Precious Servants

I have been in India for 18 days now. It has been a life changing experience. One of the things that has made it life changing is the ladies I have had the opportunity to serve alongside for the first 15 days.A team leader could not have asked for a better group of ladies to serve alongside of. The team had never met in person, except for our team meetings we did by video until we all met in Newark for our 15 hour

flight to Mumbai.

There was an instant bond between our team. You would have thought we were all lifelong friends. Actually several people asked if we had all come from the same place. Nope, we were perfect strangers. Our one bond was that weare sisters in Christ.

All but 2 of these ladies had never been on a mission trip overseas before. To see how they all became naturals at serving was such a blessing.

It was truly a privilege and honor to serve alongside these women who have a heart for service. They definitely stepped up to the plate when the schedule needed to be adjusted. They were flexible and always ready to hurry up and wait.

Every time we entered a place to serve the immediately connected with the people. The definitely have a desire and heart to show Christ to those around them.

Thank you ladies for making the first two weeks a life changing experience. Each of you have made a difference in my life. Love you all!

I am looking forward to seeing how God will work in the team that is coming on the 20th.

Two Weeks Into The Adventure

Trisha and Mel have had a good time serving in India alongside of the Bombay Teen Challenge ministry. We have got to experience a lot of new things.

We have been in the Red Light District to see the work they are doing among the women and children. We have been a part of their feeding program they do with the people who live on the street. This is the one hot meal they may get each week. We saw the reality of where they live and how some are just trying to provide for their families.

We were able to be a part of a baptism service where 40 believers dedicated their lives to God

in the

form of baptism. We were honored to be able to serve communion at the service that BTC holds in the Red Light District.

After seeing the work BTC does in Mumbai city we traveled 2 hours on a very bumpy road to

where the homes that BTC has. There are 3 different locations where the girls, boys, women, and men that have decided to take a stand and make a change in their life come to be restored and shown the love of God.

It was so good to see faces that I remembered from visiting two years ago. At the homes we have been able to teach conversational English with women who have been rescued from a life of prostitution. We were able to conduct some hygiene classes with both the men and women. We were able to have spa nights with ladies where we served them by washing their feet and giving them a facial, manicure, and pedicure. We were able to show Christ's love to 150 boys, girls,

men, and women by providing them a Chinese meal.

Needless to say, the time so far has been a blessing. It has also had its bumps in the road, but our God is faithful to do mighty works. There is so much more to say and share. Hopefully I will be able to post more as time allows.

Please continue to pray for our trip. The first team left for the US yesterday. I will be traveling to see other ministries for the next week and then return to Mumbai to greet the second team.

We still need around $3,000 for the full second team to join us. Please be praying that them money comes in. If you would like to partner with us by giving towards the trip you can do so by, following this link and Contribute Type is "Project." Then in project click "India:Mumbai/Chennai T031." Enter the Sum you would like to contribute. In the comments box put, Donation Towards Melvin and Trisha Anderson's Trip.

Thank you for your prayers and support. None of this would be possible without each of you.

Mel's First Few Days in India

Our team made into Mumbai all safe and sound. We had a good flight over and enjoyed the bustle of the city driving to the hotel. Everyone was very much ready to go to bed when we arrived.

After a goodnight's rest we began our adventure in Mumbai. We first were taken to the Red Light District were we visited the Medical and Dental clinic. It was incredible to see the work that they are doing among the ladies who are living a life of slavery. We also heard some testimonies from a few of the ministry staff that go out and reach the ladies in the district. It is incredible to see the work that God is doing in such a dark place.

Our next stop was quite exciting. We got to visit the feeding program that BTC does daily. They park their in a different location in Mumbai and feed the local street families and children. It was a humbling experience to meet a family that have no way to make a mends for their family of 5 and live on the street. Thankfully the family is making the necessary steps to be able to get out of the pit.

Our next stop was the children's home that is in the district. The children that live in this home have just come off the streets and are finding the hope God has for them. They have precious smiles and lots of laughter.

By the time we left the children's home the sun had set and our driver's took us for a ride through the Red Light District. Let me tell you what an experience that was. It was amazing how many people were out in the district and to see the women line the road waiting to work. I will never be the same after last night. It was such a dark and heavy experience.

It leaves one to ask, How can anyone do that to people?

Mel and Trisha Begin Adventure

Mel and Trisha have begun their journey to India. Stay tuned for more updates on the journey.

Mel Leaves for India in 5 Days!!!!

Mel is getting excited to leave for India. Mel is starting to think about packing for his first overseas trip. What do you think he should take?

Mel will be leaving with Trisha and her team on Tuesday, June 28th for Mumbai, India.

As posted earlier, Mel will be a part of a team that is going to minister alongside the staff at Bombay Teen Challenge. Read more about BTC in earlier posts.

Mel and Trisha are excited to be ministering alongside some really amazing people, who love the Lord.

Tri and Melvin will be joining Mel and Trisha in India on July 19th.

Please be praying for the team, for safe travels and that they would be a blessing to those they are serving.

Also, we need to still raise some funds to be able to minister to those at Bombay Teen Challenge. If you would like to be a part of this trip go to www.adnamis.org/contribute.Then in project click "India:Mumbai/Chennai T031." Enter the Sum you would like to contribute. In the comments box put, Donation Towards Melvin and Trisha Anderson's Trip.

We would love for you to be a part of the trip. Thank you for your prayers and support!

Dear Family and Friends,

Melvin and I would like to thank each of you for your encouragement, prayers, and support since we were married, seven months ago. We are so blessed to have amazing family and friends like you to come alongside us as we begin our life together.

Melvin and I wanted to let you know about an exciting opportunity we have this summer. Both of us will be headed to east India to serve one of the ministries we partner with at Advancing Native Missions called Bombay Teen Challenge.

Bombay Teen Challenge seeks to reach the broken outcasts of society in India, bringing hope, healing and restoration to lives that others deem worthless. BTC touches a variety of individuals, which includes victims of sexual trafficking, HIV-infected orphans, and substance abusers. Over the last 20 years BTC has worked diligently to rescue as well as rehabilitate the thousands of needy people living on the streets in Mumbai. These include young women trapped in sexual slavery in the red light district. Many of these victims are kidnapped from their families and villages and forced to work as prostitutes. BTC also serves these women’s children, who are highly vulnerable and at-risk of being caught in the same cycle of abuse and exploitation. Children and orphans who are HIV-infected, most of whom are abandoned to die with full-blown AIDS, are also rescued off the streets and cared for by BTC in their AIDS orphanage. If you would like to read more about Bombay Teen Challenge you can visit their website at www.bombayteenchallenge.org.

In 2008, I had the opportunity to travel with eight of the ladies that BTC has rescued from the red light district. And in 2009 I was a part of a team who visited BTC in Mumbai, India to see how we could help in the future. Being able to lead the trip this summer and implement some follow up from our trip in 2009 is very exciting. I will be traveling from June 28^th – August 2^nd. I have a total of 12 people who will be coming with me on the trip. There are two ladies who will be staying with me the whole five weeks, six ladies who will be staying June 28^th – July 13^th, and three ladies and Melvin will be joining us July 19^th – August 2^nd.

While there we will spend out first few days visiting the Red Light District to see the work BTC is doing and be able to spend time encouraging the staff that spends everyday reaching out to the ladies. The rest of our time will be at the compounds they have outside the city for those that have been rescued. While there we will be conducting English groups for the women, health groups for women and boys, and music classes.

Melvin and I are so excited to be able to take part in this opportunity together. I am so looking forward to sharing with Melvin the precious people who have new hope because of Bombay Teen Challenge and Melvin is really looking forward to spending time playing guitar with the boys.

Melvin and I would love for you to partner alongside us as we go and serve those at Bombay Teen Challenge. There are three main ways you can be a part of this trip.

· First, we need prayer support while we are gone. Please be praying for me, as I lead the team. Pray for the team’s safety, health, and that we will be able to be a blessing to the ministry.

· Second, We need financial support. For both Melvin and I to go we need to raise $7,000. If you would like to be a part of making this trip possible you can use the enclosed coupon. Or go to www.adnamis.org/contribute. Then in project click "India:Mumbai/Chennai T031." Enter the Sum you would like to contribute. In the comments box put, Donation Towards Melvin and Trisha Anderson's Trip.

· Third, we are taking items to give to the young kids, teenager (both girls and boys), and the women at the compounds. We need small items like stickers, matchbox cars, lip gloss, travel lotions, etc. If you have items you would like to donate contact us and we will figure out a way to get them from you.

Melvin and I would like to THANK YOU again for taking the time to read the letter and for praying. Please let us know if you have any questions. You can also follow our trip on my blog at www.trishaslifeontheroad.blogspot.com.

With Much Greatfulness,

Melvin and Trish Anderson

trisha.anderson.99@gmail.com

More on the Great Adventure

Mel and Tri are getting nervous and excited to embark on their longest journey yet. Mel leaves in less then 4 weeks and Tri leaves in less then 7 weeks. To prepare for their journey they have dug a little deeper to learn more about Bombay Teen Challenge. Below is a little bit of what they learned.

"Bombay Teen Challenge seeks to reach the broken outcasts of society in India, bringing hope, healing and restoration to lives that others deem worthless. BTC touches a variety of individuals which includes victims of sexual trafficking, HIV-infected orphans, and substance abusers.

Since 1990, Bombay Teen Challenge has worked diligently to rescue as well as rehabilitate the thousands of needy people living on the streets in Mumbai. These include young women trapped in sexual slavery in the red light district. Many of these victims are kidnapped from their families and villages and forced to work as prostitutes. BTC also serves these women’s children, who are highly vulnerable and at-risk of being caught in the same cycle of abuse and exploitation. Children and orphans who are HIV-infected, most of whom are abandoned to die with full-blown AIDS, are also rescued off the streets and cared for by BTC in their AIDS orphanage. Finally, BTC assists and rehabilitates the many young men and boys who are addicted to drugs and/or alcohol and living in poverty conditions on the streets of the city.

Bombay Teen Challenge is more than an organization – it becomes a family for these individuals, a safe place to grow and heal physically, emotionally and spiritually. Individuals who have been rejected by their own families are able to form relationships that are enduring and life-changing, giving them the emotional security they need, as well as teaching them important skills to help reintegrate them into society and escape the destructive cycle of their past. BTC makes a real difference in the broken lives of those it touches."

Mel and Tri are so excited to get involved in the work BTC is doing to help restore broken hearts and lives. With Mel and Tri's big hearts they hope to bring many smiles to faces they come across.

Thank you to those who have partnered with Mel and Tri to be a part of their trip to BTC. It means so much to them. Know that every person who gets involved is a part of the trip too. Mel and Tri need more people to partner with them as they go on this great adventure. If you want to be a part of affecting lives you can partner with Mel and Tri two ways.

1. Please pray for the team as they prepare to go to visit BTC. There are 3 people going for 5 weeks, 6 people going June 28 - July 13, and 4 people going July 19 - Aug. 2. Be in prayer for our safety, health, and that we will be vessels to be used by God.

2. You can get involved financially. Mel and Tri need to raise about $7,500 to be able to both go on the trip. If you would like to be involved financially follow this link and Contribute Type is "Project." Then in project click "India:Mumbai/Chennai T031." Enter the Sum you would like to contribute. In the comments box put, Donation Towards Melvin and Trisha Anderson's Trip.

Mel and Tri are so thankful for you taking the time to read their posts. Please let us know if you have questions about the trip. We would love for you to be involved.