I may or may not have a Thai accent when I return....

Over the past week we have started the relation based evangelism in Chiang Mai. Josh and I both started teaching English classes. We paired up with someone else on our team, and we have about  three students each.  Before and after classes we hang out at The Centre playing games and talking with the students.  We hosted a cooking night on Tuesday. We made pasta with different sauces.  Friday night we hosted a Mario Party game night and continued to create relationships with the students.  This week I was able to go out for dinner with two students First and Bye.  It felt so normal and comfortable, like hanging out with friends from home.  As we drove to the restaurant I describe things in English on the way.  I started noticing that I constantly think/talk like Thai people.   After dinner they took me to Swenson's, my dream restaurant!  It was an ice cream restaurant in the mall.  You sit down and on the menu is ice cream, ice cream and more ice cream!  We had nine scoops of different flavored ice cream and a chocolate fondue pot with fruits. (Thailand style scoops..so small. All the scoops together were like the size of the Village Dippers small.)  It was great hanging out with First and Bye and being able to have normal conversations and creating a better friendship.

We were able to go out two times this week to the red light district.  Josh and a few others stayed back at the guest house and prayed for the rest of the team that went out.  Praying is just as much or even more of a part of this ministry than going into the red light district. The first time we walked through the streets we were lead  by two other YWAMers, Amanda and Sam, that have been doing this ministry over the past few weeks.  We first walked up and down the streets soaking it all in, and also sat down at a bar to observe.  I saw the women lined up on the street and sitting at the bars while shining with glitter and glamor.  I also took notice of the men ranging of all ages, even some with rings on their fingers.  We also had two kids Baan and Oht come to us and asked us to buy flowers.  Amanda and Sam have been hanging out with them during their time at the bars.  They told us that the kids have to sell all their flowers by the end of the night if they want to eat or sleep.  If a someone buys their whole stack of flowers, their Trafficker notices and gives them more flowers to sell making the cycle never ending.  I saw the children faces light up as we just loved on them, played thumb wars, checkers, and rock paper scissors.  The kids are really good at these games because they play them in order to get more money.  It's heartbreaking to realize these children will never experience a normal childhood.  At first I felt really angry at the men, traffickers and pimps and didn't understand why anyone hasn't stopped this yet. I saw brokenness, hurt and shame.  I prayed to God to not let me be judgmental and let me walk and be a friend among them just as Jesus would.  I started to look at it from both sides.  Many of the people come here because of a deeper problem.  I wonder why anyone would want to hurt Gods beautiful woman and children? I realize though that many of the men are lost and hurt themselves.  The second night, me and another girl from my team went and actually talked to many prostitutes, lady boys, and played with the kids again trying to create relationships. We sat down at a few bars and just listened to peoples stories and just loved on them and had fun.  I have so many stories to share and I wish I could tell you so much more!  I can't wait for this week to go back into the bars and follow up on the relationships I have created!

This week we are doing the same thing.  Team time in the morning, English classes starting at about 4:00pm at the Centre and red light ministry starting 9:00pm till about 2:00 in the morning.  We also work with smaller ministries as well to fill some time.  Last week was such a good week, please pray that this week is even better!

Okay, so there's also the downtime we have with the team.  I love to go exploring and trying new things.  The other night on our walk we decided to check out the McDonald's that's down the street from us.  On the menu they had a "Broccoli, Corn or Pineapple Pie".  In America the last time I checked we had apple and cherry.  I am not a big fan of McDonald's as some of you may know, but I was very curious about this broccoli pie.  So, I decided to get one and have the team take a bite.  It tasted like cheese broccoli soup stuffed in a spring roll.  I was wondering if it has been placed on the menu yet in the states...and if so, please don't get it!

Anyways, it's over half way through outreach and we have many stories to share.  Don't worry though, we will be home before you know it and we will be able to explain more, tell you more, and most importantly tell you how amazing and great our God is and what he has been doing in our life!
 
 We miss you and love you all, and thank you for your continued prayers.
Our shout out for the week goes to all the college students...you have finished another year! Also, congrats to Josh Knap on receiving your masters! Woot woot!

Also make sure to check out Salem's blog post, www.ywamsalem.org/outreach-blog, because Josh updated it this week for our team. 

-Danielle