Introducing Thom, the woman who makes the beautiful B4J nativity sets.
Thom grew up in poverty in a province 7 hours south east of Bangkok. When she was five years old, her mother took her and ran away from her abusive father. Thom and her mother moved many times, experiencing poverty and debt, two major push factors in trafficking.
Thom was only 17 when she left home to work in a sewing factory where she received good training. Her goal was to help her mother pay off her mother’s lottery debt. Since factory workers were paid per piece, Thom worked long hours, often sleeping only two hours a night to produce more and earn more. She was able to pay off her mother’s lottery debt, but soon her mother had another even greater debt. Her Mom rented the rice field that she farmed. One year the yield was so poor that her Mom was unable to pay the rent to the field’s owner. The landlord demanded high Interest rates so the debt increased rapidly.
During this time, Thom’s mother continually asked Thom to go to work in the bars. She said she had heard that if you work in the bars, “the foreigners’ take care of you.” Finally as her mother kept asking, Thom gave in to her mother’s request. Leaving her small daughter with her mother, Thom left her village crying at 10 at night to take the long bus ride to Bangkok to fulfill her mother’s wishes.
When Thom arrived at the bars in Bangkok she was scared, not knowing anyone or having any idea about the work. Thom was shocked as she entered the red light area and saw women scantily clothed and topless. She approached one of the women and asked how to get a job. This woman replied, “We’ll help, but you need to change yourself.” Thom copied the other women and learned quickly what to do and how to get customers. But inside, she felt, “This is not me. This is not who I am. I need to be a different person to do this.” So Thom adopted a different name for her work in the bars.
Thom earned lots of money to pay for the debt, but the debt remained high due to the high, compounding interest rates. Thom felt empty, of no value, and depressed.
After a year and a half in the bar, Thom met Kay from Samaritan Creation. Kay and team visit the bars to meet the women, offering them an opportunity for a new life. Kay asked Thom, “If you had a chance for a new job, would you do it?” Thom took that chance, left the bar work, and began working at Samaritan Creation. Samaritan Creation also provided restorative counseling and an education. As a child, Thom had not gone to school past 5th grade. Although the money earned at Samaritan Creation was not high like the bars, Thom was happy to be earning income with dignity. Miraculously God helped Thom’s Mom get out of debt. The government established a system for villagers who had fallen prey to unfair debt to be able to report the landlord. Her Mom’s landlord canceled the debt completely.
Thom shares that most importantly, during her time at Samaritan Creation she met Jesus. One night, Thom had a dream in which she saw Jesus come to her in a bright light. With a gentle voice, she heard Him say, “Thom, I am your Father.” Thom experienced a deep inner healing in her heart. She began to eagerly learn from the Bible and she gained inner strength. With the help of Kay and Samaritan Creation, Thom began taking classes to further her education. Thom also learned English. One year after Thom came to faith in Christ, Thom’s mother also became a Christian and shared with others in the village.
Thom is a single Mom of two girls. Her oldest is now 18 years old. 7 years ago Thom talked her 17 year old niece out of having an abortion and then when the baby girl was born, Thom adopted her and gave her the name Kwan, meaning “gift.” Thom now earns income with dignity to support herself and to give her daughters a better life. She earns by tutoring students in Thai language and by professional sewing, including making the beautiful nativity sets sold by Samaritan Creation. Thom’s life has been transformed and she is spreading that transformation to others. Thom has personally experienced the light of Christ coming into her life. Now she actively lets her light shine, spending her weekends working with her church to serve children in a Bangkok slum.
