My daughter, the streetwalker
I haven't been able to do much outreach lately. Our programs have been pretty much full, and up until recently others were going out at least weekly. The other night I got to go again with a visiting World Race team.
We have known Bpuu, 27, since our family exploratory visit to Thailand 5 years ago. She still works the same spot on Sukhumvit Road that she did then--night after night, waiting for a customer. Bpuu is quite pretty--we like to say she has a the face of a china doll. But she is fairly simple-minded, as best as I can tell the result of environmental deprivation more than natural unintelligence.
For a long time, even years, Bpuu seemed convinced that she would one day land me as a customer or maybe even a boyfriend. It didn't help that being on the street, she didn't always see me with my wife, and occasionally when I was out on an errand I would run into her alone.
A couple of years ago Judy and I enlisted a few students from The Well to take Bpuu to dinner for her birthday. Since I spoke better Thai at the time, I made arranged a meeting spot with Bpuu by phone, in the entry way of a Walmart-like department store. We all got there ahead of Bpuu, but since it was crowded, could not sit together on the waiting benches. Meanwhile Judy ran in to get a cake and candles. Bpuu came in, saw me and beamed, then her face promptly clouded when our students came over to meet her. The rest of the night she barely communicated despite everyone's best efforts, until we got out the cake with candles. "Put them all on," she requested.
Over time however I began to get through to Bpuu that I loved her very much, but as a daughter. She stopped the flirtatious smiles and whispers in my ear. Seeing her on Thursday for the first time in a few months, I felt no qualms about giving her a genuinely warm, one-arm hug, and offering to treat her at the nearby McDonald's. She accepted, along with a ladyboy friend.
As usual, Bpuu had little to say so I talked mostly with her friend. I simply repeated everything I have said many times to Bpuu--she is beautiful, lovable, precious, and doesn't need to be doing this. She looked away shyly.
Her ice cream finished, Bpuu tried to get up. "I'm afraid I will miss a customer," she complained. "You're not going to spend any more time with your dad?" I lightly objected. She hung on for two more minutes, then made another attempt at escape that I had to allow. She made a beeline for the door. I followed her outside and asked to pray with her, something she usually accepts as she did this time. I kept it short, asking for her protection, for God to get through to her how much He loves her. She bolted for the street on my "amen", and immediately ran into a guy she knew. I didn't want to stick around.
I have no idea how long it will take Bpuu to give up her lifestyle, but I plan to be here until she does. She claims to use protection, but so does everyone, until they trust you enough to tell the truth. One way or another she will stop someday.
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