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!

Come & Support 2 Girls Trying to Make a Difference; Against Human Trafficking

On June 18th, from 5pm-9pm they will be at The Muse. You can come learn more about the problem of human trafficking and hear how one ministry is making a difference. Any donation you make you will receive 20% discount on your order or a free drip cup of coffee. We will be showing a video of one girl's story every hour and a half. (5:30pm, 7pm, 8:30pm) There will also be a photo booth for people to take their picture with Indian memorabilia and sampling of Indian food. For more information visit http://www.oligachitina.com/india2009 or http://trishaslifeontheroad.blogspot.com

There is a huge problem taking place around the world that we usually don't see or hear much about. The problem is Human Trafficking. Each year it is estimated that 2 million woman and children are trafficked all around the world. Last July, Oliga and Trisha had the opportunity to meet 8 ladies who have been rescued and have incredible stories of restoration. It is heartbreaking to hear what is taking place in many countries and pain these woman go through on a daily basis. This problem became heavy on Oliga & Trisha's heart. So this summer they are working with a ministry in Mumbai, India that rescues women & children from the red light district. Mumbai is the second largest city in the world and has over 100,000 women & children in the red light district. The ministry's goal is to put an end to Human Trafficking. The women and children they will be working with have incredible stories of restoration. The trips goal is to gain a larger awareness of what is taking place, see how others can get involved to put an end to human trafficking, and collect stories of restoration. It is impossible to do this by ourselves. 

Amazing

On Friday we got confirmation that our visas had been approved to travel. We were a little anxious because recently they have not been approving visas. So, this was a big step of confirmation that we are headed in the right direction. Thank you for reading these updates. 

Here are some specific prayer items:

1. On Thursday a few of us are doing an event at a local coffee shop, The Muse, to help raise awareness about Human Trafficking and to raise funds for our trip. Please prayer that it is successful and lots of people turn out. 

2. Now that we have our visas we can get our tickets. Please pray that we can find reasonable tickets. 

3. Continue praying that all the funds will come in that are needed for the five of us making the trip. 

As always if you would like to get involved, click here.

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.