I first met Dao in the middle of the Red Shirts protest in Bangkok. Her neighborhood was being bombarded with gunfire and grenades. Dao’s aunt works at NightLight and requested refuge for her family. Dao had only just recently escaped being locked up and abused by a “boyfriend” for many months. She had gone from the trauma of abuse straight into the trauma of a war zone. 

Concerned for Dao, we accepted her at NightLight. Soon after, Dao accepted Jesus. The abuser, however, had used drugs to control Dao, and the addiction to these drugs drove her back to the abuser. Dao had tasted freedom, and it wasn’t long before she realized what she had lost. Once again, Dao escaped and returned begging to be free from the drugs, the abuse, her fears, and her past. 



 
We sent Dao to Operation Dawn in northern Thailand, the only Christian rehab center we could find. When the post-traumatic symptoms appeared, she began to see her abuser in the face of the men around her. It was a few tense months before Dao began to thrive. She was baptized at the center along with other recovering addicts. Her phone calls to us were full of hope and excitement for her future. Dao wanted to serve God in ministry. She had also begun to fall in love. 

Apaw, a Chinese immigrant, had also found freedom from drugs at Operation Dawn. After completing the program, he joined the staff. As Dao and Apaw studied together, their feelings went beyond friendship. Dao’s year of rehabilitation was coming to an end, but Dao and Apaw decided to try a long-distance relationship.
 
Dao is from Bangkok, but afraid the abuser might pursue her, so we sent her to Tamar in Pattaya. Even though it was a long-distance relationship, Dao and Apaw’s love grew deeper. A wedding date was chosen. 

Dao is an orphan who was raised by her grandmother. Now getting married, she asked Pon, Director of NightLight Foundation, to assist as wedding planner. Jeff and I were asked to stand in as parents. Dao looked beautiful as Jeff walked her down the aisle and gave her hand to Apaw. Two individuals from very different cultures, brought together through their victory over drug addiction, turned shyly to face each other. Fighting back tears, Apaw spoke his vows in Chinese and Dao, tearfully responded by giving hers in Thai. Firecrackers exploded to announce the marriage, and then a Chinese feast continued the celebration.  

Apaw built their first home, a simple thatched hut, on the ground of the rehab center. Dao admitted it was simple, but it was theirs and she was excited.
 
Dao had grown up in the city where the happiness-index seems to be measured by possessions. The insatiable appetites of abusers had exploited her need for love and belonging, and had nearly destroyed her. God brought Dao out of exploitation, out of drug addiction, and out of an orphan identity. Nestled between the rural mountains of the north, in a simple thatched hut on the grounds of a small rehab center, Dao and Apaw have found a place of belonging, together now, in the place they call home.

Annie Dieselberg, Founder/CEO
NightLight International

 

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