Thailand Passporter Brenan Regian’s heart was already broken for the sexually exploited women in Chiang Mai. But then God showed her another group of people who also need to know God’s love and forgiveness.

Twice a day, my team walks and prays down a street in the Red Light District in Chiang Mai, Thailand. During the day, bars are mostly empty, but now that night has fallen, they are filled  with men.

As I approach the street, my heart begins to pound and I don’t know why. I tell myself, “All you have to do is love like Jesus. You can do this.” Still, my stomach twists inside.

Shoulder to shoulder, we pass one man after another. We’re both fervently praying, “Lord, lead us where you are already working and we will go.”

To my right I see a young Thai girl leaving a bar with bright blue lights. Instantly, God pulls on my heart strings, saying, “This is the one, Beloved.” My teammate Ariana gets the same feeling, so we enter the bar.

Two girls play a game of pool, two others sit behind the bar, and one is entertaining a customer. He is the only man.

Over loud music we order a Diet Coke and make small talk with the girls at the pool table. I introduce myself to one of the girls working there named Faith*. While we don’t speak the same language, we are able to communicate through body language and gestures. I can feel a friendship forming.

I watch some men walk by, looking in. Then, my new friends go out to greet them.

Fear grips my heart as a man walks up. The girls see him and hug him. I must be staring, because he looks up at me, blue eyes sitting under a heavy set of gray eyebrows.

I can see the lust in his eyes. Sickened, I look away. It’s so hard not to judge or be angry with him, so I call on God, “Help me to see him through Your eyes, as you see me”.

I breathe in Jesus. I breathe out judgement.

Then, I meet his eyes again. Now I see it. I can see the depth of his pain, brokenness, and loss of identity. I see it all.

Jesus has given me new eyes to see these men who he calls sons. He sees them as lost heirs of the true King. The Lord has greatness in store for them.

The reality of human trafficking is one of brokenness, not only in the women but in the customers as well. Their pain is different, but it is also great.

These men might be easy to blame or even to hate. But because I love Jesus, I will choose to see them as he sees them: broken and hurting sons of the Most High God.

*First Photo by Ariana Vega

It’s easy to consider men who buy women as the enemy. It’s hard to love them, and even harder to pray for them. Does this change the way you see men who buy women? How does this new perspective change the way we combat the sex trade?

Is God calling you to help rescue women from bars in Thailand? Click here if you are a college student and use the promo code Passport15 to waive your application fee. If you are looking for an  adult trip, click here.