the love of money is the root of all evil - Jesus

since leaving the US 6 days ago, the realities of human trafficking have been in my face. you just don't hear about it very much in the US, but i know that its happening there as well.

while sitting in the Mumbai airport at 1am, waiting for our flight to Hyderabad, we saw atleast 100 young boys/men from Bangladesh waiting for a flight to UAE. i was so curious why they were going to the gulf and what they were doing. were they going on vacation? highly doubtful.

i remember just sitting there starring at them. they were very quiet. not talking. just waiting with eager expectations for their flight. i wish now that i had taken a picture... to remember the realities.

after a few, i asked an Indian business man what he thought they were doing. he said they were "construction" workers on their way to "work" in the Middle East. but once there they would most likely be greeted with unimaginable living conditions.. with as many as 10 boys living in a single room. oftentimes they're not even given a fan to have some reprieve from the oppressive heat. they are paid very little, although they are promised a lot of money in the beginning. it's part of the lure. my heart wanted to run up to them and beg them not to go. don't get on that plane, it's a trap. it will ruin your life.

human trafficking. modern day slavery.

last night, i sat in a small upstairs apartment in Hyderabad listening to a pastor and his wife share on the realities of slavery in this city. they told us of a "brother" from their fellowship who was selling up to 5 women per week from Hyderabad to the Gulf. when pastor confronted him, he got very angry and left the church. he is still selling girls, making approximately $5000 each month.

the love of money truly is the root of all evil!

here in Hyderabad there's a large Muslim population. everywhere you go in the city, you can see mosques dotting the skyline... and the call to prayer can always be heard. most of the time i feel like i'm back in Palestine. there is one particular area where the Muslims live that is said to be very dangerous. the people are aggressive and are generally not open to talk. human trafficking is happening there as well. women and children are being sold into slavery from Hyderabad to the UAE. business men from the UAE come here, marry the girls, and take them back. once in the Gulf, the girls find that their new "husbands" are already married to up to 5 or 6 other women and they are now just a number. oftentimes the men abandon the women, leaving them to fend for themselves, which results in extreme poverty and ultimately, prostitution. the sex trade.

we are going to this area of Hyderabad on Thursday. we believe God is sending us to SEE. i have no idea what we will be able to do there... if only just to SEE. i believe seeing is the first step. so please pray for us that we would be bold and courageous just as Joshua was commanded.

if you are interested in learning more about human trafficking and what is being done to rescue souls, visit International Justice Mission. they just rescued 45 men, women, and children in Asia! hallelujah!