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A Journey of
Transformation
Look at these children– they have the brightest smiles, they
are well-dressed, full of joy and hope. These smiles did not
come easy. As partners, you paid a price along with Joyce
Meyer Ministries to redeem these children from the hell they
were living in; to bring them into a new home of their own. |
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These lovely children are that of commercial sex workers
in Bhandup Sonapur, one of the worst slum areas where
commercial sex is practiced as a lifestyle. Walking in you see
the juxtaposition of dire poverty, smelly open drains, exposed
electric wires and cinema halls screening only adult movies.
* 80 percent of the slum suffers from malnutrition
* 50 percent of sex workers are trafficked from
Bangladesh and Nepal
* Majority sold to brothels here for Rs 25,000 to Rs 1
lakh.
* Income: Around Rs 150 for less than an hour, Rs 300 for
an hour, Rs 600-Rs 800 for the night.
Popular girls may
service up to 15 customers a night.
Like any other slum, Bhandup is dingy and unhygienic.
However, it was only after we entered the homes where the
children live that we realized the women carry out their
dhanda (business) at home.
So where do the children go at night? Work for many
women begins at 2 pm. In these women’s homes there is a
small door, enough for only person to enter which opens into a
dirty, gloomy back room with two cots on either side. The first
room leads into another room through a small narrow passage,
and into five such smaller rooms. The entry and exit door is
the same. Around six to seven women stay in one house where
they serve as prostitutes for whoever is willing to pay.
It was in 1998 that the Prem Kiran Feeding Center was
started with an evening feeding program. The children loved
it – they received a good meal, tuitions and learned how to sing
and pray.
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Many children stayed until late in the evening to avoid
the time their mother’s were working.
Mothers loved to send their kids away to the feeding center.
Slowly, something else began to happen. A desire stirred up in
them for an alternate profession.
Gradually, their thinking began to undergo a sea of change. A
thought of hope ‘outside this world’ sprang up. What started with
just 60 children grew to 150. The next step – to build a separate
home, first for the children and later their mothers – that will
transform their lives forever – The Child Transformation
Center.
“Many foreigners came to our area and promised us big things,
but Joyce Meyer madam is the first to actually provide a home for
our children”, said Haseena, a prostitute with a two-year old son
Abdul.
These children had nothing short of a picnic, in their words, the
week that Joyce Meyer was in Mumbai. It started with her visit to
the feeding center, then the inauguration of their new home and
finally culminated in a stage show that they never expected!
Kids from our center played the typical ‘dapli’ (round drums)
when Joyce’s vehicle entered the lane. Women showered flowers
on her, which she showered back. The lady honoring Joyce with
flowers could not believe her eyes – Joyce showered petals on
her head!
There was one young boy who caught the attention of all who
were gathered with his welcome speech in English. With much
confidence and a paper in his hand, he welcomed Joyce and Dave
Meyer to the little program they had arranged. His name is Sanjay
Patel (11 years) originally from Nepal. He was the ‘MC’ for the
day! With a ‘rain clap’ and some action songs, they entertained
all. A young girl, Bhagyashri, made the opening prayer in a loud voice. “I want to become something God, please
take us out of this place. Thank you for sending
Joyce madam to help us,” she said in her childlike
prayer.
Speaking to them, Joyce said “You are all
beautiful and handsome. We plan to help you
for a long, long time. We love you, but most
importantly Jesus loves you, and He will always
be there for you.”
Soon after, Joyce walked through the slums,
saw the place where these children and women
were living and interacted with their families.
Dave Meyer, David and Shelly Meyer served
food for all the children who systematically sat
down in lines. Some could not wait to eat chicken,
rice and dal, and an apple. All the children were
excited to see the woman who sponsors their
food, tuition and new home which was to
be inaugurated prayer hall.
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Speaking at the program, Joyce said “This is a
transformation center, and the word ‘transform’ means to
completely change. Even I was mistreated in my childhood,
but Jesus transformed me. He will transform you also, if
you let Him.” Talking about what motivated her to start the
center, she said “Jesus loved to help people, and He went
about doing good, and that’s what we are trying to do.” She
also encouraged them to help one another by following her
example.
Wondering why
JMM would take up
the cause of strangers?
Dave Meyer so beautifully
put it, when he
said, “Why are we
doing this? We are not
expecting anything in
return. We are helping
you because it is God’s
command to us. It is
our joy to see children
set free from bondages
that they might
have been trapped for
years. It is God’s will
for you to be free. We
are just obeying God.”
We can never forget
Sanjay’s words in his
closing speech, which
came straight from his
heart. “We come from
a downtrodden background. Today the Lord has lifted us.
We promise to change ourselves and change our lifestyle.”
“Don’t leave the victims to rot in the street; make them a choir
that sings your praises.” Ps 74:21
The kids from the center were brought in a bus for the
evening festival. Not just to attend, but sing. Sing with whom?
With world famous Delirious! They sang out loud ‘All God’s
children, we will sing Hallelujah’. This song was inspired by
Delirious’ last trip to Bhandup, and is one of the many songs
from their new album Kingdom of Comfort. “Our new album
tells of our story here in Mumbai,” lead vocalist Martin said.
When they sang along with the band and thousands of others in the crowd, it was overwhelming. God brought them
up from the dirtiest of places to the best and high places of
worship. Talking about the experience, Martin said “We have
some fantastic guests who joined us here; from a project we
are involved in with JMM, in the red light area. We are all
God’s children and it doesn’t matter if you are a millionaire
living in New York or one of these mothers here, working in
Mumbai or one of these kids. We are all God’s children and
we all need help!”
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