What is Human Trafficking?

A Growing Heart and a Cry for the Unshackling

It wasn’t until I was leaving the airport, that all of the emotion of my time here hit me.  As the Thai security officer asked security questions about my bag with his thick accent, I held back tears, the overflow of my heart swelling with joy and gratitude to the man who stood in front of me. I’m grateful to have caught a glimmer of this man’s language, his culture, his people, and his nation. My heart was widened this day for Thailand, and for Asia. Space was made to hold these people, their cultures, and their countries within this little heart of mine.

Asia had been an area and a people unknown to me. Though I could appreciate the presence of my friends and of these cultures, I now have a little deeper and more heartfelt connection to them and to the countries they call home.  I’d never really desired to go to Asia. I had nothing against it- I’d just never had a super huge draw. Not like the way that my heart beats for Africa .  I didn’t think that my heart was capable of holding another continent,  or another nation so dearly. But my heart… it grew.  My quick response to people asking how Thailand went, “my heart grew three sizes” I’ve never truly been a Grinch, but the expansion of what my heart is now holding makes it seem to be so.

I find that each country I visit unlocks another piece of my heart, expanding its ability to see, feel, and love. With every person I encounter, a unique story leafed open before my very eyes- it’s a true honor to encounter such beauty, and such freedom within the glimpse of life exchanged in these moments.

There were justice issues that I couldn’t let my heart enter into because I thought it to be too much, the task too great to make any sort of impact.  More and more I’m learning that the smallest things can make the greatest of impacts. And if I can show up with the small piece that I have, then God can step in and take it to a whole other level.

My heart broke for the city of Pattaya. It’s people so beautiful, so kind, with such warm hearts to welcome new comers. And when I surveyed these newcomers, the tourists I couldn’t say the same. I felt the depth of greed that we greeted this nation with.  There was this drive present to take as much as possible for as little as possible. There is such a deep undervaluing of the true beauty of peoples hearts, of their stories, and what they have to offer.

I saw a glimpse of the ensnarement that this greed has fueled. Men and women trapped in professions that they view as their only option- as their view of what they have to offer the world can be purchased.  My heart broke for this city and for her people. People who don’t know that their beauty can be appreciated without being taken advantage of, and that their beauty expands beyond what is taken.  And my heart just screams knowing that so many don’t know that they are worth SO MUCH MORE.

I had the opportunity to take an elephant ride, but turned it down as what I’d seen made my heart just as sick.  When I think of elephants I can see them in the jungle, or roaming plains strong, and tall, and free-  freely drinking at the water’s edge.  This image was quite the opposite of what I’d encountered as drivers prodded their animals with a sharp stick, their skin so dry it was raw, and the breaks they were given to drink not lasting more than a few minutes for the countless laps around the pen to entertain the flood of tourists looking for a good time.

And I couldn’t help but draw the lines of similarity of the attitude that was keeping these magnificent creatures in chains and what was keeping so many of this country’s people in bondage within the sex-trade.  In light of some of the conversations I’d had with men looking for said, “good time” I couldn’t help but ask, what kind of life is being offered?  Sure, maybe food and water are being provided,  their family’s debts are being paid- yet they are shackled to the demands of others. The weathered skin depicting the weathered un-watered hearts. It may be a means- but there HAS to be more than this.

While there I heard this phrase on the lips of men, “What happens in Thailand, stays in Thailand”. I want to speak out against this adage, as yes, maybe something is staying- such as perpetuated abuse and exploitation, the degradation of people’s hearts. What happens in Thailand doesn’t just stay, these men too are taking back with them what they have stolen and having dropped their identity as protectors are returning as abusers. Come on, guys, wake up. What happens in a place has deeper ramifications that we could ever comprehend. Let’s stop greedily taking what is not ours to take. Let’s instead turn to these places to give. Give people your time, and of what you have to offer. People aren’t objects to be sold, let’s stop treating them as such. Let’s re-appreciate their value, by honoring people and the fullness of life that they hold.

Just a few of the turnings of my heart after my quick 2 days in Thailand, but I can see it as the kindling of so much more.

 


I am by no means an expert or even comprehend the inner working of this system. I just see this injustice and refuse to remain silent about it.

I posted a video on What Human Trafficking is that Exodus Cry put out, and these are a few organizations I have deep respect for in their fight against this injustice:


Exodus Cry

Not Abandoned

Tamar Center

International Justice Mission

and then a little bit closer to home (because this is happening here):

Breaking Free