Linwood House Ministries

Final Thoughts (Bangkok eMail #15)

We have been home now for four days and while the fog of jetlag remains, so do the memories of our amazing, unexpected, and surprising time in Bangkok. Nothing could have prepared us for the escalation of the political unrest there. But more importantly nothing could have prepared us for the depth of personal growth, understanding of Thai culture and circumstances that drew us into alignment with the plight of Thai women and women from around the world.

It is amazing to me that God can draw together six women, call them to a foreign city halfway around the world and draw them into the opportunity to learn more about themselves and the world. On the surface, this could have been a trip like any other trip to Bangkok and thus could also have been a disappointment when many of the things we had planned to do were impossible this time. But it was clear that God had something much more for us, if we were willing to dig deep for it. If we believed in the call, in the assignment, then we had to be willing to dig deeper this time.

There were many friends that we were able to connect with, new and old... Wan, Kwan, Som, our dear friend Sai, Jit, Nim, Pun, Jem, Mama Kaek, Fon, Riem, Nun, Nam, Meaw, Porn, and so many more. They are some of the most endearing, lovable young women and their faces and stories have been forever embedded into our hearts.

During our time in Bangkok we learned so much about the Thai culture, particularly through the experience of the civil unrest. As tensions settled and we began inviting people to share their thoughts and feelings with us, we heard time and time again a great sense of shame and sadness for what had happened there. Thais perpetrating violence against other Thais is unheard of. They are a very tolerant people, and one of the core values of the culture is to save face. The violence and conflict has brought with it a deep sense of betrayal of the very fundamentals of the culture. Having a deeper understanding of this also gave us deeper insight into the challenges of addressing the sexual exploitation that plagues this country. A spirit of tolerance, a resistance to bringing about shame to anyone else or to yourself, and saving face to others and to the world will present unique barriers to bringing about justice and freedom there.

We have also come away with a (mercifully) small insight into the reality for women all over the world who live in an environment of constant conflict, unrest and even war. Imagine this........having your very basic freedoms restricted, such that someone else dictates where you can go, and when; being isolated from your friends, your family and having no way to contact them or determine if they are alright; having part of your community taken away from you abruptly, suddenly with no assurance that she would be OK; having plans for celebrations and gatherings regularly canceled, having limited ability to celebrate any of the positive things of life, family, community; feelings of isolation, hopelessness, despair, depression, fear; living with the uncertainty of each day and what it will bring. God put us each in touch with these feelings during our time in Bangkok, and they were difficult feelings to sit with. And yet we were compelled to do so, not retreat to the safe and familiar refuge of our own countries, homes, families. As we sat with those feelings, He stretched wide our minds and hearts and suddenly the women and children of every nation began to fall in... Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, the DRC, Rwanda. Women all over the world who live with civil unrest as part of the life experience, their world view. It broke our hearts, brought us to our knees, and birthed and strengthened our resolve to work for justice and freedom for women however and wherever we could.

Our time in Bangkok was nothing like we had expected, and more than we could have imagined. We look ahead with anticipation at how God will grow all that was birthed in each one of us, things seen and unseen, and how it will change us, our families and our communities.

We cannot thank you enough for your trust in us and God in times of your own fear, and your unwavering love, prayer and support. It truly takes a village and we knew how blessed we were to be surrounded by one of the best. We are very, very grateful.

We want to leave you with words that guided, encouraged, challenged, inspired, and sometimes just plain held us up from day to day, from our new friends at World Pulse.

Let us be a loudspeaker
for women of the world.

Let us call forth voice
where before there was silence.

Let us stand back while they speak up,
for their words are so beautiful they
need no adornment.

Let us be their platform, their forum,
their safe haven, their sanctuary,
an amplifier no one can ignore.

Let us create a world where women are
not only free, but empowered so greatly
as to be unstoppable.

A world where women can
transform her life as well as the lives of those
around her by simply raising her voice.

One voice at a time, millions of voices strong.

Until the sound is so deafening, the whole
world will hear their music.

It’s not just a dream—it’s a revolution
that has already begun.
This is the pulse that transforms the world.

Let us, each one of us, indeed.

Peace, and much love,

Sue, Jen, Jacynta, Emma, Skye & Leith

A Good Samaritan and a Lot of Red Tape

Note: Long-time friend of Linwood House and original LHM Board member Gerry Sly is featured...

Coquitlam man's good idea to help homeless boxed in by red tape
Gerry Sly told his imaginative homeless shelter is breaking zoning rules
By Kent Spencer, The Province May 7, 2010

A Good Samaritan's attempt to help the homeless has been strangled by red tape.

Gerry Sly, owner of Boyd Autobody and Glass in Coquitlam, provided eight rooms for the homeless in a specially outfitted, 12-metre shipping container.

For three weeks, they had warm rooms, fireproof mattresses, a dry roof over their heads and a shared toilet. A volunteer supervisor stayed overnight.

"They were fellow human beings. They deserved more respect and a better lifestyle than living in a cardboard box," Sly, 63, said Wednesday. "I was just doing what I believe should be done."

But the shelter has been shut down since Feb. 28 by Coquitlam bylaw inspectors, who said Sly's property was not appropriately zoned. He was threatened with daily $150 fines.

The rooms were set up in Sly's company's works yard in the 1000-block Lansdowne Drive, about one block from the Coquitlam Centre Mall. The location was appropriate because nearby bushes along the banks of the Coquitlam River house many of the Tri-Cities' 200 homeless.

Read the rest here. Click on images below for larger versions.

Home! (eMail #14)

Friends:

Our team, or most of it, returned safely to Vancouver on Sunday afternoon. (Leith had returned home to Denver a day or two early on a family matter. Skye has now been joined by her husband Chris, and they are spending several days together in Thailand.)

There will be at least one more email to everyone, once the jet lag fog starts to clear just a little. For now, we wanted to thank you for your support , for your prayers, and for accompanying these ladies on their journey in your own way. Returning home is always challenging--around here we call it "culture grief"--and our friends and loved ones will need time and space to process what they have seen, and to put some thought into how it has changed them as individuals, living their lives here in North America. Don't worry, they'll share when they're ready, but we'll need to be patient!

In the meantime, please feel free to continue journeying with Linwood House Ministries through our blog, Twitter, or Facebook. Your friendship and support is greatly appreciated.

Peace,

Mike Todd, on behalf of the team

A Better Day (eMail #13)

Hi Everyone,

This will be a quick email as it is getting late and it's been a long day. We had a great time reconnecting with our friends at the Home as well as a few of our friends from the English camp who came to the Home today for a little reunion and meal together. Ann made her delicious green curry, and it was amazing! As is the Thai way, we found ourselves sitting on the floor in a circle together eating and sharing stories. We were able to hear many thoughts and feelings about the conflict here, and I can say that the pervasive feeling is one of sadness. That Thai people would commit violence against other Thai people is completely foreign to them and goes against everything in their culture. Many of the girls talked as well about the exploitation of the poorer people who were involved in the fighting and protests, how they were paid to fight, and there is clearly a lot of mistrust and anger directed at the ousted prime minister. It was a privilege to hear a little bit of the hearts of these Thai women. There is so much healing and rebuilding that will have to take place here.

Tomorrow we will go to a large outdoor market with some of our friends from the Home and English camp, and we're looking forward to the chance to spend more time with them. We will spend the afternoon at the Home and then will end our time here with a farewell dinner with Roy and Bonita.

Please pray for our team. We have spent time together tonight sharing about our time here, and what it has meant to each of us. This is bittersweet; it has been very significant for us to be here in Bangkok during this time and at the same time, we are having to prepare to say goodbye just as things are returning to some state of calm, just as there is greater freedom to move around, and just as many of our friends are returning to the city. There is a lot of sadness in each of us in a way that, for those who have been here before, we have not felt when having to say goodbye. There are many insights though that we have gained through this experience and we look forward to processing and sharing them further as this journey continues long after we leave Bangkok.

Thank you for your continued prayers. We are well and safe.

Peace and love to each of you,

Sue, for the team

A New Morning (eMail #12)

Good Morning from Bangkok,

First, thank you again for your continued prayers, love and support for each of us and for the people of Thailand in these last days. It is amazing what a day can bring. We spoke to the hotel manager, who we are now on a first name basis with, and he went out for a bike ride this morning to assess the situation on the street. He said that things around the city are being more and more restored to "normal", there are many people on the street, businesses are re-opening and there seems to be a cautious sense of hope arising in the people.

In the last few days we have had many thoughts and emotions swirling around as we have had to adjust to the changing circumstances here. Having to abruptly say goodbye to our friend Leith with very little warning, and feeling concerned for the journey that she would be taking alone. Feeling isolated and cut off from our friends at the Home, wondering how they were doing and coping with the situation in the city. Plans and celebrations that we had been anticipating and looking forward to, canceled. Having our movement and basic freedom restricted due to curfews. The feelings of sadness, disappointment, grief that have accompanied that. This morning, those feelings have been very heavy on my heart. And I realized that this is the constant, unending reality for millions of women around the world who live in villages, communities, countries where instability and war and violence are commonplace. I have to be honest and tell you that these feelings have been difficult to sit with for us as a team, and yet I can't shake the feeling that we are supposed to sit with them. We are being called to rest awhile in this place of unrest, of uncomfortable emotion, of longing so that we can know a different reality, even just for a time.

This morning has come with good news. Today we will be reunited with our friends at the Home, and later today we will celebrate an English camp reunion at the Home with many of the girls that we met last week. Jen and I, along with Roy and Bonita will also have lunch today with a young Thai woman who is coming to Vancouver to begin a business promoting Thai culture. We're really looking forward to reconnecting, and hearing a little bit about what the last week has been like for our Thai friends. We will report in about our day later tonight.

Again, thank you for journeying with us. Know we remain safe, and well cared for. We are grateful for each and every one of you.

Much love,

Sue, for the team

The Latest From Bangkok (eMail #11)

Dear Friends and Family:

Your loved ones are safe in Bangkok. Yes, the itinerary planned has been altered daily as the political situation fluctuates, but the team is standing firm, safe and on the alert, should it be necessary to come home. We have been in daily contact with them and they are handling things with wisdom and conviction, believing that they are right where they are supposed to be, encouraging our friends at Home for New Beginnings during this unrest.

Today Leith will return to her home in Colorado to be with her family. Hadley, Leith's daughter, will undergo emergency surgery tomorrow. Please pray for her and her family.

Thank you for your concern and prayers. It is obvious to the team that you are standing with them and for that I am very grateful.

Praying with you,

Gwen

PS. From Mike Todd

On a Skype call with the rest of the team this morning they wanted me to reiterate that they really do feel safe and secure. As Gwen said above, original plans have been discarded, but they are in good spirits, and learning a lot about what it really means to stand in solidarity with a people and a country in turmoil.

They also couldn't say enough about their friends at the Amari Boulevard Hotel. The girls are now some of their more "famous" guests at the moment, and they tell me they are on a first-name basis with most of the staff! Security is exceptional, and the hotel staff are taking their guests' safety very seriously. Our friends and family will be coming home on Sunday changed people, with poignant stories of their time in Bangkok.

Thanks for your ongoing prayers and support.

A Country "Without Peace" (eMail #10)

Peace to you from Bangkok.

There are many things going on for each of us tonight, some that we can understand, others remain a mystery. Uprising in our souls, bodies, hearts and minds, our being here is challenging the very nature of who we are. But one thing resounds with us all... we are each meant to be here. It is part of our story. Our hearts have become intertwined with the nation of Thailand. We are here to stand with not to stand by.

Tonight there is a sense that we are teetering on the edge of something huge, though we don't know exactly what. The protests continue, but today on our walk we caught a glimpse into the heart of a Thai man and the sadness he feels for his country. Emma and I came across a pile of trash on the corner. Amongst it lay a cardboard sign saying "stop the killing". I took a picture of this and the man noticed, thinking it strange that I would take a photo. But then realizing what the sign said, he asked us where we came from. "Canada? Then you know what freedom is. Thai people do not know freedom. Our country is very sad right now because it is without peace." it struck me that it is not just the Thai women who we are standing with, it is the men and children too. Something deep inside me wanted to set up a peace march, a soapbox on the corner... someone get me a microphone for crying out loud! It made me want to cry out to the country--peace begins with you! And then upon reflection I thought about my inner turmoil that has risen up inside me and the team while in Bangkok. For those of you who have never been, it gets inside of you! And the issues you avoid in the complacency of your life back home can no longer be denied. So a golden opportunity to face head on the protests in our hearts has allowed for some freedom in us today.

There is still much that will unravel in my heart I am sure. But I am thankful to be hearing God and listening perhaps for the first time in a while.

You'll be relieved to know that life is very normal here. The entire week has been declared a national holiday, so many Thai people are taking it easy. The bars are quieter and it sounds like some of the girls may go home instead of working. Tonight we visited Nana plaza and reunited with some of the girls from English camp. So happy to see us. Our lunch with Bonita was such a blessing today hearing her story and what has happened in the lives of the girls since coming to the home.

For now we ask for your continued prayers for peace--for freedom in Thailand and in each of us.

Peace and love,

Skye for Sue, Jen, Jacynta, Emma and Leith

A Loud-Speaker for Thai Women (eMail #9)

As one returning for the second time here to Bangkok, this experience is quite different. In the past few days I have become more and more aware of a growing ache somewhere in my core as I stand in the background of a political protest. I am further convinced that peace cannot be realized with violence and bloodshed.

Yesterday a few of us went with Kwan and Som, two of our friends from Beginnings, to Waht Poh (?) (aka The Grand Palace) and the world renowned ‘Reclining Buddha’ (largest Buddha sculpture in all of the world- and it’s gold). It was indeed beautiful and a wonderful taste of Thai history that, now, seems to make a good amount of money from tourism. Having just driven by a number of slums on our way, my reflections of our time were mixed. As we walked onto the grounds of the Grand Palace, I felt swallowed whole, gulped down by wealth and excess: each structure ornate, intricate, coated in gold, sacred. I wondered about the people who had hand crafted each structure with care, devotion, and commitment. Was it the poorest of the poor who, once again, built for the wealthy? Within the Thai culture there is indeed a deep sense of respect for the sacred, for history, for the King, which is absolutely beautiful and challenging to my own culture struggling to name anything in which we still deem sacred. But, what of the poor? What of the marginalized here in Thailand? What of the women who continue to be exploited- some paying off family debts, supporting parents and children, responding to a desperate poverty that we can only try to grasp?

The Grand Palace, for me, embodied the gap, rather, the Grand Canyon, that exists between the rich and the poor here in Thailand. The lavish structures wreaked of exploitation- a similar smell to the literal “Bangkok stench” experienced walking the streets. Consider many of the Red Shirts, for instance, who are villagers from the North being paid more money protesting than they could possibly earn laboring in their fields, factories, or positions as maids/nannies. Further consider an entire people group in the far North where borders are blurred and neither Thailand nor Burma will claim them as their own. A people with no nation, no identification cards to obtain employment, no education. Nim, a 14 year old girl living in Beginnings, is from this area. At the age of 12 she walked for three days through the jungle after her grandmother died. As she had already been abandoned by her parents, there was no one in the village who could take her in and care for her. She wandered alone, abandoned, until someone offered her a job in Bangkok. A job where exploitation is the staple ingredient. Thankfully, within days of her beginning work at one of the bars here in Bangkok, Bonita and Anne from Beginnings met her and invited her home, home to a be a part of a family, a part of a new story. While I wonder if the very concept of exploitation has been rendered inconsequential here in Thailand, hollow of its painful meaning, I am reminded that it is individual stories as well as a unified story that once again personalizes the concept of exploitation. And it is story we seek.

Back to the outing. The reclining gold Buddha was enormous… and gold, very gold. We watched as Thai people came to pay their respects and make their requests to Buddha. I wondered what sort of prayers were going up? Perhaps cries for peace, for equality, for unity, for the bare essentials (food, shelter, work). I asked for hope to unveil itself amidst the sorrow of a political crisis and exploitation.

As a team, this has been a time of letting go. Letting go of our own expectations, purposes, hopes for this trip, need to do do do do do as we watch some of our plans flow out with the tide. We are being challenged to stand in the background and support our friends and encourage the women we meet here in Thailand. I am challenged to wonder what happens each time we look into another’s eyes, greeting them, “Swadikah” (the traditional Thai greeting), smiling, and loving the only way I know how: to see each one.

Sue and Jen asked us a few questions before outreach last night: What am I learning about Thai culture and how it contributes to the sexual exploitation of women? Are there factors in your own culture/community that contribute to the sexual exploitation of women nationally and internationally? Now that you’ve seen, are there issues that you would think differently about in your own culture? Skye and I were together as we paced Soi 7/1 (one of the streets with a number of bars) deciding which bar to enter. It felt awkward walking back and forth a good three times before we both decided on “The Star Dust Bar and Massage Parlor.” Within moments I was reminded of what can happen when I choose to acknowledge my own awkward discomfort, nausea at the sight of Western men purchasing Thai girls, and despite both meet the eyes of Thai sisters and engage in a new conversation that invites friendship and hope. While little English was exchanged, we discovered where three young women were from, a bit about their families and children, and how they had come to Bangkok. As we sipped Coca-Cola in the wet heat of Bangkok, we met Cathai, Lin, and Pen. Pen was 24, spoke hardly any English and had only been working for 1 month. Once we mentioned that we were English Teachers with Home for New Beginnings, 2 of the girls actually knew of the Home and Bonita and Anne (incredible!). Pen was very interested in English classes at the home and we were able to get her contact information to pass on to Bonita and Anne. In our conversations with Cathai and Lin, we asked them what their dreams were. Their answers were telling. Cathai answered with a smile, “to work and make money.” She is supporting her son and family, a common story. Lin answered with only a shy laugh and “I don’t know.” I know these are women who can create change here in Thailand, but who is giving them space to dream and to hope. - I wonder, “Is there a new story to be told?” We walked away with a hope- a hope for further connection, a hope for dreams, a hope for the start of a new story.

So, here we are in Bangkok, unsure of what’s next and yet united on the fact we are part of a greater story to be told. A story of women around the world- powerful, courageous women moving towards a new story of hope, equality, unity, and restoration, boldly stepping outside of their cultural norms to engage in such an adventure. We are here to hear and love and then share their stories, free of adornments, to you our friends and family who are supporting us and sharing with your friends and family. And so we stand and will continue to stand together with our friends here in Thailand, embracing a new sort of manifesto (adapted from World Pulse, 2010):

• Let us be a loudspeaker for women of the world
• Let us call forth voice where before there was silence
• Let us stand back while they speak up, for their words, are so beautiful they need no adornment
• Let us be their platform, their forum, their safe haven, their sanctuary, an amplifier no one can ignore
• Let us create a world where women are not only free, but empowered so greatly as to be unstoppable
• A world where each woman can transform her life and the lives of those around her, simply by raising her voice
• One voice at a time, millions of voices strong
• Until the sound is so deafening, the whole world will hear their music
• It’s not just a dream, it’s a revolution that has already begun
• This is the pulse that transforms the world.

Thank you for your love and support. Despite the political situation on the ground, we are safe and out of harms way. The staff here at our hotel love us (so we are told- and really, what’s not to love!?) and are taking wonderful care of us. We are in contact with Bonita and remain updated on the current situation in the city which is still bubbling with vendors, foreigners, and storefronts. We will continue to keep you posted…

Much love,

Emma for Sue, Jen, Skye, Jacynta, and Leith

Update From Jacynta (eMail 8)

So as most of you will know we are back in Bangkok, alive and well!

What a week we have had so far! The English camp was an amazing experience and one that I doubt we will soon forget. The Thai people are so welcoming and gracious. The girls seemed to warm to us all quickly and we moved from being the farangs--a little on the outside--to being apart of the fold. It was nice to be able to connect with the girls in an environment outside of the bars, to be with them simply and peacefully, no loud music to try and shout over and no mamasan to closely watch us, it was nice, I believe for the girls as well as our team. It was fun to be able to fumble our way through the language barrier, there were many laughs, simply because no one had a hot clue what the other was trying to say.

We had a few fun activities we had to do with our assigned team of about 4 or 5 girls. My personal favorite? On the last night we had a party and the teams had to each come up with a performance which would be "assessed" by the panel of "judges". Anyway, I got the opportunity to learn a little bit of traditional Thai dancing. Not only was it a blast and a great way to continue to connect with the girls but we also got a perfect score and won the prize! On top of that I also won "The Star of The Camp" by vote from all the girls in the camp. I think I only won by one vote though.

All in all it was just an amazing experience to be so welcomed into the lives of girls who have been incredibly exploited by westerners, yet they continue to take the courageous steps toward sharing their stories and being open to the opportunity of friendships. Another cool little side note is that apparently seven of the girls asked for bibles once we had returned from the trip. It's encouraging to see the power of simply loving someone, to see that the act of love can cross any language barrier.

Thank You so much for your continued support of our team.

Jacynta for Sue, Jen, Leith, Skye and Emma

Update From Bangkok (eMail #7)

I wanted to send you an update about the status of things here this morning. First, thank you all for your concern, love and prayers for us. We are feeling them all, and are so encouraged to know that we have so much support behind us.

We arrived back into Bangkok late yesterday after English camp. The situation around our hotel was very calm. There were a few military police on the street corners to keep crowds moving, as the bts line was closed at a couple of stops and larger street traffic was expected. We stayed in our hotel last night and had a great dinner and a good time hanging out and processing the last few days at the English camp.

I know that reports of the violence at the protests last night have been making their way through the media, and we want to assure you that we are all safe and doing well. The protest site is quite far away from our hotel, and though it is being portrayed as occuring throughout the city, it is actually limited to one square mile in the elite shopping district and the diplomatic area of the city. That is also why several of the embassies closed yesterday, because of their proximity to the protest site. We have no reason to be in that area, and will be staying completely clear of the conflict site. We are in close communication with Roy and Bonita and they are taking good care of us, keeping us updated and guiding us as to what we should and shouldn't be doing.

The streets are very calm and quiet this morning, and there is no sense that anything has even happened in the area where we are.

We will continue to keep you informed about what is happening here, and how we are doing. Please be assured that we are safe, and are all doing well.

Much love, and gratitude for each of you,

Sue, for the team