet or alternative for individuals who don't want to remain in this destructive industry. Night Light is an organization that does jewelry making with women in transition - their website has some good information to know more about the problem with human trafficking. There is also a foundation called Dton Naam meaning 'source of the purest water' which focuses on helping katoys, Thailand's transgendered "lady-boys," get out of prostitution by offering employment at a local cafe. Word Made Flesh, in building relationships, is partly connecting people to organizations that might be helpful as a service, but mostly their ministry is something different. A large percentange of this vulnerable population is trafficked from neighboring Cambodia, Laos, Burma, and Vietnam - meaning they are not legally permitted to have any Thai services. At this point Word Made Flesh is advocating for these friends to have legal sustainable living which means getting people safely out of Bangkok.
I have heard about the prevelance of child trafficking in the poor districts of India, Thailand, and in parts of the Americas, but I never understood how or why it worked. I still don't understand - but I have learned a lot about particularly sex trafficking since our time on the streets. A big issue is that many people come to Bangkok as refugees, or fleeing their own country without the ability to get any documentation. Unfortunately The Kingdom of Thailand does not recognize refugees. Meaning regardless of their status they will be picked up, jailed, and deported. Therefore people come or sell their families into Bangkok with the promise of business and wealth, often resulting in prostitution and detention.
