Phuket, Thailand : Bangla Rd.
This is the entrance to Bangla Rd, near Patong Beach. A closed street oozing with bars, women, tourists, fake designer things, tuk tuk's, curiosity, loud music, flashing lights, crowded walk ways, lust, drinks, drunks, shamefulness, brokenness, + searching.
Jon Foreman's song Somebody's Baby is about a homeless girls journey, filled with searching & always coming up empty...concluding that no matter where SHE has been or what SHE has done; SHE is still somebody's baby. SHE is the child of someone. SHE is the little girl, daughter, or sister of someone.The lyrics remind me a lot of the women I met on Bangla Road. Each night we would go into the bars, buy a pop, and talk to our friends behind the bars, over a game of connect four or jenga.
No matter what their story is, where they have been, what they have done or seen, where they have come from or who they were with...they are somebody's baby still.
SHE is and will always be somebody’s baby. SHE is a child of the Most High. SHE is the prodigal daughter, wanting to come home and doesn't want to be homeless any more. SHE longs for love. SHE thinks money and the attention of a man will fulfill her void. SHE has dreams. SHE wants freedom. SHE searches and never finds.
SHE is not an object; SHE is a living, breathing human being. SHE is worth far more than rubies. Right now SHE has deceptive charm and fleeting beauty, longing to be restored. SHE is clothed with strength and dignity; SHE can laugh at the days to come.[proverbs thirty-one]
SHE needs to embrace her daughter-hood. SHE needs to find refuge in her Father. SHE needs to run to His arms. SHE needs to come home, the only place where she will search and truly find.
pray, pray, pray & pray again
for the daughters on Bangla Road...
photo credit ::
Elesha Atwood &Janie Giebelhaus
for the daughters on Bangla Road...
photo credit ::
Elesha Atwood &Janie Giebelhaus
