At the end of last year, a MercyWorks team visited a Micro Enterprise Development project in Pattaya, Thailand, called “Itsera” (the Thai word for “Freedom”). Pattaya is considered the sex trafficking capital of the world where one of every four women is involved in the sex industry in one way or another. The goal of the Itsera project is to employ the very women at risk of sex trafficking and provide them a way of escape. To view a short video clip, click here.

I am thrilled to report we recently received a $25,000 donation towards the Itsera project! The financial goal for the project to reach complete self-sustainability is only $7,000 more. That is exciting indeed!

Along with this news, we also received another generous gift allowing MercyWorks to give micro enterprise loans to 53 more individuals. These micro loans assist the recipients in beginning small businesses, which enables them to provide for their families. A great thing about these micro loans is they are given to those who do not qualify for traditional loans. People living in extreme poverty often have no option but a local moneylender, who charges a 20% or more interest per month.

The ministry we partner with in Thailand assigns each loan recipient a loan officer. The officer knows them by name and meets with them regularly, offering opportunities for personal growth and discipleship. As the client repays the loan, it is recycled and loaned out yet again.

The fruit from their many endeavors is evident in changed lives throughout the country. Our goal for the first day was visiting their micro-finance work in Bangkok in the morning and then seeing the Step Ahead Pattaya work in the afternoon.

We began by visiting the slums of Bangkok.

Step Ahead’s 1200+ micro-loan clients are mostly street vendors and mom + pop entrepreneurs.

Step Ahead clients live in the slums and typically received small loans averaging $100. With this money, they purchase supplies to invest in a small business, where they turn a profit and repay back the loans at over a 95% rate (higher than loan repayment rates in the USA).

We visited many of the Step Ahead clients and interviewed them, asking how their lives have changed as a result of receiving a micro-loan. Some of the people cried when telling their story. For most, it was the first time they have been able to really take care of their families. It was deeply moving to see how such a small loan amount (averaging $100) is making such a huge difference in the lives of the poor.

As loan clients repay their micro-loans, the funds are recycled and loaned out to other people living in extreme poverty, and so the circle widens.

John Quinley, founder and director of Step Ahead, gracious took time to give us a tour of his office, sharing the challenges and opportunities in serving those living in extreme poverty.

Step Ahead Bangkok has six people serving out of their office, including a Program Manager, a bookkeeper, and four loan officers who personally visit the 1200+ clients regularly. The goal is to have each loan office carry a caseload of 300 clients, but we spoke with one loan officer who has over 400 clients she personally meets with one at a time. Wow!

Step Ahead currently has 53 people on a waiting list who have gone through the application process and been approved for micro-loans, who are now waiting to receive a micro-loan. Step Ahead is working to secure additional funding for their micro-enterprise work. They anticipate the program being sustainable on its own after securing a total of 2000+ clients. As they now have 1212 clients, they are about 60% of the way towards achieving this noble goal.

Following our morning in Bangkok, we drove two hours to visit Step Ahead Pattaya’s ministry. It is incredible what is being accomplished there through women at risk of sexual exploitation and human trafficking. Approximately 25% of the population of Pattaya are involved in some way in the sex industry. Many women who are involved see no way out. But Step Ahead Pattaya is employing women through a company called Itsera, the Thai word for “freedom”. The Itsera women work five days a week making beautiful designer leather purses.

In addition to a good, livable wage, they receive benefits including health insurance, learning English, computer and personal development skills. The slogans for the Thai Totes are: “Who says you can’t buy freedom?” and “Freedom comes with every bag!”

We interviewed Mon, the Thai project manager for Itsera. Mon hires the women who work for Itsera, and leads the Bible studies and personal development training. Several of the women have moved out of the slums and are now renting their own apartments as a result of working with Step Ahead. One of the women we interviewed cried as she shared how her life has changed in every way.

The team starts by setting out a really huge blanket on the dirt road in a slum. In a matter of moments, dozens of children come running to take part in the action. The team then pulls out a first aid kit and begins giving all the children vitamin C tablets and other health vitamins.

After the vitamins, the team cuts the finger and toe nails of the children and cleanse any wounds they have with antibiotics, creams and band aids. Nearly every child has cuts and wounds requiring attention.

After the children receive medical treatment, they play sports and games with team members.

Then the children learn a Bible story (this is the same for every slum for one week, then the Bible story is changed). The children then receive crayons and a page from a coloring book of the bible lesson to color, along with a board to use as a desk to color upon.

After the Bible lesson, the team sings simple worship songs with the children and teaches them about God’s love.

Following this, they have a time of prayer and then distribute food packets to the children.

It was incredible to see the impact the SLUM ministry team has in reaching out to the poor, and how little expense is involved – there is no building, no electricity, no overhead expense. Many of the women working at Step Ahead Pattaya are referred to by the workers in the SLUM ministry team, as these ministries complement each other. It was truly an honor to see such selfless service to the poor.

We ended our first day with gratitude for having seen three different expressions of bringing transformational change to people living in extreme poverty and in danger of sexual exploitation.

Another unforgettable highlight was learning about NightLight, the largest ministry in Bangkok reaching out directly to rescue women prostitutes.

We attended a Thai church made up of former prostitutes on Sunday afternoon.

The enthusiasm in which they sang songs of thanksgiving to God was deeply moving. When I was served the communion elements by two former prostitutes, I pondered the mercy and forgiveness of God in a way I never had before.

NightLight workers go into brothels and bars seeking to save the lost. They befriend the prostitutes, and tell them of a way out. Because the women feel so hopeless and trapped, it is hard for them to trust people who promise a way out. Sometimes it takes a month or more before they are ready to really believe what they are being told is true.

NightLight offers prostitutes the opportunity to have a personal relationship with Jesus, and prays for the women (most who have devoted themselves to idols) to be freed. NightLight staff take the women through a three-month course that provides them a foundation for training on the work and adjustment in lifestyle, teaching them God’s ways and how to live victoriously. While at NightLight, the women receive a living wage and health benefits while making beautiful jewelry that NightLight sells to finance the ministry.

In addition to the beautiful jewelry, NightLight also designs beautiful Christmas ornaments. What a great gift to put on a Christmas tree – a Christmas ornament made by a former prostitute who is now a radiant follower of Jesus!

We interviewed one of the founders of NightLight, as well as a former prostitute, who cried as she told us of her shameful past and the glorious change that has come into her life as a result of people dedicated to sharing God’s love with her when she was trapped in the red light district with no hope of a way out.

Yet another angle we covered is a new ministry called Speak Up for the Poor. Headed by Los Angeles prosecutor Troy Anderson who recently moved to Bangkok, Speak Up is dedicated to seeking social justice for the poor.

Speak Up helps women in Bangkok trapped by human traffickers to break free and provide a way of escape back to their country of origin. I met with Troy for church Sunday morning at Evangelical Bangkok Church. A highlight of the service was seeing five women being baptized and making a public commitment to follow Jesus. One of the women brought her Buddhist husband who was beaming as he took pictures of his wife who had chosen to follow Jesus. Also, a couple of the women were from China and each one had a compelling story of what God had done in their lives.

Following the morning church service, I treated Troy for a delicious lunch at a Middle East restaurant. Afterwards, my team interviewed Troy before we went to the NightLight church made up of former prostitutes.

In closing, thank you to all who gave to support my trip. I even received a $100 gift via paypal on my iPhone as I was stepping onto the plane at DFW to being my trip to Thailand! (Technology can be so cool sometimes!). Thank you to all who prayed. I daily sensed the power of prayer as God answered in most marvelous ways.

Many have asked me: Now what? How can they get involved? The four of us who made up the communications team is making a video documentary from the things we learned on this assessment trip. I will share it with you soon and will share specific ways you can help be a part of the solution to human trafficking … so be ready to be invited!

You’re the God of this city,

You’re the King of these people,

You’re the Lord of this nation,

You are!!