SARAH
The warm breeze floats through the window of our room here at our dear friends home in kolhapur. Again I am so thankful for places of rest in the midst o the whirlwind that is India! The longer we are here the more complex it seems to get - though I am feeling more and more at home. I think with familiarity comes more perceptive lenses through which we are seeing everything around us. It is both exciting and exhausting! But I'm loving being here.
Last week Nika and I were off "on our own" in Mumbai, Pune and back to Mumbai then down to Kolhapur. We had lovely uninvited roommates of all verities- a rat, beetles, roaches, and of course a few mosquitoes! Haha and our toilet in one of the bathrooms would spray out water from the holding tank everytime we flushed! I laughed out loud the first time it happened- and most other times. Quick! Flush and run!
Last week Nika and I were off "on our own" in Mumbai, Pune and back to Mumbai then down to Kolhapur. We had lovely uninvited roommates of all verities- a rat, beetles, roaches, and of course a few mosquitoes! Haha and our toilet in one of the bathrooms would spray out water from the holding tank everytime we flushed! I laughed out loud the first time it happened- and most other times. Quick! Flush and run!
We have had many wonderful adventures- up small mountains, out on rocks in the arabian sea, watching the sun set and large fruit bats fly overhead, and ofcourse navigating the train system :-)
Over the past week we have met so many more amazing people whom God is using in powerful ways! Prayer warriors and a young couple starting churches in a shanty town by "ceiling road bridge"- law firms to fight trafficking by going after the perpetrators- the president of a new political party formed in northern India based on biblical values and morality - leaders of several NGOs working in mumbai who were excited to do some systems thinking and map out the causes and systems of trafficking with us. I didn't expect my "mind map" of a partial causal loop diagram that I wrote out during a CUME class last year to be useful hear in India as a starting point! It was exciting for all of us in the room to learn from eachother - and brainstorm where the most strategic and influential places are for not just helping stem the tide or rescue a few victims- but to really break the cycle! It is crucial to address the higher criminal industries and the healing of families and relationships... But these things are possible. Networking is key - we must work together- especially as the body of Christ! Enough with our divisions and arguments with territory and doctrine! God is calling his church together and it is so exciting to see it happening here in india! If broken relationships and broken systems are what feeds into the cycle of trafficking and exploitation - may we not be a part of this brokenness as the church, but rather an example of healing.
The darkness coming against the light can seem unbending- and the enemy is attempting all sorts of ways to stop us from pressing on- but he has no power really. walking through one of the most notorious redlight areas in the world was hard for me- not only because of what I saw but because of the spiritual oppression there- no happy about me praying in that place. We will go into more detail in the prayer letter. So many lives are held in such deep bondage - but as Nika mentions- the most powerful of these trapped people think they are hidden in the top spheres of society! Things are about to change. We serve a God who is invincible and victorious!
It is good to be back in kolhapur! We have a day of rest - with delicious food and watching the India vs. South africa cricket game - after taking the overnight train last night. Ready for what's ahead in these next few weeks! Also i have been learning so much to take back to boston- but more on that next time. Thank you for your encouraging emails and prayers!
Sunday the 13th is Freedom Sunday- take some time to join with the thousands of churches who are standing against slavery together! No one should be for sale!
Blessings
Sarah
Over the past week we have met so many more amazing people whom God is using in powerful ways! Prayer warriors and a young couple starting churches in a shanty town by "ceiling road bridge"- law firms to fight trafficking by going after the perpetrators- the president of a new political party formed in northern India based on biblical values and morality - leaders of several NGOs working in mumbai who were excited to do some systems thinking and map out the causes and systems of trafficking with us. I didn't expect my "mind map" of a partial causal loop diagram that I wrote out during a CUME class last year to be useful hear in India as a starting point! It was exciting for all of us in the room to learn from eachother - and brainstorm where the most strategic and influential places are for not just helping stem the tide or rescue a few victims- but to really break the cycle! It is crucial to address the higher criminal industries and the healing of families and relationships... But these things are possible. Networking is key - we must work together- especially as the body of Christ! Enough with our divisions and arguments with territory and doctrine! God is calling his church together and it is so exciting to see it happening here in india! If broken relationships and broken systems are what feeds into the cycle of trafficking and exploitation - may we not be a part of this brokenness as the church, but rather an example of healing.
The darkness coming against the light can seem unbending- and the enemy is attempting all sorts of ways to stop us from pressing on- but he has no power really. walking through one of the most notorious redlight areas in the world was hard for me- not only because of what I saw but because of the spiritual oppression there- no happy about me praying in that place. We will go into more detail in the prayer letter. So many lives are held in such deep bondage - but as Nika mentions- the most powerful of these trapped people think they are hidden in the top spheres of society! Things are about to change. We serve a God who is invincible and victorious!
It is good to be back in kolhapur! We have a day of rest - with delicious food and watching the India vs. South africa cricket game - after taking the overnight train last night. Ready for what's ahead in these next few weeks! Also i have been learning so much to take back to boston- but more on that next time. Thank you for your encouraging emails and prayers!
Sunday the 13th is Freedom Sunday- take some time to join with the thousands of churches who are standing against slavery together! No one should be for sale!
Blessings
Sarah
NIKA
I have been getting better physically. My voice is almost completely back. My shoulder blade is healed. My chest is clearing up. We had a ton of fun in Pune. With Abishek we hiked up a hill, a bit off track, which was nice. See the sun set over Pune city in a pic below :).
Things have been excessively good in Mumbai. We learned a ton. Some of the details will show up in the intercessors email, as it relates to the revival that's about to explode here. It's so fun and faith building to be a part of it. Viju and Valsa took such good care of us, and their apartment is lovely and extremely comfortable on so many levels. They had lots of fascinating guests, though none of the kind Sarah mentioned! Plus they live in one of the high infrastructure, tree-lined residential areas of Mumbai. We walked along the boardwalk, grabbed some corn roasted on coals on the roadside and carefully cantered out on the rocks at low-tide to watch the sun set over the Arabian Sea. Cool. (pic below). There is quite a bit more western style dress in this part of town, but I still wear at least a stole to give the impression that I'm conservative. While many may find it laughable to refer to me as socially conservative in the States, what it means to be a non-conservative American over here can be pretty degrading for women.
My heart is on the mend. My spiritual and emotional healing are directly impacting my work and my love for others. I am beginning to see joy, community and spiritual wealth where I once could only see suffering, poverty and oppression- which enraged me and made me sad. I feel so happy when I visit homes and streets in what looks like slum shanty housing, from up high on an overlooking hill of Portuguese ruins, and find laughter, dancing, ingenuity, people looking out for each other, teaching, small enterprises, and even praising the Lord amongst some families.
India is the most complex place I've ever seen. So many apparent contradictions. So much being birthed so healthy, even amidst thorns, stones and adversity. It's hard to explain in an email. Everything is all mixed together and on top of each other, especially in a big city like Mumbai. Rich poor, clean dirty, educated illiterate: all like grains of various types poured into the same jar. But there is static around the different grains that keeps them from touching or noticing each other. A lovely penthouse flat of four large rooms, first floor ten persons squeezed into a tiny two room apartment with no furnishings but a couple of mats and a tv, outside a dozen families with babies are sleeping on the sidewalk- the police knocked down the lean-tos they'd erected along the front property of some small retail shops. Turn right for a tutorial on Mumbai illicit night life, left for the 15 min train to the top private school in the city. Some kids never turn right and don't know that a pimp hangs on the next corner. Don't see the homelessness, brothels or poverty. Well, a lean-to on the sidewalk is considered a home by the government and the resident; should I judge? In the old part of Mumbai it's not uncommon for even concrete 90-year-old apartment homes to collapse during monsoon season.
In the red light district you know the prostitues bc they wear a lot of makeup and make eye contact with men on the street. Most Indian women don't do that I'm told, though I think this is changing faster than many realize. It's hard to prayer walk while staring at the ground- at least the way I do it. Do you think you can take me, bc I'm comfortable staring you down as you stare me up and down? Probably not. I'm like three feet taller than you. Jk. Jk.
Seriously though, red light pimping is not a high rolling thing here. People are trying to survive. Many children are born and groomed into lives of prostitution. We are told by local lawers that girls trafficked in from other countries by trick or force are sometimes beaten and raped until they agree to stay in the brothel and give all their earnings to the madame or owner. Older prostitutes "break free" to become madames and slave owners themselves. These are the folks mainly being prosecuted now. "The madame contracted HIV when she was enslaved. Will the courts let her off? Should we? Will public health justice NGOs fight us?" This is the jist of a conversation with one freedom fighter lawyer who told us about the results of a recent raid on a brothel. The top guy collecting from the madame is no where to be found. The arrested Madame had coldly inquired of the prosecuting lawyer, "Where were you when I was kidnapped and dragged down here?!" It's complicated. It's ugly. But it's also going down. I don't think prosecuting the middle men like this can work without additional strategic attack on the whole corrupt structure.
This red light district type of crime against humanity is actually not driving the economy of trafficking. I'm sure you are not surprised that a trillion dollar industry isn't maintained by street pimps and resilient ex-prostitutes. The most sustainably corrupt forces don't hang out on street corners much. In fact they work in law offices, parliament, business, law enforcement, etc. I'm looking into this. There are plans afoot to uproot the large scale corruption destroying the fabric of Indian society and impacting the dynamics of trafficking and violence in the US and worldwide. I am meeting good, smart, commited people. Pray that God would allow me to get more involved somehow.
I have been getting better physically. My voice is almost completely back. My shoulder blade is healed. My chest is clearing up. We had a ton of fun in Pune. With Abishek we hiked up a hill, a bit off track, which was nice. See the sun set over Pune city in a pic below :).
Things have been excessively good in Mumbai. We learned a ton. Some of the details will show up in the intercessors email, as it relates to the revival that's about to explode here. It's so fun and faith building to be a part of it. Viju and Valsa took such good care of us, and their apartment is lovely and extremely comfortable on so many levels. They had lots of fascinating guests, though none of the kind Sarah mentioned! Plus they live in one of the high infrastructure, tree-lined residential areas of Mumbai. We walked along the boardwalk, grabbed some corn roasted on coals on the roadside and carefully cantered out on the rocks at low-tide to watch the sun set over the Arabian Sea. Cool. (pic below). There is quite a bit more western style dress in this part of town, but I still wear at least a stole to give the impression that I'm conservative. While many may find it laughable to refer to me as socially conservative in the States, what it means to be a non-conservative American over here can be pretty degrading for women.
My heart is on the mend. My spiritual and emotional healing are directly impacting my work and my love for others. I am beginning to see joy, community and spiritual wealth where I once could only see suffering, poverty and oppression- which enraged me and made me sad. I feel so happy when I visit homes and streets in what looks like slum shanty housing, from up high on an overlooking hill of Portuguese ruins, and find laughter, dancing, ingenuity, people looking out for each other, teaching, small enterprises, and even praising the Lord amongst some families.
India is the most complex place I've ever seen. So many apparent contradictions. So much being birthed so healthy, even amidst thorns, stones and adversity. It's hard to explain in an email. Everything is all mixed together and on top of each other, especially in a big city like Mumbai. Rich poor, clean dirty, educated illiterate: all like grains of various types poured into the same jar. But there is static around the different grains that keeps them from touching or noticing each other. A lovely penthouse flat of four large rooms, first floor ten persons squeezed into a tiny two room apartment with no furnishings but a couple of mats and a tv, outside a dozen families with babies are sleeping on the sidewalk- the police knocked down the lean-tos they'd erected along the front property of some small retail shops. Turn right for a tutorial on Mumbai illicit night life, left for the 15 min train to the top private school in the city. Some kids never turn right and don't know that a pimp hangs on the next corner. Don't see the homelessness, brothels or poverty. Well, a lean-to on the sidewalk is considered a home by the government and the resident; should I judge? In the old part of Mumbai it's not uncommon for even concrete 90-year-old apartment homes to collapse during monsoon season.
In the red light district you know the prostitues bc they wear a lot of makeup and make eye contact with men on the street. Most Indian women don't do that I'm told, though I think this is changing faster than many realize. It's hard to prayer walk while staring at the ground- at least the way I do it. Do you think you can take me, bc I'm comfortable staring you down as you stare me up and down? Probably not. I'm like three feet taller than you. Jk. Jk.
Seriously though, red light pimping is not a high rolling thing here. People are trying to survive. Many children are born and groomed into lives of prostitution. We are told by local lawers that girls trafficked in from other countries by trick or force are sometimes beaten and raped until they agree to stay in the brothel and give all their earnings to the madame or owner. Older prostitutes "break free" to become madames and slave owners themselves. These are the folks mainly being prosecuted now. "The madame contracted HIV when she was enslaved. Will the courts let her off? Should we? Will public health justice NGOs fight us?" This is the jist of a conversation with one freedom fighter lawyer who told us about the results of a recent raid on a brothel. The top guy collecting from the madame is no where to be found. The arrested Madame had coldly inquired of the prosecuting lawyer, "Where were you when I was kidnapped and dragged down here?!" It's complicated. It's ugly. But it's also going down. I don't think prosecuting the middle men like this can work without additional strategic attack on the whole corrupt structure.
This red light district type of crime against humanity is actually not driving the economy of trafficking. I'm sure you are not surprised that a trillion dollar industry isn't maintained by street pimps and resilient ex-prostitutes. The most sustainably corrupt forces don't hang out on street corners much. In fact they work in law offices, parliament, business, law enforcement, etc. I'm looking into this. There are plans afoot to uproot the large scale corruption destroying the fabric of Indian society and impacting the dynamics of trafficking and violence in the US and worldwide. I am meeting good, smart, commited people. Pray that God would allow me to get more involved somehow.
I can't say that I like it here. Not yet. But I do feel called to come back. What happens in India in the next decade or two will export to the entire world. Next couple of weeks- back in Kolhapur. I'll be thinking and working on strategic planning and trafficking stuff with local churches, schools and hospitals again.
Saying goodbye to Mumbai temporarily. Here is a part of a note I sent my house and community mates last week. It gives a bit of the flavor of my experience in one of the biggest cities in the world.
"On the way back [from a church service attended by 400 women trapped in or rescued from prostitution and their kids] traffic was ridiculous. Pedestrians, a small variety of other mammals, taxis, 1-ton roadcarts pulled by old thin men. Burkhas (sp?), some quite sheer and fancy; barechested elderly female beggar, prostitutes, happy children, lots of men working and walking, some hand in hand; many in this neighborhood are Muslims, some with orange beards died with henna; motor bike with 3 children, a woman in a sari and the dad driving. All mixed in the middle of a broad, packed smokey (for some reason) street. Eery lighting at night reflects off smoke and sparkling punjabi dresses. Some people are used to the chaos- enjoying life. Others clearly hate it. Others oblivious to that any other life exists. We are nearly killed (not really) while tailing our escort on foot through the middle of the street looking for an empty cab that will go to our neighborhood. We try to stay close as we walk towards moving headlights coming at us. Sidestep at the last minute, just like everybody else. Finally find one that smells like goat and slide into the slimy seats. Half an hour later we get out and walk. This "traffic" is going nowhere. Keep my head down. Don't feel like standing out tonight.
Night air is humid and strange in the old part of Mumbai where ten-story 90-year-old concrete apartments have never known a fresh repaint and colorful laundry dangles from one hundred crumbling balconies, swaying high above crowded, steamy trash-strewn streets."
Night air is humid and strange in the old part of Mumbai where ten-story 90-year-old concrete apartments have never known a fresh repaint and colorful laundry dangles from one hundred crumbling balconies, swaying high above crowded, steamy trash-strewn streets."
MISSION
Most of the mission work is detailed now and deeply spiritually grounded, so we will address it in the intercessors email, for those who replied to the invitation for that. Here are some things everyone can pray/think encouraging thoughts about.
- red light district: beds on the street, small children hanging around the brothels, their homes. Pray that when they come down, they will not relocate or be replaced but redeemed.
- "slum" ministries: beautiful spirits, grassroots community development, the residents are leading the participating churches, the church is coming to the streets as well as helping with tangible needs for homes and medical care. Pray for protection and prosperity for the residents and that they would know and be able to enforce their rights. Also that people, especially church people, would respect and love residents as peers and community leaders.
- legal ministries: pray against organized crime influence in the courts. For government ministries that are receptive to ethics and trafficking enforcement training.
- for strong families and communities that protect and look out for children and other vulnerables.
- for christian mission investigators who go undercover into brothels. They say there is danger in being discovered and also in th temptations aroused by the environment. Sometimes they get minor (so far) injuries while trying to escape criminals who have discovered that they are there gathering evidence.
- pray for unity and grace in relationships for the current and potenial workers and volunteers.
- nika had to give her fingerprint to a hotel concierge recently, it seems, bc she was identified by their computer as staying at a church mission house (hostel) in a totally different city. Pray for continued safety for all the tourists, workers and volunteers.
- Some crazy anti-corruption stuff is being organized. Will send a presentation with the intercession email. Pray for God's light to fully overtake the dark corruption.
- intercessors and church groups are being inspired. Pray for their courage and continued encouragement. Also for the safety of them and their families and churches.
- for Freedom Sunday and the work we will do with/for the church council in coming weeks, including a workshop, a women's retreat and public health visits to the local red light district - a receiving area of trafficked girls from abroad and a feeder district to Pune and Mumbai.
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