The road to dignity, part 2

The other day I walked into The Well Center 1 for morning worship to see Ohn sitting next to her 8 year-old son that she had not seen since he was 2.  Even though he lives in Bangkok with Ohn's father and sister, her father had deliberately kept them apart. 

Ohn joined us 2 1/2 years ago after 16 years of bar and street life.  She was a brand new Christian, but like most who come from that lifestyle, she was very immature and self-centered.  While she had made plenty of money in her old life, she used it to support an expensive lifestyle and did not financially support her son.  And even though Ohn had extra funds for her first year at The Well because of a sponsor, she still did not sent the support that her father expected.  So to spite her, he refused to allow her to see her own son.

Over time we began to see Ohn's self-centeredness change to God/other-centeredness.  She was an avid student of the Bible from the beginning--reading on her own, noting important passages.  Her hot temper cooled, her sharp tongue softened.  She began to reach out to old friends as well as to younger women in our program, of whom many see her as an important mentor.  Ethnically Lao, Ohn now has her own vision to start a ministry in the city of Nongkhai, just across the Lao border, reaching Lao women who come over for prostitution.  

And of course Ohn didn't forget about her son.  She began talking constantly about him, trying to save money to send to him.  But even when she did, her father told her it wasn't enough.  Finally she took some last week and he relented, allowing her son a few days' visit.  It may have also helped that we made some visits and got him involved in helping Ohn get get legal documentation--she was born in Laos but has no papers.  

During the visit, Ohn and her son were next to inseparable--literally, as though trying to cram 6 years of lost affection into a few days' time.  They held hands, hugged, played.  When it was time for him to go back, yesterday he cried and didn't want to leave.  Ohn says he will get to be with her during his entire school break coming up soon.

Write a comment

Name:
Email:
Subject:
Comment: *

Help prevent spam - enter security code above:
 

Bill
Posts: 2

can relate
Reply #2 on : Sun February 10, 2008, 19:20:55

---

I know how it feels to be separated from a child. It's so awesome that she had that time with her son and that they'll get more soon.

I gotta believe that Jesus can redeem that lost time...

Roy
Posts: 2

Re: The road to dignity, part 2
Reply #1 on : Sun February 10, 2008, 17:48:30

---

Praise God!