Light House, April 2021

Tailoring Training Updates

Being in the midst of a once in a generation pandemic we are grateful to be alive and continue standing with survivors and at risk women and young girls we work with in our centre and in the communities. We are not fearful but prayerful about the plight of our nation in withstanding the second wave of the deadly covid19 virus. Each day we make every effort to be the hands and feets of Jesus and do whatever we can to make a meaningful impact in the lives of these precious women & girls we called to love and minister to. We are thankful that the beneficiaries we work with are keeping safe and we are able to care and provide for them even during these trying times because we understand well that all the provisions, care and protection we are able to provide the survivors of human trafficking & at risk women/girls at this moment in time is truly a privilege here in India Because Most poor marginalised sections of our communities across our nation India do not have such a privilege. These marginalised poor do have the privilege of large spaces to practice social distancing , the privilege to have access to clean running water to wash their hands clean, the privilege to have money to buy hand sanitizers and also a privilege to have the money to afford to be home safe Therefore we cannot help but Thank God each day for the privilege we have up until now to continue doing whatever we can under these circumstances reminding our girls and women we work with that we stand with them during these times.

Beautician Training Updates

We are proud of one of our survivor of human trafficking who chooses to have the courage to heal and take the leap of faith to achieve her dreams. We love to stand with her in this Journey holding her hand through this time of learning, equipping and being transformed by the everlasting love of Jesus.

Practical sessions at the salon & at the transition centre.

Life at the Transition Centre

Recent studies have found that younger generations staying at home due to lockdown spend more time in front of TV and internet which can lead to various psycho-social problems.We at the Tranisition Center try to engage our survivors in activities like Gardening to help them reduce stress and improve mood, with a reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety by Covid imposed crisis.

Our girls have loved gardening as one of their activities. We love sharing these little moments of joy with our girls at the Transition Centre which is the first place where they have experienced a home like warmth.

Resurrection Sunday Celebration

We had a great day celebrating the resurrecting & redemptive power of our victorious kind Jesus during our Resurrection Sunday celebration.

We are overjoyed every time we see these young women & girls coming from a place of pain, rejection & exploitation to a living a life of testimony & transformation.

We thank everyone at revival fires who have walked with us in our journey to bring restoration in the lives of these women & girls who have had lost all hope in their lives.

Restoration Journey

In the month of April we enrolled one of the survivors in Data Entry Training course in Dbtech Institue. Roop is a survivor who has been placed at a Government Shelter Home for many years since she was rescued from a railyway station when she was 6 years of age for more than 12 years her family could not be traced after completion of 18 years the Government Shelter have placed Roop under our care for her further training and restoration. In 2020 along with the help of the police and local social workers her family was traced but as they are tea garden labourers they cannot afford to take care of their daughter. Since February we have been providing for all her needs & trainings.

Monthly Ration for the survivors

We brought the monthly ration for the girls early on to sustain during the lockdown. We also got sanitary pads for the survivors to sustain during the lockdown as donation from one of Bunu’s friend who runs a local Ngo in Siliguri.

Follow up Visit to Salesian College

We are happy to share that Karishma who was recently rescued in distress condition and placed with us has been responding really well to all the counselling, prayer and mentoring session, she has been showing some remarkable improvements in terms of how she handles her big emotions of fear, anger and loneliness due to her past experiences. We have been praying for her and with her to see her some this far and we are very hopeful to see her life transform in the name of Jesus! In the month of April we made a follow up visit to the same college we visited last month and had a meeting with the Admission in –charge to see if we could avail of some concession for Karishma’s admission as she has the aptitude and interest to pursue regular college degree but we were told of a hefty amount of more than 1 lakh for three year graduation studies program therefore we will be exploring other colleges and training options. We are praying for favour and wisdom for karishma’s admission especially during these uncertain times.

Personal Testimony

When I was first diagnosed in 2018 I have had the first hand experience of living in fear knowing that nerve wrecking feeling of uncertainty of life that most of us are experiencing today.

I didn’t let those feelings -that fear or let cancer write off the story of my life always holding on to the hope that God had plans to prosper me and not harm me.

I am glad that God continues to give me opportunities to encourage people to step up in courage and hold on to hope & faith in God even during these uncertain times. My hope always is to use my life testimony to share about Jesus and what it means to live worshipping the King of kings.

We continue to pray a special prayer for our nation India as many are affected by the covid-19 virus because we know that even if our administrations, health care systems , its corrupt politicians leaders fails but our Sovereign king Jesus never fails and so we put all our trust in Him alone.

It was a special month also because I was invited by World Vision India to share of God’s healing touch in my life and encourage the adolescents’ girls from the Red light area of Khalpara in Siliguri. The mothers of all these young girls are working as sex workers in the Red light areas.

It such a beautiful moment to have the first hand experience of ministering these precious girls, to pray for them sharing about the everlasting hope and salvation of Jesus.

I want to extend my gratitude to each one of you who have stood with me -praying a powerful prayer for my complete healing so that I can continue what God intends to do in this part of India through my life. It is only possible because of the greater glory & power of our saviour Jesus that I am able to live a life thriving physically & spiritually. Through all storms of life only my saviour has held my hand restored my body and brought me this far in this journey. Thank You to each one of you who continue to sow in my life and my work here in India. Without your invaluable support we couldn’t have had the impact we continue to make in this part of our nation India.