Wow. Two months without blogging. Something has definitely felt funny about this, but every time I have sat down to write I have not known what to say. How do I tie up a nine-month experience of incredible Kingdom work in a blog post? How do I adequately retell the stories of living so close to some of the poorest people in the world? How do I convey the urgency of the work in India to move the readers to respond accordingly?
So all that I have been able to come up with is simply that this is all going to be a process. Over the past two months I have slowly been adjusting back mentally to life in the West and a lifestyle that now seems so over-the-top and excessive. I keep reliving my experiences in India and praying for my girls over there. I am in close contact with other interns who finished their stints around the same time as me. I have been figuring out how best to continue the work from here - whether through personal advocacy, networking and fundraising and also just by telling people about the work.
Last year God entrusted me to be a part of work that is changing and restoring lives broken beyond what any of us can likely relate to. In a small office in eastern India I watched a courageous team of about 30 professionals set out to trust God daily in the fight to rescue little girls from the most abusive and disgusting brothels that exist in the world. I lived 5 km from Sonagochi, the world's second largest red-light district, where 10,000 sex workers live and operate within the parameters of a 4 block stretch of brothels. I spent nights awake begging God to allow rescue operations to be successful and saw Him hear our cries to him and work out the minute details necessary to rescue the girls. I spent time in Indian villages and aftercare facilities and saw with my own eyes the hurt that comes with both poverty and a broken justice system. I was able to be a part of conferences of Christian leaders eager to break the cycle. All of this is to say that this experience will always be a part of me and is shaping who I am and who I want to be-- and unfortunately I still don't have all the answers. But I can confidently speak about what is happening in India and what we, the wealthy and privileged people of America, can do to help.
You wouldn't believe how many people, after hearing that I was from America, lit up and told me that it was their dream to come here one day. I have been thinking about what to do with my resources and how best to use them for the sake of this work.
I miss it more than I knew I would.
There has been an overwhelming 'yes' to the question I have asked about whether I should keep the blog going or not. So I plan to continue the updates - about opportunities to help, my new life as a Canadian girl, and whatever else I feel like sharing. Stay tuned because the adventure is not over!!
So all that I have been able to come up with is simply that this is all going to be a process. Over the past two months I have slowly been adjusting back mentally to life in the West and a lifestyle that now seems so over-the-top and excessive. I keep reliving my experiences in India and praying for my girls over there. I am in close contact with other interns who finished their stints around the same time as me. I have been figuring out how best to continue the work from here - whether through personal advocacy, networking and fundraising and also just by telling people about the work.
Last year God entrusted me to be a part of work that is changing and restoring lives broken beyond what any of us can likely relate to. In a small office in eastern India I watched a courageous team of about 30 professionals set out to trust God daily in the fight to rescue little girls from the most abusive and disgusting brothels that exist in the world. I lived 5 km from Sonagochi, the world's second largest red-light district, where 10,000 sex workers live and operate within the parameters of a 4 block stretch of brothels. I spent nights awake begging God to allow rescue operations to be successful and saw Him hear our cries to him and work out the minute details necessary to rescue the girls. I spent time in Indian villages and aftercare facilities and saw with my own eyes the hurt that comes with both poverty and a broken justice system. I was able to be a part of conferences of Christian leaders eager to break the cycle. All of this is to say that this experience will always be a part of me and is shaping who I am and who I want to be-- and unfortunately I still don't have all the answers. But I can confidently speak about what is happening in India and what we, the wealthy and privileged people of America, can do to help.
You wouldn't believe how many people, after hearing that I was from America, lit up and told me that it was their dream to come here one day. I have been thinking about what to do with my resources and how best to use them for the sake of this work.
I miss it more than I knew I would.
There has been an overwhelming 'yes' to the question I have asked about whether I should keep the blog going or not. So I plan to continue the updates - about opportunities to help, my new life as a Canadian girl, and whatever else I feel like sharing. Stay tuned because the adventure is not over!!
