I want to thank you with all my heart for your continued love support and prayers without which so many we have been helping would not be able to be in a place of safety or have hope, in their lives, their children would not be able to be with their parents or have a chance of education and only be in a place of limbo until they too would have be in a place of darkness trapped in the sex trade.

As you know from my last update funds have been hard to raise yet each much by a pure miracle we have had just enough to send to the families to keep them well and to continue the running of the land of hope project I urge you to continue praying that we are able to continue to do so.
The shop we set up sadly is not bringing in enough to enable them to be self sufficient as with many Asian cultures when folk see a business bringing in money they tend to copy and so now many shops have been built within the village and surrounding area and so limited customers to spread around and income is very low and shop is struggling to be maintain at a profit.

We therefore recently put a deposit on a plot of land to be used to grow rice we were hoping that the first crop would be used to pay second instalment on the land and also bring about the beginning of a income that would enable the family to be self sufficient but alas as many of you know Thailand was hit by serious floods this has wiped out the crop for this year and caused a lot of damage to the land. Praise God the land of hope was untouched and the house escaped any problems. But it has meant that we are to continue to send money to the families and also raise the money to pay second instalment on the land and also repair the land and plant a new crop which will not be ready till next season.

The families are doing well but are fearful at times that we will forget them and abandon them as they are aware that the uk is struggling I do my best to assure them that all will be ok, as we have a God who does not abandon and his saints are faithful and committed I must admit does get very tight at times and gives cause for concern but I have to trust and pray and hope,

I hope to return to Thailand early next year and believe the funds will come in to pay off the land and the crops will be planted and bring in an abundance and the store rooms will over flow bringing in above and beyond what’s needed and the families will be self sufficient ,and that the land will also be able to be used for different kinds of crops too on a yearly basis bringing in much needed work and funds.

Due to the floods many factories and food stores and vendors and market stalls have had to close and so many people are without work and many that travel from the villages to bigger towns and cities now have to return to the villages with no work, no income, many have illnesses due to infected water supplies, many have skin infections due to having to live in damp conditions and also due to having to wade around all day in water, therefore creating many more problems long term health wise and medical bills and the long term effect of many rice crops being destroyed effects next year’s incomes.

The sad thing is that many young girls may find themselves having to enter the sex trade to pay for bills, support their families and bring in food for extend relatives we need to pray for a miracle we need to pray for the girls their children and their families and we need to find ways in which we can help

I know we are all struggling and at this time of year there is much pressure to buy gifts and save for bills coming in due to cold weather I just pray you all receive amazing blessings that will enable you to be able to extend your hands out to these girls that we are a part of and I ask that you remind folk of the plight of those who are trapped in darkness and a life that no one should ever have to live

Please pray and please ask your church leaders if they would be willing to have a presentation on Hand in Hand and to share on the girls plight to be a spokes person on their behalf really need your help love and support we really do, please also consider if your house group would help in any way possible
Together we can truly make a difference

God bless you I pray
Paul

Salt and light runs a double-decker bus which goes out into the centre of the red light districts giving out food clothes, sleeping bags and offers advice and a place to rest, they also run a furniture warehouse, small food bank and opens up a drop in centre during the week where again they can find warmth, clothes and make phone calls and use the internet and find open arms and friendship

Salt and light are in plans to set up a safe house for girls who need to have a haven once released from prison, or who aim to get out of the sex trade, with my years of experience on the streets and also helping folk get off the street way of life, salt and light have asked me to help in the different projects they have going on and bring new ideas, as well as improve the varied projects that are ongoing and to help train the volunteers. It so different as these girls sell themselves to feed a habit and to escape their pain. Whereas the girls in Thailand they have to sell their souls to feed their families however still a dark world and so much pain no one should ever have to suffer and hand in hands heart is to help whoever wants and needs to escape this dark world. My heart is still to help girls escape the sex trade in Thailand and also oversee the continued running of Land of Hope until they are fully self sufficient so I am also doing my best to arrange speaking engagements which I must admit I do need help in as well as raising funds to continue to be able to support the girls so they don’t have to return to the dark world they where once trapped in.

I hope to be able to return to Thailand later this year but due to such a lack of funds and very little work about only a miracle will ensure this will be possible, I am finding this very very difficult at times and my heart is truly sad but im using my gifts from God where ever I am and im praying I am in His will and again learning to trust in his timing but I know I have to make a cry out for help as we are in such need at this time.

Please pray for the work here with salt and light also for the vision for Land of Hope and for those we are reaching out to and for those we have rescued and please pray for me at this time I have enclosed a couple of standing order forms if you can help find just one monthly supporter be an answer to prayer, also if anyone wants to send a one off gift please send to Bethel chapel.

Yours In christ Paul Darbinson

Firstly I want to thank you for your support, prayers and your love. As you can see by the enclosed leaflets and pictures we have been able to achieve so much. To be able to change lives and bring hope and joy back to those who have lived in such dark times.

With your help we have finished all the building projects on the land of hope, We have been able to provide much needed work and so help prevent folk having to borrow money from mafia or serious money lenders, who so often take children as payment or inflict serious bodily harm.

Some of the workers have been able to move onto other projects after their work has been witnessed by professionals taking interest in the land of hope development, others have been able to save money to go further a field to find better paid work.

We have also helped with providing the local school with books and up-to-date computers to help with their education and so help with giving them better chance in the future to achieve higher education and so find work.

With out your help Toy would still be trapped in the sex trade and her family’s future uncertain, We have been able to help her regain her dignity and be with her children and feel safe at last.

She is able to find hope, not just for herself but her family’s future. The investment has not just helped Toy escape a terrible life but her own daughter will now be spared from a soul and life destroying prospect of a kind of work that no one should ever have to face or encounter .Her son will have a chance of gaining good education, so as in the future he will find good work and so be able to support his own families future and so his children escaping this potential life too. Her own parents also receive a monthly support with helps with any medical costs and help with their own living needs helping one generation has enabled to help another generation and future generations is this not Gods true desire for all of us?

Land of hope as been a real miracle and all building work as been finished to a very high level and is a real place of safety.

We have helped several girls escape the sex trade and as you know we have made a commitment to ensure their safety and the safety of their children.

Ok we cannot save everyone but one at a time and look where it leads onto.

We have built a shop and set up a small laundry on the land of hope, sadly the shop has not been bringing enough income for them to be self sustained which is our desire for them and so we have to maintain support each month as we look at more practical and realistic ways to achieve this and I’m seeking help and advice in this where ever possible.

Land of hope in situated in the north east of Thailand and is the centre of the rice producing region often rice is only grown once a year, but if a well was dug and pump set up, two rice crops could be grown also many other types of peppers and veg which bring in a more than fare income, it is possible to buy a large plot of land at a reasonable price and so provide much needed work and also an income which will be more than sufficient to see them self sustained for their long-term future.

Though we have seen many miracles in the development of land of hope we are in desperate times during this economic crisis. We are in a desperate situation at present as there is not enough coming in each month to maintain monthly support for the families on the land of hope and we are in need of a real miracle to build up the funds to ensure their safety we need to raise about 200 pound extra a month plus raise funds towards setting up a viable business.

Please ask your friends or family or members of your church if they will help by supporting each month as a few pounds will go a long way, so often we have had large supporters but when they are unable to continue supporting we are left in dire strates trying to rebuild the monthly out goings I’m sorry to sound so desperate or to beg in such away but we have come so far and im sure your agree with me its sad if we have to let go now.

Please also consider asking your church leaders if they would be willing to have a presentation of hand in hands work to show the plight of these girls but also the miracle of land of hope and lives transformed

Please please pray we have never been so desperate as we are right now to ensure the continued safety of those we have rescued
And committed too

Yours in Christ Paul

The greatest reward in my life is to see the light come back into the eyes of someone who has lost all hope.
I became involved in ministry to rescue girls and children trapped in the Thai sex industry, as part of a group of Christians from Holland who believed God was leading them to South Asia.

We started in Phuket, where up to 10,000 girls sell themselves in bars and massage parlours to support their families living in poverty.

The girls appear to smile and show affection to clients but in their eyes there is a stark absence of joy and peace. Some get hooked on drugs to deal with the pain and many have taken their own lives.

Thai families support even extended family members and for uneducated workers wages can be as little as £60 a month. Families often believe sons and daughters are in respectable jobs in the cities but for those without qualifications opportunities are scarce; the sex trade is the only way to avoid starvation.

My passion to help the hurting and lost began while I was in a Christian rehab institution recovering from my own abusive history. I understand only too well the inner pain that drives people to escape into drink or drugs. And I know it takes long-term help before someone who has been used and mistreated can trust anyone.

The bar lifestyle forces girls to service uncaring clients night after night, paying bar owners a fine and rent to sleep on the floor with up to 20 other girls if she doesn’t get enough clients for the night.

We pay to get the girls out and I find it heartbreaking when a girl who has been rescued from this life returns there, but I know people can’t change overnight, and often it’s the whole family – and the culture – that needs help to make real change.

In the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004, we lost four team members and many of the people we’d got to know.

The rest of the team moved on or went home but I stayed to help clear up the mess and drive some of the girls back home to their villages. It changed the way I work: I’d lost contact with so many people it was like starting again.

What God has been leading me to do recently is to focus on one or two people and get involved with their wider families. We’re building ‘Land of Hope’ – safe housing and a shop – and I’d love to see the project become self-sufficient, with families of rescued girls helping other girls and families escape the trade.

At first I spread myself too thinly, tried to meet all the needs, blamed myself for every failure and took too much responsibility. I’ve learned that I’m not God and can’t do everything and be everywhere.

Now, with support from several churches in the UK, I’ve set up a charity – Hand in Hand Ministries – and work with other charities and NGOs, providing support and accommodation for girls leaving prostitution and seeking education or alternative work.

It’s still hard not to respond from my emotions when I see a real need and don’t have the resources to help, or when people promise financial help that doesn’t materialise. The girls lose trust so easily.

You can’t walk this journey without your own pain issues coming to the forefront too. God used my own history to give me a desire to see every child happy, with a life to look forward to.

It’s worth everything to see children who have had their mum restored to them heading to school with books and shoes and, most importantly, their self-respect – never having to follow her into working the bars.

But God has shown me that my concern for others’ lives must be accompanied by care for myself too. I know now that the abuse I suffered as a child was not his will for me and he is a good Dad who loves all his children.

Including me.

Paul Darbinson was talking to Clare Nonhebel

Clare Nonhebel’s book ‘Finding Oasis’ will be published later this year by Authentic Media and is available now as an e-book from her website clarenonhebel.com

This has been a real miracle in the making and brings me great joy to be able to forward this success pack onto you
As you are aware this has been an ongoing project set over a couple of years and demonstrates Gods commitment to the lives we are reaching out to here in Thailand

When i first saw the need to having to acquire land and then to build accommodation and also create some form of work for these folk it all seemed to be completely impossible but God placed a vision in the centre of my soul for this project land of hope
And at times i must be honest it has been extremely difficult to deal with the responsibilities and all it entailed

Land of hope translated into Thia means land of dreams, how true is this as these precious gifts of God could only ever dream of one day escaping from their day to day hell and having a safe place to live to be back with their family and to have their own home and a chance of a new future.

I felt in my heart as the building work started that God wanted the best for His children and not just to put up any type of hut but somewhere that could become a real home and safe haven, as i tried to work out the cost for this venture it became more real that it was almost impossible to raise this kind of money and yet at each point when i felt like giving up money came in at the last minute and was enough to get things underway and an encouragement to press

The vision for land of hope is to be able to re house five more families and to be able to create a way for each family to be able to
Support themselves in due time. We hope to be able to provide housing for elderly who have no family or been abandoned and left without income or a safe haven, so they can live out their final years with dignity and regain self respect.
We hope to be able to acquire more land so as to build more accommodation and also use the land to generate income ie rice, ground nuts, sweet corn or even sugar Cain this will need the help of someone with agricultural training and experience.
The housing project will not be as large as the house but will be up to same standard they will be self contained chalets with communal area. As each family generates an income a small rent will be charge this be used for the up keep of the property and development of others

We hope to be able to continue to reach out to the local school and help with providing as much educational material as possible.
To ensure that the children have best possible chance to start in life, providing better chance for their futures. Land of hope will be used to help with after school English lessons and also be used as a safe haven; we already have in place a small swimming pool and play area and area for their parents to sit and relax and eat.

We hope that land of hope project will be able to in time sustain its self and we are looking into this before any more projects are started
In time i believe that the land of hope will be managed by the Thais themselves and that those we have rescued will help one another and pass on any skills they have and reach out to others in need

This has been a real miracle in the making and brings me great joy to be able to forward this success pack onto you
As you are aware this has been an ongoing project set over a couple of years and demonstrates Gods commitment to the lives we are reaching out to here in Thailand

When i first saw the need to having to acquire land and then to build accommodation and also create some form of work for these folk it all seemed to be completely impossible but God placed a vision in the centre of my soul for this project land of hope
And at times i must be honest it has been extremely difficult to deal with the responsibilities and all it entailed

Land of hope translated into Thia means land of dreams, how true is this as these precious gifts of God could only ever dream of one day escaping from their day to day hell and having a safe place to live to be back with their family and to have their own home and a chance of a new future.

I felt in my heart as the building work started that God wanted the best for His children and not just to put up any type of hut but somewhere that could become a real home and safe haven, as i tried to work out the cost for this venture it became more real that it was almost impossible to raise this kind of money and yet at each point when i felt like giving up money came in at the last minute and was enough to get things underway and an encouragement to press on.

The vision for land of hope is to be able to re house five more families and to be able to create a way for each family to be able to Support themselves in due time
We hope to be able to provide housing for elderly who have no family or been abandoned and left without income or a safe haven, so they can live out their final years with dignity and regain self respect.

We hope to be able to acquire more land so as to build more accommodation and also use the land to generate income ie rice, ground nuts, sweet corn or even sugar Cain this will need the help of someone with agricultural training and experience.

The housing project will not be as large as the house but will be up to same standard, they will be self contained chalets with a communal area. As each family generates an income a small rent will be charged this be used for the up keep of the property and development of others.

We hope to be able to continue to reach out to the local school and help with providing as much educational material as possible.
To ensure that the children have best possible chance to start in life, providing better chance for their futures. Land of hope will be used to help with after school English lessons and also be used as a safe haven; we already have in place a small swimming pool and play area and area for their parents to sit and relax and eat.

We hope that land of hope project will be able to in time sustain its self and we are looking into this before any more projects are started
In time i believe that the land of hope will be managed by the Thais themselves and that those we have rescued will help one another and pass on any skills they have and reach out to others in need

What follows is a brief break down of the development of land of hope and the future that i believe is my calling for the next few years and ask that you would pray and consider your continued support in prayers love and what you feel in your heart you are able to give and whatever practical help your able to offer to continue to keep this work ongoing.

About the Land

The land of hope project was set up in conjunction to the work hand in hand is involved with. When helping a girl leave the sex trade so often a place needs to be found for them to live also work and provision provided until both are in place. With some of the girls these where able to be done within a short period of time 6 to 12 months, however the girls from the poorer areas, it is taking much longer as coming from the poorest families and with very little education or job prospects much more as needed to be done. some of these girls have children also and other family members to support.

The land was purchased fairly cheap however the cost as been in obtaining the land papers, clearing the land and working on the land to prepare for building of hopefully a shop, small fish farm, Thai food area, house and whatever else the Lord leads to be done to ensure the long term safety and provision for family children and to provide work so others will not have to enter the sex trade.

The land is two plots, which use to be used to thresh rice, due to weather conditions and larger rice factories they went out of business. This caused a fair amount of heart ach and problems for those dependent on this, as you can imagine.

When we purchased the land, we found that the land owner had never acquired the land papers this meant tracking down who he brought it off and transferring papers to him then having the land surveyed and then transferring papers to the Thai family. All this very confusing but needed to insure that the land was secured and at no point claimed by any other who would try and claim it.

Not only have we been able to help the family we brought the land from the family we brought it for but have been able to provide much needed work for locals and other family members.

The land has had to be completely cleared as needed to be lifted up as problems with water levels around the land.

There’s also a road being built at the front of land so needs to lifted above road level too.

This is good news though as be good for the shop and food area, easy access for folk and more customers.

We are currently working on setting up a small shop based on the land on hope and will monitor its progress over a 6 month period to see if it’s able to generate enough income for the family to survive, the village is very small and very poor so we are not looking at being able to make huge profits but to be able to provide the basic needs for those unable to get out of the village, there are a couple of shops located around the village and so we need to be able to obtain items that these shops do not sell, Land of hope is situated not far from the local junior school and nursery so we looking at mainly selling sweets and ice cream as well as what we can obtain from the city that cannot be brought locally.

We will be arranging for Toy and another member of the family to have driving lessons as at present they have been dependent on me when I’m around or they have to pay someone to drive the land of hopes transport. We are also to obtain a larger washing machine to expand the laundry business, so we can advertise to hotels and larger shops and also do larger materials such as large bedding ect..

After monitoring the shop for six months if it seems as if it cannot provide enough income we will then be looking at obtaining premises in one of the larger towns and as we will have all the stock and materials needed will only need to look at the rent, we will then be able to convert the old shop into living accommodation for another family.

As mentioned in the first page we are hoping to obtain more land and then the extended family and those on land of hope can work it as it starts to generate income we can look at the starting the extended part of land of hope and so also having work straight away for those who move on the site

There is still so much to do here and the vision is so big and my heart is full of compassion and love for these folk however i have to trust God as he leads as so often i wanted things done straight away but as with this first part of the land of hope project i have had to learn much patience and dependency on God And those he has asked to support this work. I have also had to learn to focus on those he has brought into my life as so often i have spread myself thin trying help too many which is not always possible or practical. However where i see injustice, i am still led to do what i can, within reason.

I am due back in the UK in the next couple of months and i am looking forward to catching up with my family and friends, i do so need your prayers as i need to arrange accommodation and also find work(this is important as have no way of supporting myself in the uk and do not want to be a burden on anyone, as when back in uk my monthly support is put on hold till back in Thailand) and of course hopefully receive invitations to present this work to Churches and individuals as you are aware this type of work does needs long term support, we are a small charity and so are not in a position to have guaranteed support but as we have witnessed already God has performed awesome miracles in the development of this project but we really need to be able to continue supporting those we have helped to date.

Hand in hand has always been about working together to make a difference and though often it seems its only me doing the work out here this has only been possible with your help love support and prayers. But that has also shown that miracles do truly happen and we can only give the Glory to God to what has been able to be achieved with so little in a relatively short time and the way these lives have been able to be turned round and a new future of hope offered.

Again please continue to pray as i wait on God to lead the way forward to achieve all he wants for these precious lives we are called to reach out too.

God bless You for helping make so much possible

Paul

Just a brief update i arrived safely back in Thailand, it has taken a bit of getting use to the heat again and while in the UK i was spoilt with food and so this time round even harder to get use to the diet here, however means I’m losing weight shame i was not being sponsored for this, however you guys would have to take out a bank loan as losing so much so fast.

On arriving to the land of hope project found there was a few repairs needed, nothing serious but the Thais didn’t know how i put some things together and so couldn’t figure how to correct them, while here last time i invented a water filter system which connects to several water collection tanks and fish pool and the supply for
the land.

It’s amazing what a drop of paint will do

There been plenty to do in minor clearing up, at present its still rainy season so having to wait a wee while before can get the foundations down for the house we plan to build for the family, then we be setting about getting the shop up and running. The family are happy to have us back and was wondering if we would be able to come back as they had seen the problems England was having on the news, however we have an awesome God who is faithful in provision.
Tuptop is growing up fast and is top in her class in school and same with Andio, i am so pleased as proved with a little help they will make the most effort and work hard at school, education is so important as we all know, on arriving in the village we were able to present two computers to the school we promised when we were last here to enable more of the children to achieve more in education and so hoping to improve chances of better work in their future rather than the one set out for them by their families situation.

Together we can make a difference

The children organised a lovely wee party as a welcome back melted my heart yet again

Even had a visit from two very large friends this doesn’t happen every day

Land of Hope translated into to Thai means land of dreams this family for so many years could only dream about having some kind of hope joy peace and a life worth living

We can and do make a difference these pictures are the true testimony to Gods awesome grace and love

Please continue to pray as we develop more relationships in the village, continue to help with the school and continue the work on the land of hope project there is still so much to do and as you know we are doing so much on a shoe string but The fish and the baskets proves a little goes a long way

Yours in Christ Paul

Well, the time has come around again to return to Thailand to complete the second phase of the “Land of Hope” project. This stage of the project will consist of building a house providing life term safety and security for Toy, her family and others needing a safe haven. In phase 2 we will also be equipping the shop and expanding the laundry service to enable the family and members of “Land of Hope” to be self sufficient. As you know, from the beginning, this has been our aim for each of the girls we have rescued, also to ensure the reconciliation between them and their families. We are committed to the development, through education, of their families and most importantly their children and therefore preventing another generation becoming enslaved in the sex trade.

This visit back in the UK has been an awesome time of growth and reconciliation with my own family; it was the first Christmas spent with my parents for more than 20 years. I also recently had my first ever break away with them which was a time of getting to know each other and growing in love for one another. It has also been a sad time as a few friends including my spiritual father passed away.

I have faced many incredible challenges this year and as a result have matured and have dealt with some of my residual issues from my past which has resulted in my faith and Christian walk reaching a much deeper and higher level. During my journey through the valley I have met some amazing and wonderful people who have travelled alongside me. I have seen God move incredibly in spiritual ways and in relationships. It has also been a real time of provision, despite this economic crisis; we have been able to provide for those we are called to serve consistently on a month to month basis. We have raised enough money to do the initial building work and we would appreciate your prayers and consideration to making a donation to enable us to furnish the house and equip the shop. All donations are welcome as the small amounts add up and are very much appreciated! We are also looking for prayer intercessors to make a solid commitment to pray at least once a week to cover all involved in this work as there is an extreme spiritual battle for these precious gifts of God.

I return to Thailand asap and will be playing a major role in the development of this project. I shall be out there for a couple of months and will endeavour to send updates and pictures but as you are aware we have always been committed to cutting down on admin costs and so the most cost efficient way is to update by e-mail. We would appreciate you sending us your e-mail address to make this possible. In due course, finances permitting, we will send updates and prayer reports when possible.

I thank you with all my heart for your love and commitment as we journey together in this work.

Yours faithfully
Paul Darbinson

We went to a bar to play pool and over a few days returned to the same bar and got to talk to a few of the girls,
One girl (only young looking) would sheepishly take our order return with what we had ordered and then just sit in a corner. A couple of days later I saw this same girl crouched in a corner of the back streets. I knelt next to her to see if she was ok. She was shaking and crying, at first I thought maybe she was on a come down from drugs.
As she looked up at me to see who I was I saw such fear and despair in her eyes, I explained I was to there to help not to hurt or anything else. She was mumbling not have money for Mama San (her boss) or pay for family and, ‘I scared. I scared.’

I said, ‘Come, let’s find where you can wash your face.’ As she stood up I noticed her top was ripped. I thought maybe she had been attacked. As she stood up I couldn’t believe my eyes there were whip marks on her arms.
I took her to where I was staying and got her a room; I then went and brought her a new set of clothes. On my return she showed me her back and explained she had been beaten by her boss for not making enough money to pay the debt or pay for her food etc.

The next day I went to the bus station to purchase a ticket for her to go home. I met an American lass, who said she was heading to Laos to teach English. I explained the situation and she said she would escort the girl back home, I gave her some money for her and family and explained I would sort out the debt with her boss. So, no problem. As she boarded the bus, I have never seen such relief and joy, will stay with me always.

That night I returned to the bar and settled the girl’s debt. All seemed ok, but afterwards my friend told me I should leave the area: they didn’t like how I dealt with it; as the girl was new, in time they would of made more money from her than was owed. I gave him some money and thanked him for his help. I left that night for Pattaya, as I knew what could happen to me or that much more money could be demanded.

Pattaya

On the way down to Pattaya, I stopped off in Bansan to finalise the payment on a house that Hand in Hand had purchased for Cat, a girl I help escape the sex trade last year. This girl’s story is brilliant: in the new job she had, she met a guy\(one of the bosses) and in April this year was married. She can now enjoy her new life of happiness and freedom. In just over a year her life has been completely changed

In Pattaya, much time was spent befriending the locals and doing best to learn more Thai; playing pool was a real
good way of getting to know folk, and (much of the time) not being pestered to take a girl. I based myself in one bar in particular and got to know the girls, many of whom thought I was gay, as I did not take any girls home with me. Often I would sit and eat with them, it would break my heart when a guy would come and pick a girl and leave, or stay and get drunk before going back to their hotel; and some would just take the girl to a back room for a short time.

A number of times I would pay for the girls to have the day and night off, this sometimes caused frustration with guys, but it was pointed out that the girls could still talk, but could not leave with them. This proved to be a positive thing at times, as the guys would get to understand the girls’ plight; therefore they would not see them just as a sex object, but as human beings with families, children and other needs. Often they would offer to give a little extra cash to help. Unfortunately this way was very expensive to maintain; however it opened the door to get to know many of the girls’ backgrounds and who wanted to leave or who to stay. The girls knew I was a Christian, and some tried the old con routines, but I soon learnt to sift through the tactics.

This is when I got to know Toy. She spoke very little English at all. I had on a number of occasions noticed that she spent most of her time cleaning and doing her best to avoid customers. A couple of times when she was picked; she would return in tears, and the Mama San would speak to her abruptly. Toy would then go to the sleeping room for a day or so until again ordered to return to the front bar.

One guy, whom I had seen frequently come to the bar and take a different girl each time (though many of the girls did their best to avoid him) entered the bar and sat next to me. I engaged him in a game of pool and as I got talking to him. He told me he liked to pay the girls as little as possible and make them do all he asked of them. He said he was good friends with the boss and had no problem as long as he paid the bar fine for the girls to leave with him, if a girl had not been picked by another they had no choice but to leave with him.

He was a bad drunk and became more and more obscene as he drank. Toy appeared from the back room, and he pointed to her. ‘I’m having her. She does what I tell her. She always does.’ Then he indicated to the Mama San that Toy was his mark, and agrement made, he continued to play pool. I asked him if he wanted to make a bet on a game two of whatever he wanted to drink. He agreed. I let him win a couple, then I won a few. This made him more eager to beat me, and so didn’t want to stop playing. I upped the bet to three drinks, then let him win again. We played for some time; he eventually got so drunk that he could just about walk. I escorted him back to his hotel, and he forgot all about Toy. I went back to the bar and the Mama San asked if he wanted Toy. I said, ‘I will pay the bar fine; in fact I’ll pay for a week.’ Then I went and got her a room. I told her not to tell anyone that she was\not staying in the same room as me, as this would create problems, or other girls would want use her room for whatever. She agreed.

Over the next week I learnt that Toy had two children; she had a big debt from ex-husband that family had to take on board; and also she was having to try and support mama and papa. She had nowhere to live; no education to find work. With no money, she had no choice but to go to a bar with a lady, till her debt was settled and also so as to raise money for her family and in time to afford a home. I said that I would do what I could to help. That weekend I made a deal with the Mama San that Toy could leave

We travelled up to Isaan, where I saw for myself the family’s situation and looked at ways of helping. I settled a debt that had caused Toy to have to go to the bar world, and also got the kids into school, and brought their books and uniforms. There was nowhere for Toy to sleep; so I got a couple of small rooms outside the village. Then I brought a second hand bike to get back and forth. After a few days, I found that I could rent a run down shop with an upstairs in the village. It needed a lot of work, but was ideal for Toy and for her to have her children back with her. I gave Toy the money to make the arrangements, and then I had to go and renew my visa.

On this visa trip I witnessed a girl being beaten in a bar near my hotel. After seeing what was done to the young girl in Bangkok, I was not willing to let this continue. I intervened, and I was challenged to take her place. I was then set upon and beaten. I also had to give all the money I had on me. It sounds bad, but the girl was not to be beaten again; so it was worth it. I returned to my room shaken, angry and scared that maybe more may happen to me. This may sound stupid, but the next day I wanted to overcome my fear. So I went to the bar; the guys just looked at me. I said I wanted to buy everyone a drink; the guys seemed confused, but slowly started to talk to me.
They were scared that I had informed the police I said, ‘No, I just wanted to help the girl.’ One at a time, they said, ‘Sorry.’ I said I had no problem as long as the girl was ok. I said I was a Christian and just wanted to help. I was able to give more money, and the girl was able to leave for good.

I then made my way back to Isaan. I stopped of at Phuket to pay my respects. This was a sad time and cannot go into too much detail, only to say that I had to deal with many sad memories.

On return to Isaan I started work on the old shop. There was so much needed doing. I had arranged to rent the shop for two years, but after three months the guy decided to break his agreement. He wanted more money or for me to buy the place. The family intervened, and to save face they decided it was best that Toy moved out, but a friend of the family found another place for Toy and children to rent. This time, I had agreement written out and contracts witnessed by the elders of the village and the local government agent, so that there was no chance of a repeated problem. This house had not been lived in for 10 years, and it needs much work but is liveable. I got water and power connected, netting fitted to help prevent insects getting in, and with furniture it turned out ok.

I decided to take a break. I said to Toy that I was going away for a little break. She was convinced that I would not return and was very distraught. She would not be able to keep house and so have to leave again. I said she could come if she liked, we went to a small island where I did a dive course and chilled out. This is where we met Tan. Toy knew her from her village. Tan said she wanted to leave bar and return to her child. So I made arrangements and then we returned to village together. Tan stayed with Toy for a while; then I got her a small room. A few months later, she went to stay with her sister and found a job. Hand in Hand is still helpping with her child, until Tan has a place of her own, and can arrange schooling where she is staying.

THE VILLAGE

Isaan is a very poor region, and it’s heart breaking to know that many of the girls from the village have had to leave in search of work, are married off to the highest bidder, or due to debt, are sold or have had to enter into the sex trade. Many of the girls have been abandoned by men, and so have had to leave their children with parents, or pay an elderly lady in the village to take care, while they have to sell themselves to support family.

Much of the local area depends on rice, but due to lack of rain, much of the rice dies off, creating many problems.

As adults leave in search of work, the elderly are often left with no form of support or help, as their family are so far away and may not have the money to send back.

Hand in Hand has been able to help a little by giving out food, helping with connecting water, giving what money possible.

The hope for the future is to be able to buy some land, on which to build a house, as renting is not a possibility for long term; also to have the land to grow food, and have a small shop built on to the house to provide long term work and money; to continue with help with education, and finding ways of providing work; to help with the children, so that this generation will not have to sell itself to a degrading and soul destroying life.

We want to help other girls escape the sex trade, and be returned to their families; to reunite children with their mothers.

There is much to be done; that can be done; through Hand in Hand we can make a difference.

This last year, so much has happened that I could write a book about it, but I hope many of the photos can tell this story.