Brokenness looks different on the face of a young Asian prostitute, in the heart of the African orphan, or within the four walls of  a wealthy American home, but people everywhere experience a great and desperate need– for the love of Jesus expressed through the hands of His people. 

And the country of Thailand cries out for that Love loudly, very loudly.  Thailand is a Buddhist country, with over 95% of its population praying at temples and lighting candles to golden statues.   The sex industry has a firm and ugly grip on the nation, where there are literally millions involved in prostitution.  Some sources claim that the sex industry brings in up to 14% of the entire GNP for the country, and it is fed by both the locals and the host of tourists who frequent the country for its gorgeous beaches, exotic beauty, and inexpensive accommodations.  The truly tragic statistic about Thailand’s sex industry is that 35% of those involved are children, under the age of 18.  Statistically speaking, 1 in every 3 prostitutes is a child.  Typically, these children are either sold by their families because of extreme poverty or because of a lack of understanding about what they are being taken to do.  Unfortunately, human trafficking in this part of the world is rampant.

In addition to the grip of Buddhism and the sex industry, Thailand is a country to which refugees flee.  Neighboring it to the West is the country of Myanmar, where Burmese people are being persecuted unjustly and horrifically.  These refugees seek a new home in Thailand, but are often faced with extreme poverty, racial discrimination, and the dangers of human trafficking. 

Thailand is much more than an exotic vacation spot.  Beneath the white sand beaches, the tropical fruit, and the lovely people, a country’s heart cries out for justice for its women, protection for its children, and hope for its people.