Today we arrived in Pattaya, Thailand. Praise God for a really smooth flight, for a safe journey, and for a really nice hotel room. Oh, and for air conditioning. Praise Him big time for that. Pattaya is a beach town that is known especially for sex tourism. We had all been knowing what to expect and preparing ourselves for it, but it was still a disgusting shock to see so many older white men with young Thai women. They were lounging at the pool of our hotel, riding mopeds on the road, strolling the streets, eating at the restaurants. We all had different reactions and most of us are still processing. What’s difficult about this is that many of the women are prostituting themselves voluntarily. This makes the issue much more complex. There is no simple cut and dry “bad guy” and “victim” approach to the situation. The challenges and questions are starting to multiply. It’s interesting that my first time in this beautiful country is spent experiencing this dark, evil side of it. But more than anything else, I feel God’s presence here…constantly reminding myself of His love for these people and searching for the face of my Creator in their faces. Please pray for all of us as we are being confronted…that we would look to God and know that He is sovereign. Please pray against the spirit of fear. The Lord is our stronghold and our refuge.