“Would you like to earn 1,000 baht (about $33.) simply by allowing us to use your bank account?” asked a gang of criminals looking for a way to launder their money. Living in desperate poverty conditions with her husband and three children, Lalissa thought this could be a helpful solution. Jay, our missionary friend, warned her that this was dangerous. Regardless, she accepted the offer. Unfortunately, a sting operation proceeded with police suddenly arriving on the scene. Lalissa had no warning and no “rights” to inform her family what was happening. Someone saw her being arrested, so the family knew she wasn’t kidnapped, but it was apparently impossible for them to locate her among all the prisons in Thailand. “We had a four-month-old baby, a four-year-old, and an 11-year-old! This was very difficult for me to take care of them and still work,” reflected Lamon, Lalissa’s husband.
Lalissa pled guilty after being told this would give her a lighter sentence. Fainting in dismay and hopelessness, the judge’s words swirled in her mind, “You are sentenced to 20 years imprisonment!” Lalissa was a lukewarm Christian up to this point. She knew a little about God, but recounts, “I was depressed and felt I had no purpose in life.” Now forced to live in a room with 250 other women among this prison of 6,000 inmates, desperation set in.
But God…! Not too much time passed before a Christian lady befriended Lalissa and invited her to a Bible study! This prison encouraged religious gatherings. The Christians had the largest group, encompassing 70% of the inmates. They met together every morning and night and tenderly took Lalissa under their wings.
After a few months, Lalissa’s friend was released. She promptly informed Lamon of his wife’s location. He was relieved, but due to their distance and need to take care of the children, he could rarely visit. Lalissa’s friend lived closer, however, and was able to faithfully bring her much needed nutritious food and encouragement.
Lalissa flourished with renewed faith, passing on Christ’s hope and love to her fellow inmates. She eventually became a leader in this Christian community, teaching Bible studies and leading worship regularly. The prison officials saw this remarkable change in Lalissa and rewarded her with a lowered sentence of three years and eight months!
Now, four years later, Brian and I, along with our friends Jay and Sally, sit together with dear Lalissa and her family on the wooden porch of their modest home along the seacoast of southern Thailand full of love and joy, as they share their wonderful testimony of God’s fulfilled promise, “All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28.
“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts…. They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.” (Ps. 145).
Thank you for reading our stories and celebrating God’s goodness with us!
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