I have wrestled with how to share of what impacted me the deepest in India. I have even wondered if I should. Because I will not be able to relay the beauty of what God is doing in the lives of the broken there, hidden in a city of twenty two million people.
But, I feel I must try. Because people need to know.
The current statistic for people who are suffering from human trafficking worldwide is 27 million people. But, there is no statistic that can even come close to communicating the depth of pain in the face of one woman caught in the sex trade. And there is no number that can describe the innocence lost of her child now being brought up in an orphanage with AIDS. There are no graphs or charts that can move the heart with the enormity of injustice more than seeing it with your own eyes.
And that's what I saw.
I saw women whose bodies have been freed, still working out the freedom of their souls.
I saw children who have been snatched out of harm's way, only to fight for their lives from disease.
I saw courageous warriors who are risking everything to save those who have no voice.
And I saw so many more who need to be fought for. So many more...
If you've ever wondered if the seemingly small things you do to help fight social injustice really help, let me be one voice to say they do. I saw what transformations are happening in the lives of the broken with the help of ordinary people just like you and me. And they are transformations on such a deep, profound level that I am honored to be counted in the host of people who are joining together to say human trafficking must end, and I will help end it.
So, don't grow weary in the helping, my friend. If you've never given of your time or money to use your voice for those who have none, find a group you can support. There are many wonderful people around the world who are doing the work and just need our resources to take it to the next level. If you already have a group to support, don't stop. Lives are depending on you.
So remember them. Don't forget them.
Because God hasn't.
And what he remembers should be remembered by me.
Author's Note: Here is a list of Christian ministries I am aware of that are currently actively helping those who have escaped or are trying to escape the sex trafficking trade. If you need a place to invest in, these would be a good place to start.
Sower of Seeds International
Rescue Her
Eternal Threads
Showing posts with label India. Show all posts
India (Part One)
Monday, December 2, 2013
I've returned from a twelve day trip to India, and it's taken me a little while to adjust back to my home time zone, the amazing softness of my own bed, and the ability to turn on the faucet and drink water without wondering if it's clean or not.
Such a simple thing...water. I use it three or four times an hour throughout my day without giving it a second thought, but for great parts of the world, it's a precious commodity.
During our first day in India, our group walked the streets of a slum in the city of Mumbai, passing row upon row of houses made from whatever supplies were available.
I can't really describe the scene I witnessed except to say it's poverty on a level one simply does not see in the western world.
And then it happened.
We turned a corner, and there in the middle of the slum neighborhood, was life.
It was color.
It was vibrant.
It was smiles.
It was sounds of children singing.
It was just alive.
And after we had been there a few moments, I realized the life was coming from the water.
The story I learned was the village had only had one dirty, contaminated water source until recently. But some people who wanted to help partnered with a church in the slum and dug a new well, a well with multiple spouts running down the length of this street that now teemed with life. Instead of walking a far distance to wait in a long line for dirty water, the people in this slum could now access it right here...here in front of this pastor's house and church. A pastor who, bent over from the waist, loves his people day in and day out, giving them water from the well and water from the living well.
And it was this water and this love that made life in the desert.
"Jesus answered, 'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'" - John 4:13-14
Such a simple thing...water. I use it three or four times an hour throughout my day without giving it a second thought, but for great parts of the world, it's a precious commodity.
During our first day in India, our group walked the streets of a slum in the city of Mumbai, passing row upon row of houses made from whatever supplies were available.
I can't really describe the scene I witnessed except to say it's poverty on a level one simply does not see in the western world.
And then it happened.
We turned a corner, and there in the middle of the slum neighborhood, was life.
It was color.
It was vibrant.
It was smiles.
It was sounds of children singing.
It was just alive.
And after we had been there a few moments, I realized the life was coming from the water.
The story I learned was the village had only had one dirty, contaminated water source until recently. But some people who wanted to help partnered with a church in the slum and dug a new well, a well with multiple spouts running down the length of this street that now teemed with life. Instead of walking a far distance to wait in a long line for dirty water, the people in this slum could now access it right here...here in front of this pastor's house and church. A pastor who, bent over from the waist, loves his people day in and day out, giving them water from the well and water from the living well.
And it was this water and this love that made life in the desert.
"Jesus answered, 'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'" - John 4:13-14
Some "Treasure" News
Friday, November 15, 2013
Last Christmas, my husband surprised me with a special gift. A beautifully bound copy of the first two years' worth of writings from "Treasure the Ordinary." His thoughtfulness took my breath away. I was especially thrilled when I learned he had bought five copies, one for me to keep and four for me to give my mom, my sister, and my grandmothers. His gift to me allowed me the privilege of being a gift giver to the women who have impacted my life the most.
This year, he's taken it a step farther. I received in the mail today thirty copies of "Treasure The Ordinary, Volume One." He bought them for me to offer readers of my little quiet corner, for we have learned that some people would treasure having the printed version to hold in their hands.
If you are one of those readers, I am pleased to make this beautiful copy available to you. You can click below to purchase your copy on our ministry website.
I would also like to offer any new readers the chance to win one copy in this year's holiday giveaway! To enter, just follow the directions in the upper right hand corner to subscribe to "Treasure the Ordinary." Once your free subscription is activated, you will receive all further posts directly in your email box, and will also be entered in the giveaway drawing. All entries must be submitted by Monday, December 2.
On one final personal note, I would covet your prayers as I travel to India tomorrow for ten days. Pray that the Lord's plans and purposes for this trip come to pass and that I will follow His lead to touch the one, and then another, and then another...
This year, he's taken it a step farther. I received in the mail today thirty copies of "Treasure The Ordinary, Volume One." He bought them for me to offer readers of my little quiet corner, for we have learned that some people would treasure having the printed version to hold in their hands.
If you are one of those readers, I am pleased to make this beautiful copy available to you. You can click below to purchase your copy on our ministry website.
I would also like to offer any new readers the chance to win one copy in this year's holiday giveaway! To enter, just follow the directions in the upper right hand corner to subscribe to "Treasure the Ordinary." Once your free subscription is activated, you will receive all further posts directly in your email box, and will also be entered in the giveaway drawing. All entries must be submitted by Monday, December 2.
On one final personal note, I would covet your prayers as I travel to India tomorrow for ten days. Pray that the Lord's plans and purposes for this trip come to pass and that I will follow His lead to touch the one, and then another, and then another...
Laughter Soothes the Soul, Love Heals the Heart
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Author's Note: I am honored to be featuring a piece written by guest blogger, Paige Allen. Paige is an amazing woman of God who has the ability to stir passion in your heart when you listen to her speak. In fact, she recently spoke at a beautiful event in our city as we banded together as women to raise money for a ministry that advocates for those caught in the sex trafficking industry. When I heard her speak that night, my heart was even more moved for the plight of these precious 27 million people around the globe who are being sold for sex. So moved, in fact, that I will be traveling with Paige to minister to women in India this November.
Please take some time to read Paige's report from a previous trip to the country, and allow your heart to be moved as well.
If you would like to partner with me in prayer or financially, you can log on to my You Caring site here. I receive 100% of gifts given at this link towards my trip to India. All gifts are tax deductible, and, if given before October 7, every donor will be entered into a drawing for a Carry Lovely handbag, thanks to their generous donation and tireless work to end sex trafficking. (To receive tax credit and be entered in the drawing, please make sure you leave your contact information on the You Caring site at the time you make your donation.)
If you would like to read more from beautiful Paige, you can visit her blog, Becoming Paige. It's a life-giving source of encouragement for women, wives, mamas, missionaries, and followers of Jesus in general.
Be blessed as you read her stirring narrative:
I had the privilege of being involved with a retreat in India at one of the most amazing places I have ever visited. It was an oasis in the middle of crazy India and it housed men, women, and children who have been rescued from the streets and all manners of horror.
The retreat was specifically targeted towards 85 women who were rescued from sex trafficking. Many of these girls were sold or kidnapped into prostitution and others of them were the daughters of prostitutes who also were abused and mistreated on the streets. If you can imagine, I was literally on the verge of tears when I allowed myself to imagine the horrors these girls have faced. Yet, I didn’t see pain or sadness in their eyes, but great hope and joy. There was an occasional flicker of longing or lament, but most of the time I just saw life!
I preached on Friday night about being a daughter and of course in my mind, I envisioned it looking something like what I experienced last year – girls crying, sharing their hearts, praying with the all-wise Americans, etc… Guess what? After I finished what I thought was a pretty good sermon and gave the invitation for prayer, only five girls came forward – yep, that’s it…five. I hate to admit it, but I was about to question God about why He would send me and not use me when Mandi (a fabulous girl from Dallas) started to sing a song acapella – “Child of God.”
I stopped in my mid-complaint as she began to sing because this song was explanation enough from the Lord. You see, God’s revelation to my heart about being His daughter as my identity occurred before I got married, and the story was the focal point of my sermon that I shared that night. Over 8 years ago, the one song that ministered to me in that time was “Child of God,” and it was so instrumental that I even had it sung at my wedding. So, when Mandi started singing this song that is almost 10 years old, the Lord said to my heart…"Paige, you just do what I tell you to do and then trust me to heal their hearts – they are my children.”
I looked out over the sea of women and saw that though they weren't coming up for prayer, some were silently crying, some were writing in their journals, and some were sitting and letting the Father love on them. So, although I didn’t see what I had envisioned, I left with an unwavering knowledge that God is at work in the hearts and lives of these young women.
Later that night, I found out that God wanted to redefine "ministry" for me. He reminded me that there are different seasons – a time to cry & a time to laugh. And after dinner we laughed so much! In fact, I think that perhaps the most good I did that entire weekend was allow the girls to teach me to Bollywood dance…They were doubled over in laughter at times - not sure if they were laughing with me or at me...but the point is - they were laughing!
And as I went to sleep that night, God whispered to my heart, "Paige, they've seen enough tears - tonight I just wanted them to laugh." Who knew my ministry this year would not just be in speaking or prayer but Bollywood dance?!
So, I share a few pics of this fun night, and I ask you to pray for these women, and let these ladies stories...their faces become etched in your hearts. It changed me...and it will change you.
If only we might do our small part to see more laughter replace the pain that MILLIONS of women face across the world.
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