5000-6000 Women and Children are trafficked every year from the Nepal border into New Delhi, India
About two years ago after Joseph spoke at an outreach to fight sex trafficking, a local Pastor (Pastor Krishna) approached him and asked if we could partner together to end this evil in his country of Nepal. This was the beginning of a partnership with us and the ministry, Mercy Nepal. Pastor Krishna and Joseph prayed and planned and formed three phases to start micro-enterprises to combat the poverty that makes women and children very vulnerable to sex trafficking.
Phase One began last January when we were able to send 2 Nepali women to Mumbai, India for training in making garment bags, sewing skills and creating jewelry. They were there for 1 month learning these skills. Phase Two began in February when the 2 women returned to Nepal and began training other women at the sewing centers. One of the women trained, Devi, a young mom, has now decided not to be part of the Nepal project. Ranjana, a college grad, is at the sewing center and a part of the project and is receiving further training in sewing design as she trains other women in what she learned in Mumbai.
We are now beginning Phase Three! Phase Three is establishing the 6 existing sewing centers to become self-sustaining to empower and share the love of Christ with more women. Every 9-12 months a sewing center will become self-sustaining—starting in the city of Bardia. The six locations are: Kathmandu, Chitwan, Kohapur, Bardia, Kailali, and Salayam.
We are hopeful and overjoyed with this partnership because it is based on local pastors within Nepal having a vision to be a part of ending the trafficking of women and children in their country as well as sharing the gospel with these women and their families. Please pray for these local pastors. Pray for wisdom for them, opportunities to see families come to Christ, and protection over them. There is a new law in Nepal now that if someone is caught evangelizing they would face 5 years in jail and a 50,000 Nepali rupee fine. We decided to establish the first self-sustaining sewing center in Bardia because it is farther from the central government and will face lesser restrictions as of now. Pray many women would find new skills in these sewing centers that would prevent them from being trafficked and that they would come to know Jesus as their Savior.
This was a Jesus Film showing in Bardia, where 23 people gave their lives to Christ! Pray for the follow up of the new believers, as the 3 churches there are working together to disciple them.
70% of trafficking victims come from the Foster Care System
We were recently a part of an event that connected the realities of the foster care system here in Los Angeles and the real realities of sex trafficking around us. Human traffickers will prey on individuals who are most vulnerable, which is why foster children have a greater risk of becoming victims than those who aren’t in the system. Children who grow up in the foster care system from home to home usually experience depression, sexual abuse, trauma, isolation and feeling unloved. Our friend, Patrice, shared her story of growing up in Foster Care and the vulnerabilities that came from that. She gave those who attended the event a real, honest look into the foster care system and helped them understand the greater need for permanent, loving foster homes and how that in itself is part of the solution to ending trafficking of young girls who run away from foster homes or age out of the system.
It was a great evening helping EveryOne Free (the trafficking ministry of Purpose Church) connect with Chosen (the fostercare/adoption ministry of Purpose Church) and encouraging those in attendance to be involved. Joseph is on the leadership of EveryOne Free and helped plan the night.
No One Can Do Everything, But Everyone Can Do Something.
“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” Isaiah 1:17
Family Update …
We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Years Celebration! It is hard to believe it is 2020. We enjoyed slowed down times with family, having Luke home from college and family adventures together. It was our first Christmas in our new home after moving —so bittersweet as we created new memories yet also missed our old home traditions at times. Thank you for your continual encouragement, support and prayers for our family and the ministry here in Los Angeles. We are always so humbled knowing any praises we have are a result of the prayers of so many. Thank you!
Cru City Los Angeles 