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.

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.