My heart has been heavy the past
two days. I’ve been wanting to post
something. I’ve been wanting to let
people know what’s been weighing so heavily on my heart, but I didn’t know
how. Here is my feeble attempt that I’m
certain will pale in comparison to the utter fear instilled in my heart.
For those of you who don’t know, I’ve
been teaching, investing, and most importantly loving in a slum for the past month
and a half. Out of 100 kids I know most of them by name and have become an "auntie" to them. My heart is so full of love for them. I absolutely adore every single second that I spend with them. Whether it's teaching them nursery rhymes, their times tables, simple English phrases, or running through the slum with them hanging off of every single appendage and laughing the entire way. I love everything that comes with loving them. I love the dirt, I love the greasy hair, I love wiping the stuffy noses on my dupatta, the bright eyes, the heart-warming smiles. their little arms wrapped tight around my legs; I love every aspect.
And that's why the news that I told on Tuesday totally shook me to my core.
In the slum that I love, children have been taken.
Yes, taken.
Three precious babies under the age of six.
Taken from their homes.
Taken from their families.
Taken from their familiarity.
Taken from their childhood.
Taken from their innocence.
Taken.
Sold.
Trafficked.
When deciding what to write about this horrific incident, I was hesitant. My room mate was hesitant too. We questioned why. Why are we so hesitant to share what has happened? This is the daily, harsh reality of tens of thousands of women in the city I currently call home. Every night over 10,000 women are trafficked. In ONE area. That fact absolutely is incomprehensible to me. And to think that the precious babies are now locked into that lifestyle sickens me to my bones. Whether it's sex-trafficking, or bonded labor, or condemned to a life of begging- my heart is broken. The family that I have come to love here. I knew the reality of it all, but not to young ones that I love, from the slum that has my heart and the faces that warm my heart every time I am in there presence. This reality I subconsciously push aside is now personal.
In America what would happen if three children were taken. Stop and think. Here, the police do not care. At all. These people are from a slum, so they do not matter. Evil reigns here in the hearts of so many due to caste, greed, differing religion... Sometimes, evil just seems to know no bounds especially for those who have no voice. But there is a cure.
"For sin will have no dominion over you...[you] are under grace. (Romans 6:14)" Grace is more. Love is more. The Lord is a lord of faithfulness. His grace is sufficient for me and His power is made perfect in weakness. The world is weak; the world is sinful. I'm a desperate to see His faithfulness. To see the Light that casts our all darkness. To see the Love that conquers the hearts of stone.
My heart cries out for all the lost and missing. He is active. He is just. He is in control. He works all things together for good. He is faithful in all circumstances.
Psalm 77:
"I cry aloud to God,
aloud to God, and he will hear me.
2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;
in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;
my soul refuses to be comforted.
3 When I remember God, I moan;
when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah
4 You hold my eyelids open;
I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5 I consider the days of old,
the years long ago.
6 I said, “Let me remember my song in the night;
let me meditate in my heart.”
Then my spirit made a diligent search:
7 “Will the Lord spurn forever,
and never again be favorable?
8 Has his steadfast love forever ceased?
Are his promises at an end for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah
10 Then I said, “I will appeal to this,
to the years of the right hand of the Most High.”
11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
12 I will ponder all your work,
and meditate on your mighty deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is holy.
What god is great like our God?
14 You are the God who works wonders;
you have made known your might among the peoples.
15 You with your arm redeemed your people,
the children of Jacob and Joseph.
