carly-marie-floyd

2008-01-14T20:58:00.000-08:00

I have been back for over a month now. I really enjoy being back.

I have had a lot of time to consider the things I learned in Thailand. In a way, I put pressure on myself to have had to learn something specific, something that would keep people's attention, yet not be untruthful or over dramatic. So as I have set some type of expectation for myself, I found myself not really wanting to process anything.

I have a more educated and open view of what justice and injustice are. I have a visual picture of those who, because of poverty, have had to make decisions that we would never think to be an option.

I didn't expect to have the perspective I have now. It is actually pretty opposite from the one I had before. But it really excites me because I see the things I have learned these past few months as a brush stroke of paint on a slightly painted canvas. I am not too sure what the picture will look like in the end, even though I might have some idea because different shapes and colors are beginning to form, I am completely aware that at any moment a white can of paint might be thrown onto the canvas and a new picture might began to form.

I really want to say thank you for those of you who prayed for me and the people of Thailand. It really is a selfless thing to do and as I am writing this I am thinking maybe that’s why it’s such a struggle sometimes, at least when it come to praying for other people.

I encourage anyone who is reading this to ask themselves what it means to serve a God who hates injustice and is just. Maybe even starting with what it means to serve God. I know I am still asking myself that.

Home

2007-12-10T12:14:00.000-08:00

I came back from Thailand a little early. Our visas expired before the date our plane ticket was for, so we were fortunate enough to find another spot on a plane for no additional charges.
It has been nice being home and being able to see so many friends and family.
I am going to write one more post about my time in Bangkok soon.

Thanksgiving Day

2007-11-27T02:43:00.000-08:00

I had the neat opportunity to travel a little outside of Bangkok and visit Christian Care Foundation for Children with Disabilities in Thailand. ( please check out: ccdthailand.org )
The staff was very welcoming and hospitable to me. That is something I have grown to appreciate, because I know how much they have to go out of their way to show me around and answer my questions they have heard so many times. I learned a lot about abandoned children, particularly those with some type of disability. As my heart broke when I visited the government care facilities for children, my heart was also encourage to see what a great work this organization is doing.

They go into the government facilities and either try to get legal guardianship of some of the children or they work as a type of day care center and pick up and take home some kids.
Why go to so much work to pick up and take home these kids everyday? Or why fight the legal battles to have them live at CCD?
So they don’t have to lie in beds all day long, everyday. So their not just fed food, not being taught how to feed themselves (physically). Its so much easier to practically pour food in their mouths than to sit and teach a disabled child how to feed themselves.

CCD combats this injustice that the children are facing with a great hope.

They accept volunteers with open arms. They definitely have a need for physical therapists and people skilled in that area who are willing to donate at least 3 months of their time.

One story that really opens eyes and hearts of the reality of poor education and poverty is as follows…
Imagine a little boy having his foot burned off. The family does not know what to do or how to handle the situation. So they deem him disabled and give him no attention or hope of a future. He has no mental disability, only a tiny physical one, yet the family still gives up not knowing what to do.
It sounds odd and we can all think of 100 things right off the top of our heads of how to solve the situation. But for some reason, it’s not so simple.

Loving Thailand!

2007-11-18T08:07:00.001-08:00

I am so happy to be here. These pictures are from, by far, my best night here. We were able to go to the bars and pay the bar fee to take some girls out. (for one night = $18) In total I think there were about 15 girls. The girls pictured here are from the same bar.

I contemplated for a while about whether or not I would post these pictures and talk about the night in detail or not. Here is why:

It's hard to watch these girls night after night being treated like animals.

The next view is coming from watching groups come in and out visiting NL.

It's interesting to see how people view these girls. I NEVER want to look at them or think of them as "oh there is the prostitute". I think sometimes there could be a similarity there in treating them as we would treat a picture of an animal at the zoo. Sometimes without even realizing it.
So I am just letting you guys know that I am very sensitive to the fact that I never want to talk, treat, or act like these women are some type of spectacle or something to parade around because 'I am so great because I ate dinner with a prostitute', and shame on me if I ever have anything close to that thought.

Instead I pray that when you look at these pictures you will join me rejoicing.
My friend and I have been talking a lot about what beauty is. In the midst of all this perversion and twistedness, I was able to see beauty.
We were able to share a meal with some friends who don't know Christ. We got to share His love with them in a great way and I never even spoke of His truth, but it was very much present there.
One of the girls pictured travels two hours to work each day by bus. She has 3 days off each month. She is only a server, but is at a very high risk for prostitution. She is always so joyful when I see her in the bar. She is very bright and speaks great english. We have been text messaging a bit and that has been such a blessing. I was unable to talk to the other girl very much because she spoke practically no english, but the Thai speakers we were with did. It was her birthday too, how perfect was that?

Thank you so much for praying and please continue to pray for all the work God is doing here. Particularly in the Nana district.

Isaiah 58

2007-11-10T12:06:00.001-08:00

This is in my room. I'm not sure who made it, but I like it.

(i decided to post more)

My roommates and I having been going to a church here consistenly. I really enjoy being able to be around other believers who have a heart for Thailand. The church is mixed between Thais, Americans, Indians, and one women from Burma. Everything is translated into Thai. I'm learning alot going there. Things I guess I didn't expect to learn. To be honest going there has been one of the biggest blessings of my time here.

3/11/07

2007-11-02T21:28:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it is already November.
I just wanted to give a little update and share that things are going very well here. It was a big adjustment at first and has taken some time to adjust.
I really enjoy being here. This is why:
I like being in a big city
I am so grateful for the opportunity to see things first hand
I am overwhelemd by the mighty work God is doing, specicifally in two ways:
He has raised up passionate women who have devoted their lives to seeking justice
He is using these women to work in the lives of prostitutes and when I go to the bars and see women dancing and entertaining and then I go to the Thai worship service in the morning, it is such an amazing thing to see the transformation that has taken place. Which brings me to my next point.

I'm sure I have posted on this before, but prayer is needed.
Although over 80 women in the past 2 years have come out of the bars, they still need to seek the One True God.
Please pray for their souls. They have so much pain and hurt in their lives from so many different things.

Thank you so much for praying. If you have time feel free to update me on your life and how I could pray for you
Carlymarie.floyd@calbaptsit.edu

Namtam

2007-10-28T07:36:00.000-07:00

Namtam means Sugar is Thai.

Namtam is this great little 7 year old. She is the daughter of one of the women who runs NL. She brings me so much joy. Everyday in the office she graces me with her presents. We will hear her yelling in the hall and we know... the door swings open and she does her thing.... which usually includes coming over to me pointing at my computer and thats when I know..... ITS PHOTO BOOTH TIME!

aware

2007-10-24T08:15:00.001-07:00

If you have the desire and maybe some time, check out this website I found:

http://www.humantrafficking.org/updates/538

It gave me a better perspective as to why some of the beggars are in their current situation. I don't know what I think about their views toward ending street begging, but the information provided is helpful in understanding the situation more.

It's kind of long, so if you check it out, thank you. Maybe you could join me in prayer for these people and maybe pray for some followers of Christ to rise up and meet this head on. Pray that as we continue to say over and over again we want to know God, that we would know what and who it is God cares very deeply for.

everyday

2007-10-19T10:16:00.000-07:00

Everyday I see the poor, I see the hungry, I see the afflicted. It's not just here in Thailand, it's in America too. I have this amazing privilege to work with a ministry that truly seeks justice. God is teaching me so much through all of this. I am learning more and more about prostitution and the not so simple details that surround it.
Walking to work everyday and walking around the city I see the poor, the hungry, the afflicted. The particular people I am referring to right now are those who sit on the sidewalks asking for money.

Sometimes it's a women with her infant child in her arms, other times it's a man with missing limbs or a blind man being led with a string by his mother while singing with a microphone and speaker. I think my mindset might come from my American culture. When I see a homeless person at home, lets say standing to the side of the freeway entrance by Tyler or the exit by Adams, I naturally think 'if I give him money, he will use it for drugs or alcohol and if I offer him food, he won't want it anyways'. To be honest I don't know enough about homeless people to be so critical or have any judgment on the way most people think. But I am bringing that up because I find myself confused.

We read in the bible over and over again about feeding the hungry and caring for the poor, but when do we start doing that? What does that mean for my current context? I do believe strongly that in a way working with NL is doing that, but does that mean it's okay to ignore these physically hurting people all around me? Because, as selfish as I am, I don't want to not do anything. It makes me sick to see a 5 month old baby in the arms of their mother on the street at 11 o’clock at night. And I hate that I am just another pair of shoes and legs that these people see.

PiCtUrEs

2007-10-17T22:21:00.001-07:00

I uSeD tO tHiNk It WaS sO cOoL tO wRiTe LiKe ThIs.
ThEsE aRe JuSt SoMe RaNdOm PiCtUrEs.
(that takes too long)
hope you enjoy.
the polo one seems odd, but when i saw it in the airport my first thought was of Art Price.

2007-10-10T06:36:00.000-07:00

It's pouring rain right now. I have never seen lightening as close as I did tonight. I ran from the taxi to the door to my house and still managed to get drinched. I came into a cold room and was shivering.... and for a moment it was like winter.

The picture I posted is from an awesome view I had at dinner a few nights ago.

It's weird that I have been here for about a month. I have been really stretched recently. It's a good thing, but a hard thing. So, to those of you praying for me, I want you to know how much it means, thank you.

The women at NightLight.
I can't imagine what it would be like to come out of prostitution to a world where you attend a worship service every morning and have people in your life who show you genuine love. Nonetheless, coming to NL or attending these services or small groups does not make these women followers of Christ. Please join me in prayer for those who still do not know Him. Pray that their past hurts that seem so very present would be washed away by the overwhelming power of knowing God.

A night at the bars

2007-09-26T03:58:00.000-07:00

I hope this video gives a better picture of what it is like to walk into the bar area.

Lately I have been trying to figure out what exactly it is Nightlight does and where does justice take place in that.

I have been accustom to relating justice with, child soldiers, child prostitution, and physically forced prostitution. I have painted in my mind a picture of injustice, that in a sense, has limited my understanding of it.

I want to clarify what exactly it is Nightlight does (and this is to the best of my knowledge, only being here one full week).

They seek to build relationships with girls in the bars who prostitute themselves. They build these relationships by visiting the bars twice a week. The girls that have come out of prostitution and the ones we visit, are not in physical chains or in some way tricked into this life of prostitution. I hope that this does not however, in some way, lessen the compassion you have for these women. I actually think I have been struggling with that. In my head when I think of social injustice, choosing prostitution doesn't really coincide. However, after talking with one of the workers here at NL, I was corrected and enlightened in my way of thinking.

No one ever chooses to sell his or her body. No one desires to be treated like a toy that can be used in whatever way the power over them (the purchaser) desires. No one desires to live in a country where there are no other job opportunities with good enough pay to support family but prostitution. No one desires to have a job where they only get 2 days off a month and when they do work, they have to wear close to nothing in a freezing cold bar, while dancing and entertaining in heels.

But for many women this is their last resort. They are the supply and the men demand.
This has caused me to continue to wonder, 'why is the demand so high?'
I always find myself coming back to the same thoughts. The normalization of sex. The movies we go to and watch, MTV, our favorite TV shows, pornography... all play a part. They teach us, and sadly instill in us, a view of sex that desensitizes us, to what it really is.

At this point I feel like I should write a concluding paragraph, but I don't have one because I still am learning. Thanks for reading and being interested in what I am seeing and learning. I, again, am most appreciative of all your prayers!!

I was going to title this, "one week down" (because we have been here for one full week) but decided that sounded like i don't want to be here

2007-09-23T03:58:00.000-07:00

hope you guys enjoy the pictures. and i hope they dont seem like we are on a vacation. one of the pictures is the entrance to the bars and the others are of our adventure at the floating market.

bars/hotel

2007-09-19T20:38:00.000-07:00

Our night started off meeting in the Nightlight office where everyone debriefed a little about the last bar visit. Then we spent time in prayer.
I really appreciated hearing people with experience speak about prostitution.

We ate dinner at an outdoor food court type place close to the bars. The place seemed full of foreigners (mostly men) some eating dinner with Thai women, as if they were on a date, I guess that’s what they would see it as. Some of the women looked like they were enjoying their time, but others seemed miserable.

The men I saw were mostly older, like 50 or something. As I looked at them all through out the night, I tried to understand why they are here. I think some are just lonely and when they walk into a bar and girls go crazy because you are there…. You are finally somebody… you feel adored, loved, manly…. An other reason, which someone pointed out to me, is they have no reason not to be there. Those are my current thoughts toward the men that I have been and will be thinking through.

We were walking through the city, turn the corner and boom, we’re in bar central.
I don’t really know how to describe it, maybe I’ll post a picture, but there were tons of different bars to choose from. We split up into groups, Sarah, a women here for three weeks, one of the founders of nightlight and I went into one particular bar.

I’ve debated over whether or not I am going to describe it or not and decided not to. Sarah might, I’m not sure. The women entertained and the guys watched. We have been told how to act and how to try to engage in conversation; Sarah and I didn’t get the chance. I have been realizing that the language barrier is just that, a barrier. The people we were with got to talk with some women.

It’s crazy to realize that the women we see everyday at nightlight used to be like that and it just echoes how good God is to bring people like the staff at nightlight to show love and hope.

(this is turning to be pretty long … thank you for those who are still reading)

we also went to a hotel. I guess this restaurant in the hotel is where a lot of trafficked women are. We saw about 30 Uzbekistani women sitting at different tables in the lobby, I think waiting for customers. I’m still learning about that whole situation.

I am have been learning a lot of different things and am still trying to figure out what my role is here. Thank you to everyone praying…. Because we need it and they need.

Day not really sure, it's tuesday here

2007-09-17T20:45:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody! It's pretty hard trying to blog because everything is in thai..... but i figure it out. (does anyne know how to change it to english?)

Everyday we have a thai worship service from 9-10. all the women are required to come. we dont understand any of it, so we just sit and pray.

from 10-5 we work.
we have a lunsh break too.
yesterday we counted beads.

today we are not sure what we are doing. at two we are playing a game with the women.... sarah and i are incharge.... and tonight will be ur first night in the bars. we are excited and nervous.
ill let you guys know how that goes. please please pray for us though.

oh and if there is an older white male here, we have been told its normal to assume that he is here for prostitution, especially when he is holding hands with a young thai woman. sick.

NIGHTLIGHTBANGKOK.COM

taipei to bangkok

2007-09-15T15:46:00.000-07:00

Sarah and I found free internet in the taipei airport, we have three hours till our next flight. Our flight was good, I thought anyways, and went by fast. I slept, listened to music, annndddd watched four episodes of lost!!!! We can't wait to get to Bangkok, thanks for all your prayers!

p.s. it was really hard trying to figure out how to blog because everything is written in their language! lets hope this works.

September 15th 1:20am...

2007-09-04T18:26:00.000-07:00

... is when i leave. im excited/nervous. In the long term aspect I won't be gone long, which can be a good thing as far as missing family and friends here. To be honest Im tired of talking about it. I love that people care to ask about my trip, but some how i feel like the tables got turned (i probably turned them) and this is more about me than God. So if you think about praying for me as/while i am gone, please pray that i approach my time away with complete humility and the desire to know the God I claim to serve.

Good News About Injustice

2007-08-13T23:50:00.000-07:00

I am reading a book right now that has been a great encouragement to me at the perfect time. I really recommend this book to anyone. My hope is that who ever reads it, is convicted, encouraged, and motivated toward action.

It's hard to choose what to quote, however, I read this today and thought others of you might find it interesting:

"Our God loves justice. This is the great hope that allows Christians to be a mighty force for justice in a tired, despairing world. For many of us, however, this hope in the character of a just God often lies forgotten and fallow in the neglected corners of our hearts. Unwittingly we become hoarders of hidden hope."
- Gary A. Haugen Good News About Injustice

Haugen is the president of IJM and has had a lot of amazing experiences.

2007-07-19T23:27:00.000-07:00

Do you know where you are going for the Fall Semester?

2007-06-19T23:20:00.001-07:00

Answer-
At this point, we are in the process of being able to say that we are officially going to Thailand. We are about 90% sure that is where we are going. If you are NOT using CBU Internet, go to nightlightbangkok.com for information about the ministry we hope to be working with.

a little bit about it-

the problem

Bangkok, Thailand is notorious for it's sex industry where economically disadvantaged women are sexually exploited. Estimates are that 60% of foreign men entering Thailand participate in the sex industry, generating approximately $1.2 US billion annually.

Prostituted women suffer from sexually transmitted diseases as well as other related illnesses:acute anxiety, depression, insomnia, flashbacks, and emotional numbing. Most women are single moms with a 6th grade education from rural and impoverished areas of Thailand who move to the cities in hopes of providing for their families back home.

Fueled by a growing demands, countless women from around the world are victimized by gender inequality, poverty, and cultural obligation, sold into prostitution and trafficked in and out of Bangkok to sustain an increasing global network.

the solution

nightlight is committed to combating the exploitation of women and children through public awareness, emergency shelter services, transformative healing, spiritual discipleship and life skill training by providing economic development and educational opportunities.

nightlight's vision is to share the Light of the world, in both word and deed, to those who live in darkness. Through the art of jewelry making, Nightlight provides an economic alternative by employing women at nightlight design.