India Recap #5

2 Corinthians 4:18 - "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen - since what is seen is temporary - but what is unseen is eternal."

The last ministry we supported during our time in Pune was The Lighthouse, which works in the Red Light District. It started as a beauty parlor in attempts to minister to the women in one of the few ways they are allowed to leave the brothels. It has now grown into a child development center to also support the children of the women from this area. They provide tutoring and nutritious meals five times a week for the children. They also provide some vocational training to the women so they have skills to earn an alternative wage, but I'm not sure how many are able to leave on their own.

We only spent a day at The Lighthouse, but is was a day filled with fun and games as we shared the gospel with the children. There are just a handful of workers at this ministry joining Philomena, the founder, but the care they are able to provide for these children is outstanding. Kids are coming and going all day - they go to different schools (if they attend anywhere) and speak different languages. At one point, one church worker said the children were speaking 3 different languages across our little room, none of which he spoke himself. 

We performed our skits and songs, did crafts, and had plenty of time to hang out with the children and just get to know them. The older boys were especially excited to practice their English with the Americans. In stark contrast to the House of Hope, there were no older girls here.

Such beautiful children, all of them - who deserve so much more. While we were laughing and playing together, it was impossible to forget where we were.

This is the view from the Lighthouse window. These women were outside the doorways when we arrived in the morning and still there when we left. They work almost non-stop. If they are allowed a break, they are usually watched or followed. The few women who were able to come speak with us said they could only be away for 15-20 minutes.

I don't think we, as Americans, have a context for the life these women live. Sure, we may vaguely know what their work consists of, but I don't think we truly have any idea what these women and children face daily. To not be able to leave, to be trapped in a life. Where is the hope? I think fear must reign here. I won't even pretend to understand what these women go through. We only spent a day here and I think everyone on the team walked away wishing we had more time. More time to love on the children, more time to pour into the women. More time to show them there is hope, and it is the hope we have in Jesus. 

 

This was certainly the hardest day of the trip for us. To glimpse into their lives was to break our hearts, and it is not something we want to forget. I know God has a bigger and better plan for these women and children - this is why we are called to go and share his name. As one of our team members always says, "We are just beggars showing another beggar where to find bread."