A story for the books

Last weekend we had a great time in the ministry! Every year the Thai governments hosts a social event for the handicapped in Thailand. There's entertainment and free food. It's open to anyone but the free stuff is only for the handicapped. A group of us went 2 years ago to make deaf contacts and it was very successful. Well, I found out Friday night the event this year was being held on Saturday. One problem, it's near all the government buildings which is where the protesting has been going on. After thinking about it, I decided to go in spite of the protesting. I would be cautious and aware. Plus I figured the protestors would be respectful of the fact that this was an event for the handicapped. Surely they wouldn't cause problems. So I made plans to go with 2 other sisters. But I was coming from the opposite direction so I was just going to meet them there.

So I started on my way around 11am. After waiting for the wrong bus (I did have the chance to witness to a lady for about 10 minutes) I finally figured out the correct bus and got on. A man sitting behind me overheard me talking with one of the sisters about the right bus that would take me there. He said the bus I mentioned won't go because the roads are blocked. But he lived nearby and said I could follow him and he'd show me the way. I was also able to witness to him.

So it's almost 1pm by the time we get off. He shows me where I need to go. I follow the road and then see all the roadblocks. But I could just walk through. Then I see where I need to turn and go straight up towards where the event was being held. The problem was that's exactly where the protestors are set up. They've been camped out there for a few months. So I proceed with caution. At the main entrance (which is the only way to go) I see a guard letting cars through. I very politely tell him who I am and where I'd like to go and ask if it's ok to go through. He said it was fine. He asked me a few other questions (where I'm from, what I do for work, etc. I didn't witness to him.) All was quiet so I walked through. It was actually really quiet. Almost ghost-town quiet. The tents were set up like they were expecting an army of people but NO ONE was there. I could hear someone make a speech off in the distance but didn't make too much of an effort to see where it was coming from. The few people I did see looked at me funny and I just smiled politely and kept going. When I got through to the other side, near the entrance of the park where the event was, I couldn't help heaving a sigh of relief and laughing. I just walked through the protesting area! Whoa! This is the same area 2 people had been killed and soldiers had sprayed tear gas! Whoa! Whoa!

Now, before you say "Julie, that was so stupid! Why would you do something so risky like that?!" I was very cautious. I would not have gone through if I'd seen people actually protesting or rallying. If the guy at the entrance had given me the least bit of trouble, I would not have gone through. If the event wasn't for the handicapped, I wouldn't have even thought about going. But the whole time I was very aware of my surroundings and was ready to run if it was necessary.

Finally, the event. It was really good! We met 2 deaf people who used to attend meetings regularly but haven't been for over a year. We were able to give them the special tract and invite them back. We also met lots of new people. We had such a good conversation with one man that we made arrangements to continue the conversation the following Saturday. Another person, a young guy, ended up coming to the meeting the next day! And he commented during the Wt study! Going to the event was so worth the effort!

I wish I had pictures to show you, but you of course would understand why I didn't take any of the protesting area. But I should've gotten a picture of some of the deaf we met. Oh well, next time.