Today we met with Eve, a gal that runs the Tamar Center. Walking into the first floor of this building was a breath of fresh air. An Americanesque coffee shop, serving up Western baked goodies and sandwiches. Tasty coffee drinks. Yum!
Eve walked through the process of the organization. Each week they do 'bar ministry', going out to the bars and talking with the girls about an opportunity for a better life. This new life includes training on baking/food prep/barista, card & journal making, jewelry design (Freedom Stones) and even hair design and color. Their salon is right next door, part of the building. The center holds three trainings a year, all teaching these young girls and women a new respectable way of life. One that is filled with true friendships and love, all the while understanding their true purpose in life through Christ' love for them. Strict rules accompany the program. All the women live near each other in safe housing, away from the danger and temptation of their past. Upon completing training, some will continue work and training at the center. While most with be placed in jobs outside Pattaya city.
At the center we had the chance to view card making and jewelry design. The handmade cards are so intricate and beautiful. One gal shared her story with us, she primarily makes these gorgeous journals. So beautiful I had a hard time choosing. We ended up buying them all for others here!
Later we sat miserably through an open air lunch. You truly don't understand the appreciation for AC, until you experience the heat and humidity in Thailand. Ugh, it's quite miserable at times. You can imagine how strange it was to see many Thai in coats and sweaters, as this is the time of year it starts cooling down for them.
At the center we had the chance to view card making and jewelry design. The handmade cards are so intricate and beautiful. One gal shared her story with us, she primarily makes these gorgeous journals. So beautiful I had a hard time choosing. We ended up buying them all for others here!
Later we sat miserably through an open air lunch. You truly don't understand the appreciation for AC, until you experience the heat and humidity in Thailand. Ugh, it's quite miserable at times. You can imagine how strange it was to see many Thai in coats and sweaters, as this is the time of year it starts cooling down for them.
Beautiful chicken curry presentation. I was just thrilled to not be eating baby, I mean BABY shrimp. Or something that tasted like their beloved fish oil. I can still smell it when I think about it! :(
During lunch we had a view of the beach, which from that distance is beautiful. But a closer look at this particular beach, Jomtien (gay beach) proves otherwise. Ironically Thailand plays host to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Jomtien is known as the gay beach, for the obvious reasons, which is where they all gather. The beach is packed with young and old foreign men being serviced inappropriately by young boys. The only word I can use to describe is sad, as we walked through and saw these young boys. Many of the boys are homeless and live on the beach, some are HIV positive and others have been without food for days. It felt heart warming to feed a few of these guys and pray with them. They were incredibly thankful for this and it seemed apparent through the joy in their smile. It brings me to tears remembering this day, this moment. As a whole our team felt so covered at all times. Here we are walking through this wretched city seeing what we are, here I am holding hands...touching a man with HIV and I have no fear, no anxiety, just utter compassion and broken heartedness for who he is a child of God. And yet we all are, even the despicable men causing so much damage and heart ache to a broken city.
Do you see a pattern here??
Non stop in appropriateness, is that a word?
One of the young homeless men we prayed with and provided their first meal in days.
Courtesy of Amy Cheng Photography or Kara Hicks, can't remember. :)
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