Global Engagement: Ainsley Konow ’26 Turns Her On Campus Involvement into Global Action in Thailand

Konow joined the Free the Captives club as a freshman and was the president from spring of her sophomore year until her graduation in May. After serving on the Greece GE team two years ago, Konow applied to lead a trip for her senior year. Although Thailand was one of her top three choices, Konow was not sure if she was prepared to lead a team through such an emotionally intense trip. However, the Office of Service and Discipleship believed that Konow would be a caring and passionate leader, choosing her as the Thailand team’s lead.

Every day in Thailand brought opportunities for the team to interact with new people and serve in different ways. On Mondays and Thursdays, Konow and her team spent time at a cat cafe which was created by Samaritan Creations to employ women who escaped working in the red light district or were at risk of being trafficked. The women were part of a program to become baristas at the cafe. The Thailand team spent time talking to the women and teaching them English. “When these women are trafficked, the work they’re forced to do is almost impossible to escape from, so for those that are able to, we are training them in real life skills and teaching them how to use English that will be useful for the rest of their lives,” Konow said.

On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, the team would split up to do organization visits to support women experiencing homelessness and trafficking. One of the organizations had a salon space where women could come to get their hair and nails done, receive medical attention, and get basic necessities like food. “The women would come in and be able to relax,” Konow said. “Some of them even fell asleep in the salon chairs because it’s a space where they felt safe. I got to be a part of that safe haven for these women which means a lot to me.”

Konow’s favorite memory from the trip took place during one of the Friday organization visits. She and another team member were in charge of hosting an open hour activity for the women to participate in. Based on the materials available, the two girls decided to host a bracelet making session, giving participants a space to relax and unwind. Konow realized how the simple act of making a bracelet could be a great source of comfort the following Tuesday. “I was questioning how much of a difference I was really making when one of the organization's founders shared with me that while he was doing outreach, one of the women he saw was still wearing the bracelet she made on Friday,” she said.

When we were doing the women’s nails that day, many of them were wearing their bracelets too. Something as simple as bracelet making is an opportunity for somebody to know they’re loved and cared for by this ministry. God turned a little craft into something the women could treasure.

On Thursday nights, the team would do outreach ministry in the red light district. The team’s hosts have connections with some of the bar managers, so while half the team participated in prayer walking outside, the other half would go into the establishments and meet with women that the managers thought could use someone to talk to. The goal of these conversations was to build connections. “These women often feel judged, so we asked them to tell us about themselves and learn about their interests,” Konow said. “I talked to one woman about cats using Google Translate which led into a conversation about the cat cafe and its purpose. It felt like God used these conversations to help these women see other avenues and opportunities for their future.” The team encouraged the women to visit the cat cafe as well as the other organizations where they could receive care and feel safe.

Konow shared that the most challenging part of the trip was the emotional impact of seeing so many tourists in Thailand visiting the red light district. “My first instinct was to be angry, and I had to challenge myself to remember that the tourists are still God’s children,” she said. “Our host told us that while many of the women have never heard the Gospel, a majority of the tourists have because they come from other countries. I heard a few stories of tourists sharing the Gospel with the women, and I watched my prayers turn from anger towards the tourists to asking God to use them to share His Word.” Konow had to learn to balance her feelings about how the women in the red light district were being treated with how she could pray for freedom for both the workers and their customers.

Konow was able to get hands-on experience working with a population she had been advocating for from afar since freshman year. Throughout her time in Thailand, Konow’s faith was constantly evolving and strengthening along with her passion for serving others. “God was showing me how He loves His children and values every one of us while hoping for our freedom, whether that’s for the trafficked women or the customers who struggle with temptation,” she said. Having graduated in May, Konow is stepping into a position working with students in youth ministry. “In Thailand, I was actively looking to show people love which turned into an integral part of my faith by asking how I can consistently show love to everyone,” she said. “In my job, I want to make sure the kids feel seen in the way that God sees them, as precious masterpieces.” Konow plans to prioritize creating connections with the kids through encouragement and intentional conversations, creating a judgment free space where kids feel safe and loved.