Impact Story Part One

Heart moving, this is the best way to describe the story telling of our leader Susi Childers. If you are someone who really doesn’t have a strong interest in dealing with the injustices of the world, you would definitely be moved to tears after Susie got done sharing one of her real life encounters of someone who is suffering from the atrocities of this world.

I would like to share one of these heart moving stories, so you could get a glimpse of what Jenn and I are embarking in.

Imagine going to the local dump, where all you see is endless piles of trash and all you smell is spoiled rotting food that has been thrown out. Now place yourself in a city and as you make your way through, garbage is waist high and piled all over. This is what Susi found herself in, as she went through Kamthipura, Mumbai’s oldest and Asia's largest red light district. Walking in the street with used condoms everywhere, Susie was indeed in one of the most awful places on earth. It was extremely sad as she glanced to the make-shift buildings made from old metal debris and wood. For what she witnessed were the most beautiful women in the world, standing there draped in yards of colorful fabric, showing off their bodies in ways that would entice men to buy them sexually. As Susi tried to take everything in from this god forsaken place, she knew that the only way to make this issue of prostitution real for her was getting the chance to hear the story of one of these women. She asked the social worker that she’d come with, if it was possible to meet one of these women. The social worker said that there was one girl who might be interested.

After going to Kamthipura, a few days later, the social worker arranged for Susie to go back and meet this woman. With an eagerness to find out what it was like for someone to live as a prostitute, Susi found herself standing at the dark entrance of one of these filthy make-shift buildings in the early afternoon. Forced to go in first, she was welcomed by a giant rat. Being greeted in this style, to a pitch black room, was difficult. Luckily she managed to get to the stairs and grabbed the rail. Now as quick as she grabbed a hold of it, she let go, as the rail was covered in filth. As she made it up the first flight of stairs with no more unexpected surprises, she heard the giggling and laughing of women and girls. Susi watched as the women in the brothel were putting on makeup, doing each others hair and joking around. It was the girls’ free time to relax and prepare for the busy night of customers.

Making her way to the next flight of stairs, Susi left the women, to find what she thought were an unexpected group of children running and playing around. She asked what seemed to be the most logical question, “Where do these children live?” She was told, “They live here. These children belong to the women who work here.” Shocked to find this out, Susi then asked, “Where do these children stay?” “The children live under their mothers’ bed,” was the reply. Then Susi asked, “Now when their mother has a client, where do the children stay?” “Well,” the social worker replied, “they stay under the bed.” Think about this, a three year old, laying underneath their mothers bed as she is having sex. It is even worse knowing that many men who come into these brothels can be violent and abusive. Susi knew the destiny of these children was already paved. They too, would grow up to be prostitutes like their mothers.

Now as she was watching these children play, the social worker, who had come with Susi, called out for Lola, (the name has been changed), the girl who they had come to see. At first, when they shouted out her name, there was no answer. Again they shouted Lola and again there was no response. Finally they shouted out, “The woman from Germany is here to see you.” Within seconds, Lola shouted out, “I will be out in a few minutes.”

Ten minutes later, Susi finally met Lola. Making her way to her room, she was greeted at the door with a man leaving, zipping up his zipper, adjusting his pants, and buckling his belt. Lola had been with a customer when they were shouting out for her. For Susi, she didn’t want to know what just happened. In fact, Lola welcomed Susi by asking her to sit on her bed. This was the last place Susi wanted to be sitting, but to be polite, she did. After seating Susi, Lola went out from the room and returned with a cold coke. It was a sign that Lola was excited to meet Susi. It was the first time any one from another country had come to visit her, especially someone from Europe. As the conversation took it course, Susi, with a very simple gospel message, shared the reality of the creator, mans fall, and Christ’s redemption for all mankind. Upon hearing this story, Lola asked the question, “How long has your nation had this good news.” Well Susi knew that Germany had the gospel for a very long time. Martin Luther had translated the Bible into German and the Reformation took place almost 500 years ago. Susi was left telling Lola that her country had had this message for a very long time. With a voice of deep anguish, Lola asked, “Why hasn’t anyone else come and shared this Jesus with me?”

What you must understand, Lola was born into a very devote Hindu family. According to their faith they worship a certain goddess. Now a mandatory practice in worshiping this goddess is if your first born is a girl, she must be given to the temple to serve as a prostitute. Why you might ask, in order to atone the sins of her family. The severity of it means that each first born girl is groom from birth to become a prostitute. They don’t go to school to be educated. They don’t learn how to read or write. All they are taught is they are the atonement for their families wrong doings. .

The sad reality is this happens all too often in India. Even worse is when a girl is used up from disease, sickness and abuse and can no longer perform. When this happens, the women are thrown out into the streets and left to die. Every evening the police come through town and collect them up. The ones they find that are still alive are taken to the Mother Teresa home, where they are given dignity in their last few days on earth.

It is for these women and innocent children we want to make a difference. We want to give a voice to their story and help them. We want for the day to come when all those like Lola will be free from this awful tradition. Will you remember to pray for the prostitutes, and search your heart to see if you can help in some way these priceless children of God?!