I recently read Red Letters, by author Tom Davis. Now I wouldn’t give all the credit to Tom’s book… the reality is that it started way before then, but perhaps Red Letters was the push I needed to get me going.
I hadn’t even closed the book after reading the final pages when I just had to open up my computer; I had to get online…
I had this almost uncontrollable desire to do some research. It sounds strange, I know. But that’s really what happened. You see when I was home in Washington I went to a class where they talked about leading a church mission trip, one of the things that was mentioned was that there aren’t really any organizations working in Delhi, India. There are hundreds perhaps thousands of women and children who are forced into the sex trade in Delhi alone, yet there are few to no groups who’s goal is to see them set free. This statement never got out of my head.
We are hoping to send some of our World Race teams to India. We’ve been in Thailand, and helped with several ministries that work with girls who have wanted to get out of the prostitution business. I was wondering… would it be possible for us to send a team and work with the women in India? There has to be women who want out of the business in India too. So I started doing some research…
*˜ in rural villages children are known to be sold by their parents to pimps for as little as $40
*˜ 25% of sex tourists in Asia are Americans
*˜ a typical prostitute can make as little as $2.50, while a virgin can make more than $500 in India
*˜ as many as 200,000 Nepali girls, many under 14 years old, have been sold into the sex industry in India.
From what I read, from multiple sources and multiple countries, the sex trade is quite large in India. Because lighter skin is preferred by many of the ‘customers’, many refugees and people who come looking for jobs from nearby countries are sometimes forced or tricked into the sex trade. HIV/AIDS is quite widespread, and because customers are not required to use any form of ‘protection’ many of the girls have contracted the disease.
I was able to find a small handful of organizations that are trying to help stop women and children from being forced into the sex trade. However each organization also had testimonies of having pimps and even community members try to stone them. There are stories of them being attacked because they are taking away the livelihood of the pimps, and these women are now considered the lowest of the low. (Remember India still has a cast system, and they take it seriously.)
Will the World Race be able to go and help the women and children in India? I don’t know. Although I could sit here and mope and ask the Lord why it is that He has put this passion on my heart for the people in India involved in the sex trade, instead I am going to thank Him. I am going to continue to research and read… and maybe one day the Lord will tell me why it is that these people that I’ve never met are so burned onto my heart that the only prayers I can pray are tears. (Don’t worry mom, I’m definitely not looking into plane tickets to India!)
WOW!! What a great passion for God to burn into your heart! Actually, it is still burnt in my heart too…I feel the same way. All I know is that God doesn’t place this passion in our hearts for no reason. But it will all fall into place when His timing says it is 🙂 Keep the flame burning, girl!
I love that God’s love overflows your boundaries onto others that you have not yet even met.
Continue to listen to His voice, cry out for His people, and be ready to go when He calls.
Matthew 25:31-40
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34″Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37″Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40″The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
May you continue to be His hands and His feet,
Mom
casey, I love the passion you have for the things so close to God’s heart. He burned those into you for a reason. I know those tears of intercession will reap an abundant harvest, whether in this life or the one to come. Thanks for being who He created you to be.
Dear Casey,
After a few minutes of reflection this morning (often all I can afford – quiet time is a luxury with five children!) I went online and word-searched for “God, what is your will for me?” and other ways to say the same thing… and was led to one of your pages. I followed a link to this page.
The trade has been on my heart awhile. I have met and support some folks at http://www.starfish-project.com/ when I can, but these days, it’s hard enough getting food on the table and gas in the car. I homeschool, so there are days I think, I just wish, I could be there and be a part of the team. I think, I could make meals at the same times of day I normally do, and still raise my family.
Then something tells me, when all is quiet, “How are you helping Me where I placed you?”
I do not know what God has in store for me. I believe I need to work harder at finding what I can do, here.
Your story is defineitely inspiring and encouraging. You are so young and full of life, and on fire for the Lord. I will keep you in my prayers!
Adrien W. Curry
Casey, I have a friend who lives here in Gainesville that started a ministry to help these women in India. You can check it out at http://www.rahabsrope.com . It is an awesome ministry. blessings, robin