3:15 a.m.---Again and I can't Sleep.

These pictures are from our first full day in Thailand. We went to bed late Tuesday night and were up at 3 and couldn't sleep. We left at 5ish a.m. for Pattaya to visit a safe house there called Tamar House. Here we experienced a time of International Worship and Prayer. Christians from all over Pattaya meet together to pray, sing and share what God is doing. I can only imagine that with all the incredible poverty and sexual slavery, Buhddism and all, this is so helpful and encouraging to all working. It reminded me of the Singspiration nights I had as a kid or at camp, where we would sing, pray and share testimony of God's working. It was very encouraging.

Several of the groups represented were. Youth with a Mission, Campus Crusade, some ladies who heard of it through their Youth Pastor and Wife who had visited--they were from Australia. (These ladies were in their, I'm guessing late 40s early 50s. We saw lots of women whose kids were out of high school, that are doing short term trips now that the kids are gone. I thought that was such a great use of their time now! I was encouraged by how many women like that there were.) They showed such love for these poor girls. I was also encouraged by the attitude toward the men that use and abuse these girls. My first attitude is outright anger at their lust. However, Nancy (runs Tamar) was quick to point out that these men need Christ just as much as these women. They are just as lost. What a healthy view of sin she has (is that possible?) I was quick to repent of my un-righteous anger. I went from just being mad at them to yes, mad at what they do, but remembering they need Christ....they are vile sinners like I once was, they don't know to be any different w/o the hope of the Gospel to set them free. This second picture is a group of Thai and Chinese and some Americans that came in and sat on the floors. No pride or discontent b/c there was no room to sit. They happily sat on the floor in the back and joined in the time of worship and praise.



This is a picture taken at Tamar House. It was set up very well. They had a bakery (to teach the girls to cook and bake) They had a coffee shop that opened in the afternoon where the girls run and sell their baked goods. This picture to the right was where they learned to sew. They make duvet covers in silk, silk purses, pillow sham covers, bathrobes. Thailand is known for their silk. Then they had an area where they made cards and other handmade gifts like picture frames, journals ect..

While we were in the taxi van that we used most days, there were a bazillion pictures I could have taken to help you understand Thailand. Of course, driving and moving...wouln'dt allow that. It was very common to see someone with a VERY old sewing machine (you know the old Black ones contained in a little desk) sitting on the street w/all the food vendors and merchandise vendors, sewing jeans, or shirts or bags to sell. I wished I could've taken a pictures of that. You almost have to see to believe it. When things say 'Made in Thailand' they mean it. Most of the stuff is NOT imported.