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?

India in 5 Days

I am taking a break from telling the stories of the girls today. We leave in 5 days. I can't believe how time has flown and we are preparing to leave. I am excited to tell you that with your help I have raised all of the funds needed to go in this trip.

THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart. My life has been touched by each of you who got involved in this. Know that you are impacting lives around the world and not just helping me go on a missions trip.

This trip has truly been a journey for me and it has not even started yet. As of two weeks ago I was not sure that I was supposed to be going on the trip. I wanted with all my being to go, because I wanted to see the girls we traveled with and I wanted to see first hand what God is doing. I also have a huge heart for the women in the Red Light district who need restoration. But I felt some unease and went through a week or so of questioning whether I was supposed to be on this trip. I believe it was a challenge from God to make sure I was seeking His face.

I am so looking forward to getting on the plane to begin the next leg of this journey. Please keep the team in your prayers. Pray for travel, health, and that we will be open to how God wants to use us.

R's Restoring Joy

R's story was one that broke my heart because she had such a sweet spirit. She loves people so intently and it was hard for me to understand how anyone could hurt this beautiful girl.

R grew up in a very poor family. She said as a child she was very disobedient and would just roam the streets. She started drinking when she was eight and hung out with very bad crowd.

Her parents sent her to her aunt and uncle's house to try and settle her down. While there her uncle and cousins raped her. She said she was so angry and confused at how her own family could do something like that. Her uncle and cousins would tell her she was worthless and dirty now. Her sister worked the Red Light District in Mumbai, but she was unaware of her line of work. Her uncle would tell her that she was just like her sister.

She ended up going to be with her sister in Mumbai in the Red Light District. While there she came in contact with Bombay Teen Challenge (BTC). She had always wanted to go to school. She was able to join BTC. She had a lot of anger to get over and could not understand for a long time why the staff was so loving. After awhile she fell in love with God and realized she needed to have a relationship with her Heavenly Father.

R is now on leadership at BTC to help other girls who are hurting. She does correspondence schooling while learning sewing vocation. R has such a beautiful heart and spirit. She desires to help other girls and woman not have the same thing happen to them. She loves the Lord with her whole heart. It was very convicting for me to see how passionately she loved the Lord.

Only 9 more days until we leave for India. It is incredible to think all that God has done to prepare me for this trip. I am so looking forward to seeing the girls we traveled with last year, but also seeing the ministry as a whole. God has done some incredible things through BTC. This is going to be a hard trip because of the nature of what we will see, but our God is so amazing that He has restored many hearts and lives.

We definitely need your prayers. There are 5 of us going on the trip. Please pray for travel and health. Also, I still need about $800 for the trip. If you would like to be a part of this trip and these amazing stories of restoration you click here.

THANK YOU to all of those who are praying and partnering with this trip. I look forward to telling you what God did.

D's Story

This is "D", she was another one of the young ladies that I traveled with last summer. D was the youngest of all the ladies but one of the most joyful.

D's mother had been forced to work in the Red Light District from a young age. She had "D" while working. So "D" grew up within the district and has no idea who her human father is. She grew up moving around and with lots of different people because of her mother's line of work. She understood what her mom did and says she knew her mom did it to be able to provide for D.

Growing up D tried many religions. She thought if she did them all something would work. She said life was very sad and depressing. They did not have much money and rarely had food. She would make her mom pray to all the gods to hope food would come.

Her mom got very sick because of lack of food and her line of work. They did not have any money for a doctor. So D remembered that the men on the street had said they would give her money if she would dance for them. So she danced to get money to help her mom. Once she got the money she had to make a decision, food or doctor. She went to the doctor to get help. He told her that her mom was close to death. Thankfully the Lord spared her mom.

D learned about Bombay Teen Challenge (BTC) from some ladies on the street. She learned that she could go to school and have a safe living environment. She went and asked her mom if she could please join BTC. Her mom was hesitant because she thought she would never see D again, but she knew it would be best for D.

D joined BTC and shortly after gave her life to Christ. She has so much joy in the Lord. Her mom has also left the Red Light District, joined BTC and surrendered her heart to Christ. D is going to college and in the leadership training program with BTC. She desires to save other woman and children from the lifestyle she once lived. D's mom is gaining vocational training at BTC.

Seeing how God rescued D and her mom is amazing. I am looking forward to working with the women at BTC in 15 days. But I still can't do it alone. If you would like to get involved you can.

1. Please pray for us. There are 5 of us going to visit the ministry. Pray for safety traveling, physical health, and that we will know how to better advocate for the work they are doing.

2. I also need to raise $2,800 to be able to go on the trip. I still need $1700. If you would like to partner with me for this trip, click here.

Thank you for your prayers & support!

N's Restoration

This beautiful, young lady was one of the 8 ladies I traveled with last summer. As I said before, they all have stories that would break your heart and would bring you joy to hear how God has brought restoration to their lives. For now I am going to highlight this young ladies story. She was born having her mom tell her she was worthless and all she was born to do is work for the family. She was abused and treated very badly all of her childhood. She had much anger inside of her. Her mom would not even let her go to school.

She began drinking and taking drugs at the age of 8. She tried to commit suicide three different times and each time God saved her life. Her mom and her became so angry with each other that they came at each other with knives trying to kill each other. Finally the other family members took some action and sent her to an aunt's home in Mumbai, where she was exposed to the Red Light district. Luckily no long after coming to Mumbai she learned about Bombay Teen Challenge. A place where she would have a safe place to live, food every day, and an opportunity to go to school. The thing she did not know was that she would also learn about God. She told us it took her awhile because she was so angry and would fight everyone. After being told she was worthless all her life she did not know how anyone could love her. But the staff at Bombay Teen Challenge surrounded her with Christ's love and she fell into her Heavenly Father's arms. She is living at the Ashagram House where she is doing correspondence school and is making leather items to sell. She has also become a leader within the ministry. Her life is truly one where she was at the bottom but God had much greater plans for her. I am looking forward to seeing how God is continually working in her life and how He will use her for His glory.

This is just one of the beautiful lives of restoration I will be visiting while in Mumbai this summer. Would you like to get involved to see more women and children's lives transformed?

You can make a difference!

Below are ways you can be a part.

1. Please pray for us. There are 5 of us going to visit the ministry. Pray for safety traveling, physical health, and that we will know how to better advocate for the work they are doing.

2. I also need to raise $2,800 to be able to go on the trip. From those that have already gotten involved I still need $2000. If you would like to partner with me for this trip, click here.

Thank you to those that have already given. I am so excited to have you a part of this awesome opportunity!

Restoring Broken Lives

Each of the girls you see in this picture has a story of restoration. They were all saved out of a life in the red light district in Mumbai India. They all have accepted Jesus as their personal Savior. They all our breaking in the pattern of following their mother's footsteps. They all are making a difference in other's lives. They all have a desire to STOP Human Trafficking. 

As I said before I traveled with these ladies and heard first hand their stories. I heard what life was like before they came to Bombay Teen Challenge. I heard how they were so broken and some ready to end their lives. I was also to hear how God used the ministry of Bombay Teen Challenge to rescue them from a life of brokenness, hurt and abandonment. This is only 8 of many stories and lives that have been touched by Bombay Teen Challenge. 

This is why I am so excited to visit the ministry this summer. I am looking forward to going to see and hear how God is working in lives. I am also going to be able to come back to the states to advocate for each of these priceless lives. Human Trafficking is a huge problem not only in Mumbai but all around the world. I am thankful for ministries like Bombay Teen Challenge that are making a difference in lives of women and children. 

Will you partner with me? It only takes one to make a difference. Below are ways you can be a part.

1. Please pray for us. There are 5 of us going to visit the ministry. Pray for safety traveling, physical health, and that we will know how to better advocate for the work they are doing.

2. I also need to raise $2,800 to be able to go on the trip. From those that have already gotten involved I still need $2600. It will take only 185 more to give $14 the trip will be paid for. If you would like to partner with me for this trip, click here.

Thank you to those that have already given. I am so excited to have you a part of this awesome opportunity!

Summer Travels

So I am preparing for an upcoming trip to India. This will be my first trip to India. Here is some background about why I am going to India and where I am going. I am going to try and blog a little bit each week to lead up to the trip. I hope you will be a part of this opportunity with me. 

This past summer I had the privilege of traveling with 8 ladies from Mumbai, India. All the ladies are from a ministry that rescues women and children from the Red Light District in Mumbai, India. It was an amazing experience to hear each of the ladies stories and see what God has done in each of their lives. And to think there are several hundred other women and children with similar stories at this ministry. The heart of this ministry is to abolish human trafficking. Mumbai is the second largest city in the world and has over 100,000 women and children that are forced to work in the red light district. You can check out the ministry at www.bombaytc.com or view the video at the end of this post.  

This summer I am going to visit this ministry in India. We will be going to see the work the ministry is doing and do some activities with the kids in the homes. I am so excited about visiting India, not only to see the ladies we traveled with last summer, but also to see what God is doing through this ministry. Lives are truly being transformed.  

Here is where I need you to get involved.  

1. Please pray for us. There are 5 of us going to visit the ministry. Pray for safety traveling, physical health, and that we will know how to better advocate for the work they are doing.

2. I also need to raise $2,800 to be able to go on the trip. If I get 200 people to give $14 the trip will be paid for. If you would like to partner with me for this trip, click here.

I am really looking forward to what God is going to do in me and through me. Thank you in advance for your prayers and support. You are blessing the Nations.