LOVE. I have been learning these past four weeks on what it looks like to love through the Lord's eyes. I am not perfect at it by any means but I am so blessed that he wants to use me and my teammates to love the people of Chiang Mai. All I am called to do is love the people that he places in front of me, even if it means that old man who is standing in front of me purchasing a innocent eighteen year old girl for the night. It blows my mind that God loves everyone the same, even those who choose evil over him. He is so amazing that he is able to separate us from our sins and just love us for who we are. He absolutely hates the sin that we commit but he doesn't let that get in HIS way of loving us. There is absolutely nothing you or I can do to be loved any less by him. Where can I sign-up to love like that?
There is nothing that I love more than to walk down the bar street and love on the people. I love the relationships that my team has made with the women who work in the bars. When we go out, it is like going to visit one of your good friends. I truly love them like they are my sister or one of my best friends. It is so awesome but so hard all at the same time. All I want to do is just hold them in my arms and talk to them for hours. I just want them to feel the same love that God, my family, and friends give me. All I want them to know is that they are worth so much and that they are beautiful from the inside and out. That the creator of the universe loves them so much and He listens to them whenever they cry out. I have complete faith that God is using me to show them HIS love through a simple hug, smile or friendship.
Some of my favorite moments in bar outreach…
- I love the moments where I am able to take a girl's hand and just tell them how beautiful they are and how much God loves them.
- There is one girl that is fairly young who just started working in one of the bars that our team loves to go to. Like the fourth time I ever saw her, she ran up to me and just jumped right into my arms. Now, almost every time I see her, she jumps into my arms and gives me the biggest hug.
- I love when they act goofy and cant stop laughing.
- I love sitting down with them and trying to beat them at connect four or trying to beat them at pool. (they pretty much always win)
- I love watching my teammates and their special connections that they have with the girls.
- I love when they open up and talk about not wanting to be there but they have no choice but to support their family. It is so sad to hear but I rejoice in the fact that they trust us enough to be open.
- I love being able to take them on dates during the day and just pouring into them.
- I love meeting the girls who know and love Jesus.
- I love the opportunities that I get to talk to some of the men who are there because they are broken inside and are searching for a way to feel complete.
- I love playing or eating ice cream with the little kids who sell flowers every night.
God has blessed me with a big heart to love those around me. He loves and cares about me enough, too choose me to spread his love. I will never stop sharing His love, with all His people.
Thank you for all the prayers and support!
"Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13:6-7
