Becky Morris is a
“soccer mom” who also works part time at Freedom Firm, one of our ministry
partners. She graciously agreed to allow us to post excerpts from her own journaling
about the trip, which have shared in three installments. In this final
installment, she shares about her trip to a Red Light District, a visit to a
Freedom Firm workshop and what the trip has impressed upon her heart:
The Red Light
District in Pune
Shital (a Freedom Firm case worker) and I get into an auto
rickshaw and head to the Red Light District. The rickshaw driver drops us off
in one of the most crowded places I’ve seen on this trip so far. We walk
quickly and Shital pulls me down a narrow alley. “See the girls with too much
makeup on your left? Over there, do you
see them in the doorway? Do you see the
men on the right?” Brothel after brothel on my left with girls clumped together
in the doorways. Staring at us as we
walk by - blank stares, no smiles. It
isn’t dark; it is 4:30 in the afternoon.
There are no shadows to hide in.
The right side is lined with men.
Some seem to be standing alone; others seem to be with a buddy. As
though this is just another recreational activity – like going out to eat or
grabbing a drink with the guys. The men
are smiling and at ease as they leer across the alley to choose the one they
like.
We emerge into the shopping area, grab another rickshaw and
we’re done. It’s over. My first visit to a Red Light District in
India is complete. Although it was sad
to see it firsthand, nothing about it shocked me.
But after meeting the girls in the Ooty workshop, I see them
differently. They aren’t nameless
trafficked girls or prostitutes in the Red Light District who may be rescued
out of this life one day. They have
names and potential and I can see the hope that they can’t even fathom! Every one of those girls deserves to be
free. And that is why Freedom Firm is
here.
Kolkata Workshop
Zeenat, the Ruhamah workshop manager in Kolkata, leads me
down a narrow sidewalk wedged between a half-wall and the building that is our
workshop in Kolkata. I hear and see the chaos of 8 beautiful young ladies. They
all greet me with warm smiles and are talking to each other excitedly.
I get to tell them how beautiful their creations are! I tell them about our booth at the Global
Leadership Summit in the Chicago area every year and how our booth is always
the busiest. I compliment their pieces in very specific ways hoping that they
can fully grasp the quality of their work and how proud they should feel! They smile and their eyes are beaming. I
silently pray, “God, please let me be a light to them. Please let them know they aren’t nameless to
you and I. Please let each one feel SEEN
and CARED FOR when I leave today.”
These young women have been through more than I can possibly
imagine in their lives and yet they sit here with hope and purpose and laughter
radiating off of them. I know there are hard days and conflict and heartbreak
for our staff as they watch girls make bad decisions, but today is not like
that.
As I get into the taxi to go to the airport, I am filled
with joy and appreciation. Joy at the
hope I saw today; and deep appreciation for Zeenat and Rinku. It is obvious that these 2 women have built
true relationships with these girls and earned their trust.
How do I accurately express what God is doing through
Freedom Firm in India? Pictures are
helpful. And I can tell our supporters
the facts. But I sense God is asking me
to do more than that. He wants me to
carry these experiences in my heart and tell my stories. Share my experiences. And He wants me to come back changed. Permanently.
⌘⌘⌘
While Becky’s
experience took place in India, these same experiences are happening right in
our own backyard. As Becky has shared, change is happening, lives are being
restored – the work does matter. Human trafficking and sexual exploitation will
persist – both here and abroad – unless those who are called to do so rise up
against it. Come; join us in bringing
light and hope to those in such desperate need.
⌘⌘⌘
Get Connected:
Contact Cheryl Csiky at: ccsiky@willowcreek.org
Upcoming Events:
New Name Call Center – Pray for women as we offer resources and outreach over the phone to women posted on online ads. June 3rd, 7:30-8:15 pm at Willow Creek Community Church in the Link (F Lot Parking)
Book Discussion Group: We will be discussing God in a Brothel: An Undercover Journey Into Sex Trafficking and Rescue, by Daniel Walker. Join us on Saturday, June 13th, 9:30-11:30 at Willow Creek Community Church (room to be determined). Please contact Holly at: hkoehler@ameritech.net for further details.
Scarves for Outreach: Do you knit or crochet? Help us meet our goal of 200 hand-made scarves by August for our out-reach teams to distribute in the fall. We have had 55 scarves donated so far! Please contact Holly at hkoehler@ameritech.net for more information.
Save the Date:
June 17th Forum at Willow Creek Community Church – Guest speaker Tom Dart will be speaking on victim rights.
June 27th “Guts and Glory” Awareness Challenge: Participate in the largest community movement this summer! Register for free here!
Click on the Calendar of Events tab for the full year calendar!
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