Saved People Serve People--A Wayne county girl takes an adventure to Thailand

Grace Church is the home church of Jess Sweigert. She graduated from NorWayne HS in Creston, OH and attends Grace College in Winona Lake, IN.  

As a Wayne County girl, Jess is getting a shock on her short term missions trip to Thailand with Grace College. Yet her focus remains on Jesus. 

"Pattaya, Thailand.
The location is known as the sex tourism capital of the world. This particular location is "The Walking Street." As we passed by hundreds upon hundreds of young women outside of brothels and bars, I so badly wanted to tell them that they are worth infinitely more than the amount on the sign they were holding. Tonight, I'm clinging to the hope that is found in Jesus Christ as my heart breaks for these women and children and the incredible injustice that is happening in this world (Jess on Facebook post)."

Jess returns home to Wayne County this week. Please pray for her return trip home. Ask God for safety and for time to process the trip when she gets back home. 

Here is an excerpt from her thoughts posted on Facebook:
"Mid-trip update for my friends and prayer warriors back at home: this trip is rocking my world. From the cultural standpoint to the mission work standpoint, I am being challenged and learning so much. It is 1am here so I'm keeping it simple, here are some things I'm learning:

1. Take your shoes off before you enter the house.
2. Thai food is a whole new level of awesomeness in comparison to American food- seriously, who thinks to cut up mangoes and put it in sweet sticky rice?
3. Thai coffee/tea is also a whole new level of awesomeness.
4. Elephants are gentle giants. They are so loved here in Thailand. They are everywhere.
5. I prayed for God to open my eyes and break my heart for this, and He did that and more.
6. The depravity of the human trafficking situation is severely undermined. This injustice runs deeper than a person can fathom until you witness it firsthand.
7. There are a lot of people who are willing to "raise awareness" but few who actually do something about it.
8. The few who are doing something about it are making an impact, one survivor at a time.
9. My heart breaks for this cause unlike any other. Seeing the dark roots of this cause has deepened my desire to help and work with these people.
10. In the midst of the darkness and injustice happening, people are still finding hope in Jesus because His hands are active and working in Pattaya, Thailand. I am so grateful to have seen the good, bad, and ugly up until this point.
11. The reason you are not seeing any face view photos of these children we have been spending time with is because they have already been exploited. While they are now being given excellent care and love by people who love the Lord so much, they should not be exploited any further. It is dangerous for them and unfair that their "pain" that we do not even merely understand is used to get likes on social media.
12. On a lighter note, always keep TP on you. Never flush the toilet.

God is good, all the time. Thank you for the love and prayers."