Saturday, March 01, 2008

Hi all,

Its been a while I know. Things are moving so fast and so slow all at the same time I just don’t know where the time has gone. No one can really understand the ephemeralness of time unless they have tried to accomplish an objective within a certain timeframe in India. I’m not kidding…it is a good thing Einstein wasn’t Indian or he would never have been able to comprehend Relativity.

In all honesty, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy but its funny ‘cause the things that I thought would be difficult are easy and the things I thought would be easy are arduous. My apartment and roommates came along rather effortlessly. Establishing relationships with the homes and the girls has been a real joy. But getting them to make anything is coming along slowly. They seem to really love learning how to make fashion jewelry. They have even been told that there jewelry looks like ready-made (meaning store bought). The problem is they just can’t stay focused long enough to make more than one piece. I am learning so much about the psyche of these girls and the reality of post-traumatic stress disorder now I just need to apply what I’m learning to make the best experience for the girls.

Rescued girls are not the only ladies in my life right now. I have met the most amazing women from the US, UK, and India volunteering or working to fight trafficking in one way or another. For example, my roommate Lillia (one of the coolest ladies I have met in a long time) just graduated from law school, took the BAR and hopped on a plane to India were she has been working for 5 months to give justice to girls by prosecuting their pimps and traffickers. I am so blessed to be among such amazing women like Lillia. I am honored to know them and to be sharing life with them.

Please pray for IJM Mumbai as they are fighting a big case right now. See link to read about the case.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mumbai/HC_slams_cops_over_flesh_trade_probe/articleshow/2810689.cms

Sunday, February 03, 2008

Making Your Way in the World Today Takes Everything You Got...

Hi all! Sorry to have delayed in writing you. As you know I have been trying to organize a Spring training session in 4 different aftercare homes in Mumbai and at the same time trying to find myself a place to live. So far 1 out of 2 has worked out; I found a nice apartment in a great area. Actually just 2 days after I signed the lease the apartment had it’s first ever get-to-know your neighbors party which allowed me to get acquainted with everyone in my building. We had such a great time talking, eating, and even playing games. Now when I walk to the market I always see someone to say hello to. Also, I will be having 2 American roommates, one of which is here already, her name is Lilia. And the other, Melissa, arrives this evening around mid-night, hope she is a little bit of an introvert to help balance the crazy that is Stephanie/Lilia.
Finding an apartment in Mumbai is not easy or cheap. The landlord was asking for a deposit of 2 laks (= $5,000). Luckily, he came down to 1 lak but still! Then there are all these fees that no one ever tells you about. The agent fee (the man how helped us find apartments) get a fee equal to 1 months rent, which means for us we have to pay him $640 for a few messily hours of work. The lease registration fee ($50), buying a stove and gas cylinders ($?), buying and installing a water filter ($200), and a dozen other miscellaneous costs.

But starting the training in the different homes has been an even bigger challenge, simply because it is a much slower process. The girls’ skill levels are not at the level I was lead to believe they were so we are starting at the very beginning and cutting some of the projects. I think everything is going to work out, it’s just difficult to get people to try something new. If you think about it, pray that things run smoothly and that the details come together.
Thanks, love you, and will write again soon!

Monday, January 21, 2008

Back in the I-N-D-I-A

Hi all,
Yep its me and I am back in old Mother India. It wasn’t easy for the flight attendants, bless their souls, having to pull me out of the plane kicking and screaming, “I don’t want to go back, you can’t make me go.” I joke of course. But it is so difficult to look down onto India and see the poverty and to remain confident. I look at the miles and miles of slums and feel so insignificant, how can I make a difference amongst all of this? But there are so many that struggle through that same dilemma on a daily basis. And I am happy to join with them in my own way. I have already met many of the dear people that I worked with previously and they are so welcoming. I have also met a whole bunch of new people mostly Americans interning for a short time with the organization I am partnering with. This should prove to be an added blessing for sure. Keep me in your prayers and I will keep you posted if anything exciting happens.