Working with kids on the margins in Thailand
UMVIM Individual Volunteer, Courtney Furlong, is currently serving with NightLight in Thailand, working to prevent the exploitation of women and children in Thailand's sex trade.
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posted by UMVIM at 8:39 AM
1 Comments:
Dear Prayer Team!
edited...I (...recently...)became a full-time member of the NightLight team. As I’ve told you before, NightLight is a ministry to prevent the sexual exploitation of women and children, specifically in the Nana area of Bangkok.
I assist daily with the jewelry business, which we use to supplement income for girls who have decided to leave prostitution and as a way to teach them valuable vocational skills. I am also a member of the outreach team, which travels to the red-light district twice a week to build relationships with the girls and children in the area
Over time, I will be in charge of a database of information we will collect during outreach which we intend to use for future project planning and education for international advocates...
God is moving in profound ways throughout NightLight. We are blessed to have eight girls currently working in our jewelry business!! With eight girls and seven staff, we were bursting at the seams of our tiny room that the international church allowed us to use over the past couple of months. This past Friday, we signed a lease on a three story townhouse neighboring one of the largest churches in Thailand and closer to the bar area, where we will continue our jewelry business, as well as open a center for children and a place for counseling for women in the area. We moved in today and the women were able to see NightLight’s new home for the first time. They ran around and up and down the stairs squealing and giggling like little girls—the house was full of excitement! We gathered in a circle on the floor (because we don’t have any furniture) and sang Amazing Grace, the girls’ favorite song, and prayed together for God to bless the house and everyone who walks through the doors. Please join us in praying for NightLight’s new home.
I’m also asking that you specifically pray for my friend “L” who is 27 years old and has been working in the bars for 6 years. “L” has two children, ages 7 and 9, and was diagnosed with HIV this past January. Last week, she was hospitalized with an infection that could have severely damaged her reproductive organs and was told by her doctor not to return to work at the bars. We have been friends with her for many years and NightLight is awaiting her phone call.
In addition, please pray for my friend “K” who worked with NightLight in the past but returned to the bars to pay off family debts. “K” calls us regularly and greatly desires to return to NightLight but her addiction to alcohol threatens to destroy her life.
Also, please pray for the children in the Nana area, that they are protected against pedophiles and child pornographers and that NightLight will have wisdom in dealing with their situations. Lastly, the outreach team has become aware of Russian-speaking women in the area who have been trafficked. We are learning more about them and we greatly desire to reach out to these women who have been kidnapped, tricked, beaten, and/or raped by what seems to be some type of Russian mob. ! (This is actually quite common.)
Unfortunately, getting involved could be extremely dangerous and the girls will only stay in one location for a month before they are moved to the next city/country. We are seeking God’s guidance in the issue.
...I greatly desire to continue my work with NightLight; but I also have an opportunity to pursue my Master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling at Auburn University. I appreciate your prayers for God’s leading in this decision.
Courtney Furlong
NightLight
Bangkok THAILAND
If you have any questions or if you would like to support NightLight (either prayerfully, financially, or by hosting a jewelry party), please email NightLightBkk@yahoo.com. And don’t forget to send me updates on yourself—I’m always in great need of a little encouragement from home.! Happy Thanksgiving and I love you!
Grace and Peace,
Courtney Furlong
courtney_furlong@yahoo.com
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