sweetly broken.

We have been serving with a ministry, SHE (Self Help and Empowerment), that provides an alternative for the women who work in the bars in Phuket. At every bar, there are Thai women calling for customers to come in to buy drinks and possibly sex so that they can make some money to send home to their families.

Among the army of teams flowing in and out of SHE, our team has had the opportunity to help pioneer a new street of bars in Phuket that hasn't yet been reached by SHE. Each team is responsible for going to a different street of bars in Phuket.  A few nights each week, we leave at around 8 p.m. after a night of worship, prayer, and deep intercession. When we first started going out, we would pray as we drove to our street that God would help us to form relationships with these women. We weren't sure of what to expect in the beginning of this journey. But as time has progressed, we have been able to make great friendships with some of these women and have even had the privilege of hearing their stories. We now look forward to going out and spending time with them, just as if we're close friends.

Each night, our team splits up into groups of three so that we can appear as typical tourists. Ivy, Jacque and I have been growing close with a couple girls from three separate bars. It's been encouraging as we've seen these girls welcome us back every night with anticipation. Not only do we sit and drink the pop or juice that we've ordered, we get to discuss every day topics and learn who each woman is as an individual and a daughter of our Almighty King. We have all had the opportunity to hang out with these women outside of our ministry nights. I am even learning how to crotchet from one of them!  Marissa, Katie, and Abbie form another team. They revisit their bars each night that we go out and continue to build relationships with the women. Katie has even been given a hair cut, had her hair curled, and had her nails painted by a few of the women who have become good friends with their team.  Marisa, Allysha, and Gulya make up the third team. Gulya, our "preacher" :) -  has been anticipating sharing about Jesus with some of these women. Since we're pioneering, we don't want to push anything too quickly onto these women and are aware that it will take some time. We realize that we may not see the immediate fruit of our ministry, but there will be a day when we will see this fruit and rejoice at what God has done! For now, we are here to form relationships, show these women God's love in us, and be their friends. Over time, we have been able to share that we are Christians, introduce SHE as an alternative to working in the bars, and even invite them for English lessons.

Through getting to know these women, our hearts have been so broken. They don't enjoy working at the bars. They have kids at home. They work to support and send money to their families. They provide sex to many farangs (foreigners) in exchange for a "good night of pay." They desire for a wealthy man to marry them and provide for them and their loved ones. We have even been able to befriend some of the ladyboys. All these women have dreams. They wish they had other options, but they need money and this job provides the most income. Prostitution is illegal in Thailand, but sadly the police do nothing. Since it's a source of income and draws tourists to the area, it's "okay." There is such spiritual heaviness and injustice in this nation.

When we go to the bars, we drink pop and juice, talk with each other, play pool, but mostly talk with the girls. They notice a difference in us; it's God's love. They may not know that yet, but one day I know Jesus will open their eyes and reveal his love to them. He knows their concerns, their desires, their heartaches. He also hears our prayers for each individual. Our God is so big. He will break the chains of injustice.

Just over three weeks left, so bittersweet.



"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." 

Ephesians 6:10-13

-Catherine Willis

We'll miss you, Abba Family!

Our last night at Abba House was an incredibly memorable night. Our team cooked a Mexican dinner for everyone. We had fun preparing Mexican food, especially since Marissa and I have been craving it for most of outreach. Mmm! We set up tables and had a family style meal with everyone for our last night together.  Following dinner, we all gathered and sat all of the New Life/FCC men, along with Dave and Francis, in the front of the room. Our team wanted to bless these men by acting as Jesus did by washing their feet. We wanted to make sure no one took offense to this since feet are very unclean in Thai culture. The men were taken back by our request to wash their feet but allowed us to proceed. Each of us washed someone's feet and the expressions on their faces were so humbling. After serving the men, we wanted to wash our leader, Jacque's feet. But as Marisa went to wash them, Tom, one of the New Life guys, told Marisa he wanted to wash Jacque's feet instead. As he washed her feet, they both began to break down crying. This started the tears for the night. The attitude of selflessness throughout the room was beautiful. There was such peace that only Holy Spirit could bring. The men requested to wash our team's feet in return to serve us. As they did, they were so gentle and so moved by the Spirit. Wat, who washed my feet, was weeping and even dried my feet with the shirt he was wearing. This expression of servanthood and humility grew through out the night and the washing continued on with the Abba House girls. Each of us were moved deeply that night. There was an open mic for anyone to share, and Marisa and Ivy had put together a slideshow for everyone to see the journey we've been on this past month together. To lighten up the night, we prepared brownies and ice cream sundaes for everyone. We exchanged contact information, took pictures, and even had a dance party with some karaoke. Abba House has deeply impacted and transformed us. We are so blessed to have met and shared the love of Jesus with our brothers and sisters there. 
Now we're off to Phuket to work with a ministry called, SHE (Self Help Empowerment). There we will be working alongside women who have previously been in the sex trade industry and ministering to women who are still working in the bars. This is such a spiritual heavy place. Please be praying for this ministry. Thank you for all your continued support.

"Now that I, Your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." John 13:14-15

-Catherine Willis

Elephant Camp!

During our last couple of days in Chiang Mai, we had a day off to go to the Maetaman Elephant Camp. Our team was excited to ride elephants and see these beautiful creatures! When we arrived at the camp, we took pictures with the elephants and some of the girls were even lifted up by the elephant's trunk! There was a show where the elephants were trained to play soccer, paint, and shoot basketballs into the hoop. It was a bit odd watching these massive creatures perform these tricks, but it was quite a sight. Afterwards, we rode the elephants on a nice ride through the river and mountainside on a beautiful scenic trail. Once we all arrived at the end of the trail, we took another ride in a cart with oxen pulling us. They brought us to a delicious Thai buffet for our lunch. After we ate our meal, we experienced a river raft ride on bamboo rafts! They even let us take turns steering the rafts with a bamboo stick that pushed us along the current. Everyone wore Thai sun hats and sat on little benches on top of the rafts. It was a gorgeous day and the scenery was so beautiful. 

-Catherine Willis

New Life/FCC Men

Before coming to Abba House, our expectation had been that we would be working with young women coming out of the sex trade. When we arrived, we quickly realized that this was not the case. Instead, a significant amount of our time has been spent working with men!

The men that we have been working with are from New Life and Freedom Christian Center (FCC). The men in New Life have come out of drug rehab or off of the streets, while those in FCC have come out of prison. They all live together in a house and are discipled by Pastor Ed. The guys are usually in the program for about a year, until they are firmer in their faith and have found jobs. These men have rough backgrounds but have made major changes in their lives. 

Most of them are former drug users and even sold drugs to other people. Others were involved in stealing and used to get in lots of fights. One of them was even a murderer and spent 13 years in prison. Many of these men also used to be involved in prostitution. In their desperation to get money for food or drugs, they sold their bodies in downtown Chiang Mai.

But now their lives have been transformed by Jesus! From Monday to Friday, these men come to Abba House and work around the property during the morning. Our team spent the afternoons sharing Bible lessons, worshipping together, and teaching English to them. We also got to be with them in many other settings: celebrating Christmas together, going to church services, helping at a home for children with disabilities, and even serving with them in a northern Thai village for a weekend. 

When we see these men now, it’s difficult for us to imagine them as drug addicts, prostitutes, or murderers. Their lives are totally changed and they are some of the most genuine and loving people we’ve ever met. They love to serve others and are incredibly generous, often giving us presents or buying fruit or ice cream for us. These men are so gentle and caring with the Abba House kids and are such amazing examples to them. They are passionate about Jesus and they actively share the gospel with their family and friends. They are prayer warriors and they know how much they need Jesus. 

Our team has been so blessed by these great men of God. We did not expect to be working so closely with them, but we are so glad that we did. They taught us so much about what it really means to serve and love others.


-Katie Born

Blessings.

Hello Family and Friends!

For another ministry opportunity we visited a young women's drug rehabilitation center. There were about 30-40 girls that sat before us as Marissa and Gulya shared their messages and testimonies. We played a "name game" with the girls and sang worship songs with them. When we performed our "Everything" skit, the girls were very interested in what we were doing. The intense drama is about a girl who loves Jesus, and is tempted by many worldly things such as lust, addictions, insecurities, and greed. She cries out for Jesus but is being spiritually attacked by these temptations. At the end, Jesus takes the burden from her and she breaks free from those things and accepts Jesus into her life. After the skit, Gulya asked the girls who wanted to receive prayer to come up front. We had the opportunity to pray for these girls and for a new path for their lives. It was beautiful to see them hold onto our hands as we prayed individually for them. They were spiritually hungry. Before we left, we shared snacks with them and had a great time of fellowship. There are a few American women who visit the rehabilitation center every week to teach the girls English and to spend quality time there. It is so important for these girls to have this positive influence and steady relationships during such a pivotal time in their lives.

During our last weekend in Chiang Mai, we had the privilege of serving at a home for children with disabilities. As soon as we stepped out of the song tao, kids were coming up to us and grabbing our hands, leading us wherever they wanted to go. They were so joyful and craved the attention that we gave them. The best thing we could do was love them for the brief time we were there. They enjoyed every minute of us sitting alongside them while the Abba House girls and Dave performed a skit. Our team also performed a skit about the parable of the Good Shepherd and the lost sheep. During some games that Fa, (a girl from Abba House) led, the smiles and energy from these children was so beautiful. They were throwing up their hands and enjoying all of the excitement. Afterwards, we had more time to socialize, play, and take pictures, but eventually it was time to leave. When saying goodbye, the kids followed after us all the way until we got into the song tao. When we pulled away, they were all smiles and waves. What a blessing to share God's love with his children. 

-Catherine Willis

Abba House Kids

Abba House takes in and cares for children who are vulnerable to being trafficked into the sex trade in Thailand. They accept girls who are orphans, have no father, have parents in prison, or whose mothers are prostitutes. These factors place children in Thailand at high risk of being trafficked. The trafficking of these children is prevented as they are welcomed into Abba House and raised in a loving, Christian environment. 

While living at Abba House, the kids are encouraged to maintain good connections with their families. Although many of them have lost one or both parents, they still have aunts, uncles, or grandparents that they talk to or visit occasionally. Most of the kids visit their families twice a year and also often speak with them on the phone. 

Our team has been so blessed by all of the amazing kids at Abba House! They are such a joy to be around and we’re going to have a hard time leaving them. ☹ We have enjoyed teaching English to them, watching movies, worshipping, dancing, playing volleyball and many other games, and face painting with them. And, of course, we don’t mind all of the cuddling, tickling, and hugs and kisses that we frequently receive!

Recently, Catherine and I had the privilege of interviewing Nid and Francis. They are house parents to the kids and they do so much more around Abba House – they have been such a blessing to our team during the month we’ve been here! Nid and Francis shared with us a little more about Abba House and the children who now call this place home. 

We wanted to give you a glimpse into their lives through sharing some of their stories with you. Their stories fill us with sadness and anger because of the injustice that has been done to them. Our desire is to protect and care for these beautiful children and it’s hard for us to imagine that not everyone wants to do the same for them. But their stories are not just stories of injustice; they are stories of a gracious Father who loves His children so much that He rescued them before further harm could be done to them. There is incredible joy in knowing that our Saviour is redeeming their pasts and giving them hope for the future!

Here are the stories of some of the Abba House children (all names have been changed). Our hope is that you will be inspired and encouraged by the goodness and faithfulness of God in the lives of these kids as you read their stories. 

Lawan: Lawan’s family used to be wealthy and owned lots of property. But everything changed when her dad, who was a soldier in the army, was killed in Israel. Some claim that he committed suicide but others say that it was framed and he was murdered. Either way, his unexpected death brought a lot of pain and chaos into the lives of his family. Lawan’s mother started gambling and they soon lost all of their money and land. Lawan and her brother were often left to fend for themselves. This placed her in a vulnerable position….until Lawan came to live at Abba House. Lawan is a beautiful young girl who carries herself with incredible grace and elegance. She loves to learn and is so loving and affectionate!

Kulap: When Kulap’s mother died, her dad decided that he didn’t want her so she was sent to a Buddhist monastery. It’s uncommon for Thai girls to live in monasteries and Kulap was frequently picked on and beaten up. Because there were many kids living at the monastery, there was not enough food for everyone. Kulap was very shy and timid so she rarely got enough to eat at mealtimes. When she first came to Abba House, she was in bad shape – she was depressed and extremely shy. But now Kulap is healthy and is surrounded by many friends. She has a family who loves her!

Dao: When Dao was very young, her father left her mother. Dao was abandoned by her mother and left to live with her grandmother. But her grandmother was old and it became difficult for her to care for Dao. So she came to Abba House where she could receive the love and care that she needed. Dao has only ever seen her mother on a few occasions in her life. Once her mother came to visit her at Abba House, but Dao rejected her, saying, “You’re not my mom!” She thinks of her grandmother as her mother because she is the one who raised her for the majority of her life. Dao is a tomboy who loves to play games and bike around the yard. Here at Abba House she has many playmates to run around with!

Kiahan: Kiahan is the only boy at Abba House. He is an exception to Abba House’s policy of only taking in girls. Kiahan’s father had died so his mother made him sell flowers on the streets to try to make some money. But one day, a man lured Kiahan to his home by offering him food. Tragically, Kiahan was raped by this man. Because this was an emergency situation, Abba House immediately accepted Kiahan and he has been here ever since. Kiahan is a vibrant young boy who loves to hang out with his friend and roommate “Dev”, who is a long-term volunteer at Abba House. Kiahan is very smart and full of life!

Somsri: Somsri is one of the only girls at Abba House that is originally from southern Thailand. She came to Abba House after a neighbor called the police. This neighbor had heard Somsri’s cries for help as she was about to be raped by her own father. Somsri was taken out of this risky environment and brought to Abba House. Here she is safe from abuse and harm. Somsri is a gentle, soft-spoken girl who enjoys spending time with her friends at Abba House. 

Mali: Mali had been living in an orphanage since she was in first grade. But it wasn’t a very good place to live. The roof had holes in it and sometimes there wasn’t enough food for everyone to eat. And the man who ran the orphanage had three wives! But one of his wives cheated on him, and he was murdered by the man who his wife was cheating on him with. Because of this, the orphanage shut down! This is when Mali came to Abba House. It was much nicer than where she had lived before! Nid and Francis see Mali as a future leader here at Abba House. She is an incredibly bright young woman and is amazing with the kids. 

Joy: Joy is the youngest girl at Abba House. At a very young age, her mother brought her to a Buddhist monastery and left her there. Joy was often bullied by the boys who lived there and she longed to escape their abusive treatment. Eventually she ran away from the monastery but because she had nowhere to go, Joy ended up living on the streets. Thankfully, Joy was rescued and brought to Abba House about a year ago. She was seven years old at the time. Her hair was infested with lice. They tried everything to get the lice out of her hair but finally had to shave her head to completely get rid of it! Joy is so hungry for love and affection and now she is receiving the care that she needs. Joy loves to cuddle up to us and sit on our laps. And she is very playful and quick to laugh! 

Although these children have experienced a lot of pain and rejection in their lives, they are now thriving at Abba House! They are given delicious food to nourish their bodies. They have a home and warm beds to sleep in at night. When they get sick, they are given medicine and the care that they need. They are surrounded by friends and many other people who love them. They are a family. They all know and love Jesus passionately. He is the One who rescued them. God loves these incredible children so very much and He has amazing plans for each of their lives! 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11


-Katie Born

Karen Tribe

                                                           (Photo by : Abbie Boyles)


Our team had the opportunity to go to a Karen village in the mountains of northern Thailand for a weekend along with the New Life/FCC guys (New Life and FCC are the programs for the men that come to Abba House). We had an incredible time and were so blessed by the people that we met there!

We left at around 9:30 on Friday morning and it was about a 4 or 5 hour drive to the village. It was Jacque’s birthday so we surprised her with a birthday party along the way. We even had cake and candles! The last part of our drive up the mountain was a little bumpy and dusty. But we figured out a way to protect ourselves from the dust by wrapping our faces with scarves and putting on sunglasses!

It was so beautiful up in the mountains - the view was amazing! When we first arrived, we explored a bit and walked through some of the village. We were even invited into someone’s home and had the opportunity to pray for them!

                    
During our time in the village, we participated in a few church services (Friday night, Saturday night, Sunday morning). We did skits, shared testimonies, sang songs, and Marissa shared the message on Saturday night. We really enjoyed the worship times in the church as everyone was jumping and dancing as they praised the Lord! It was so fun and the people were so full of joy!

                                                        (Photo by : Abbie Boyles)

On Saturday, we played with kids all day! Around 100 kids gathered at the church and we split them up into four groups so that it was easier to handle. The New Life guys and us rotated the groups so they all got to have fun doing different activities. There was singing, lots of games (‘duck, duck, goose’, relay races, soccer, musical chairs, etc), and face painting! We gathered all the kids together at different times to all sing together and to tell them some Bible stories. We acted out Noah’s ark, the Christmas story, and the Good Shepherd!

                                                           (Photo by : Abbie Boyles)

While in the village, we stayed with the pastor and his family and they were so welcoming and hospitable to us. They prepared delicious food for us each meal and gave us a great place to stay. It was inspiring to see their hearts to serve those around them and to reach out in their community.

We also had an amazing time hanging out with the New Life/FCC guys! God has done such an incredible work in each of their lives. They also performed skits and songs and helped out with the kids – they were totally involved in the ministry right along with us. It was really a missions trip for them and it was cool to see how they came alive in that setting and their love for Jesus shone through in all that they did.
 

                                                      (Photos by : Abbie Boyles)

Please pray for all the people that came to the church services and the kids that we spent the day with on Saturday. Pray that they will continually be reminded of what they heard and that they will truly know and embrace the love of Jesus.

PS On our last night in the village, there were some unexpected visitors in one of the rooms where half of our team was staying… Termites all over the wall, a cockroach in Jacque’s bag, and a mouse that chewed on the calendar that we planned to give to the pastor and his family!


-Katie Born