His ears flicking back and forth, the dragon’s face stops only inches away from the prostitute holding money. She waves the bill back-and-forth, the dragon’s head bobbing along, never losing sight of the green bill. The dancer inside the dragon darts a hand through the mouth, snatching the bill. The prostitute laughs heartily, and reaches for a drink as the dragon moves on. Gongs and drums pound, clashing with the club’s techno beats, as the colorful dragon goes from table to table, receiving monetary gifts from patrons and prostitutes alike, an offering for a good new year.

Only five minutes from the strip clubs partying it up for Chinese New Year, a different, more peaceful, way of celebrating gathers a crowd of its own. The clear tones of two trumpets, played by Southern Cross volunteers from Taiwan, resonate from the Southern Cross Project Bible distribution point, causing many tourists to stop and listen.

The father-son duet plays traditional tunes that many Chinese recognize. Their rendition of the Chinese equivalent of “Auld Lang Syne” attracts a small crowd. Erica Blair*, a volunteer from Taiwan, leads the crowd in the singing along.

“Happy new year,” Blair tells them in Mandarin as the song ends. “We have a gift for you.”

The tourists’ eyes light up at the sound of their heart language in an unfamiliar land. Many of those passing accept copies of the Bible from the Southern Cross volunteers then scurry along to their next destination. After all, they are on vacation in a popular Southeast Asian tourist spot and there’s plenty more to see, like the beautiful ocean or watching tonight’s entertainment of dragons dancing down the road where evil reigns.

On this road, prostitutes aggressively hawk their services. Strip clubs show lewd videos outside their entrances to attract more clients. Hotels offer a cheap hourly rate. Street vendors showcase counterfeit goods.

Mei Zhou,* a veteran volunteer from Taiwan, walks down Walking Street, loaded down with as many Bible packets as she can carry. Zhou says this street is a “dark place,” but she’s totally comfortable. She prayer walks this street every year on Chinese New Year, stopping to talk along the way. She shuffles through the crowd giving the packets and tracts out to those along the road — street vendors, prostitutes, musicians, and anyone who shows interest.

“God bless you,” she says, handing them out. People return her smile and bow in respect to the older woman.

Within minutes, Zhou gives all of the Bibles away. So, she walks through the streets, praying that the people will turn from the darkness represented on this street to the Light of Jesus. She prays God will lead them to walk past the nearby Bible distribution point so they can get a Bible and talk.

*names changed