Most of the time my writing is all over the place because I'm writing in a hurry and have so much to share! Tonight I actually have down time to myself and thought I'd write a little bit more about the women/children and what I am learning while in Kolkata.
God is always working in our lives on thousands of things, and we are normally aware of...three of them. My time here though is opening up my eyes to more of what He is doing in my life. The way God radically transforms lives regardless of circumstance, background, or how long you've followed Him seriously amazes me. I am in awe of the things number of things God is doing here. I realized that when i walk through Kalighat (area where mother Teresa's home for the sick and dying is, as well as the red light district) I judge all the men for taking part and demanding sex out of these women and even children. The idea just disgusts me. I realized I am holding this judgement on them and have to forgive them. They are broken people who need Jesus just as much as the females. its a hard concept especially when I know the women and children personally affected and the way their lives have been completely altered because of it. I do think its still very important that I do that, even if its just to free myself from the anger I will get inside of me.
I just spent the last 2 days at the children's home! It was so nice to be out in a quiet village and be with the children. At this home there are 20 kids and they all came from living off of garbage on the train tracks. It's so sad and hard to even picture these little children (who i will post down below) living around the railways wherever they could find a place to sleep. I am hoping to go to the feeding program at the train station for the kids who were not able to be placed in homes, I think its going to be really eye opening to see that. There are just hundreds of hundreds of the kids living there. I'm actually going to suggest the movie slum-dog millionaire for those of you who have not yet seen it. I think it gives you a good idea of what these children have to face and slightly brushes on the topic of human trafficking. The children have quickly captured my heart and could really use your prayers.
The staff here I work with are incredible! I am so blessed and encouraged by having them in my life. It's through them and the experiences here that I've been able to grow deeper and reach a new level in my prayer life. Prayer has always been a big thing for me, but being here the importance and focus of it has increased exponentially! I love it. It'd often been my concern that I would go back to being the same person I was once I'm back in the States, but with where I am at in prayer I am confident that that will not be possible.
I seriously am tempted to stay here longer. My visa gave me 6 months here.... and I love this ministry and working with children and females in human trafficking. But when I pray about it, I know God wants me to be back at school, so I can become a counselor. I am sure I will be back here though, no doubt about that.
Prayer requests for me would be to focus on the time I have left here so I can enjoy these last 3 weeks. For JIAC women, prayers would be best for continued healing spiritually, and mentally. For the children at the children's home please pray for them in their studies as they try to catch up to the rest of the people their age and that they may understand just how much God loves them. For all of those I know in the brothels- pray for them to understand the Gospel and for them to be freed and given the chance to heal.
Thank you! God bless.
Shanti
God is always working in our lives on thousands of things, and we are normally aware of...three of them. My time here though is opening up my eyes to more of what He is doing in my life. The way God radically transforms lives regardless of circumstance, background, or how long you've followed Him seriously amazes me. I am in awe of the things number of things God is doing here. I realized that when i walk through Kalighat (area where mother Teresa's home for the sick and dying is, as well as the red light district) I judge all the men for taking part and demanding sex out of these women and even children. The idea just disgusts me. I realized I am holding this judgement on them and have to forgive them. They are broken people who need Jesus just as much as the females. its a hard concept especially when I know the women and children personally affected and the way their lives have been completely altered because of it. I do think its still very important that I do that, even if its just to free myself from the anger I will get inside of me.
I just spent the last 2 days at the children's home! It was so nice to be out in a quiet village and be with the children. At this home there are 20 kids and they all came from living off of garbage on the train tracks. It's so sad and hard to even picture these little children (who i will post down below) living around the railways wherever they could find a place to sleep. I am hoping to go to the feeding program at the train station for the kids who were not able to be placed in homes, I think its going to be really eye opening to see that. There are just hundreds of hundreds of the kids living there. I'm actually going to suggest the movie slum-dog millionaire for those of you who have not yet seen it. I think it gives you a good idea of what these children have to face and slightly brushes on the topic of human trafficking. The children have quickly captured my heart and could really use your prayers.
The staff here I work with are incredible! I am so blessed and encouraged by having them in my life. It's through them and the experiences here that I've been able to grow deeper and reach a new level in my prayer life. Prayer has always been a big thing for me, but being here the importance and focus of it has increased exponentially! I love it. It'd often been my concern that I would go back to being the same person I was once I'm back in the States, but with where I am at in prayer I am confident that that will not be possible.
I seriously am tempted to stay here longer. My visa gave me 6 months here.... and I love this ministry and working with children and females in human trafficking. But when I pray about it, I know God wants me to be back at school, so I can become a counselor. I am sure I will be back here though, no doubt about that.
Prayer requests for me would be to focus on the time I have left here so I can enjoy these last 3 weeks. For JIAC women, prayers would be best for continued healing spiritually, and mentally. For the children at the children's home please pray for them in their studies as they try to catch up to the rest of the people their age and that they may understand just how much God loves them. For all of those I know in the brothels- pray for them to understand the Gospel and for them to be freed and given the chance to heal.
Thank you! God bless.
Shanti
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