Some of you may know I went to India almost a year ago. It was a fascinating time where I had the chance to explore places I have never imagined, breathe in colours and smells from another world, and meet beautiful, strong and inspiring people.
One of the places we visited (I went with a group from Rahab) was called Dharwad, which, in contrast to the cities of roughly 8-10 million people that we frequented, was a town in a rural part of South-astern India. We stayed with a lovely couple called Arun and Shobha Massey, pictured with their daughter Melissa, who headed up a home called Joyful Children’s Home, as part of Caring Hands Ministry.
Joyful Children’s Home are for girls whose parents have either died or have given them to the Masseys to look after. Every girl in the home is a daughter of a Devadasi. The word Devadasi, when translated, means “Servant of God”, but the meaning goes so much deeper than that.
Devadasies are temple prostitutes.
(an old devadasi we saw on our visit, begging during religious processions, as she cannot work anymore)
Under Hinduism, there are over 330 million gods. The temples that were located near Dharwad worshiped the goddess Yellamma, and there is complex mythology behind this figure, which ultimately results in wives or sisters or daughters being dedicated to Yellamma to serve her as a temple prostitute. These women are dedicated by their fathers and husbands in order to appease the goddess for financial misfortune or a family without sons. The young girls partake in a “dedication ceremony” once they have menstruated for the first time, and a priest or a wealthy local man has sex with her. Her job is then to serve the temple. Often, men who visit devadasies are not just satisfying sexual urges, but hold the belief that it is the highest form of worship of the goddess.
A devadasi is a sex slave.
She is threatened with curses of leprosy if she refuses, and her family depends on the money earnt to live. These women are forced to satisfy the lusts of any customer, and if the men prefer not to wear a condom, the devadasies must accept. Many contract HIV/AIDS, as well as other STIs, and often are impregnated by their clients. Generally, daughters of devadasies are led into the same life as their mothers.
(some beautiful girls from Joyful Children’s Home)
The children of devadasies have no one to call their father, and in India this often means that they cannot even open a bank account. They are also met with an astounding amount of social stigma, and are spat at and despised, which can prevent these children from receiving a proper education, therefore forcing the daughters to take up their mothers’ occupation.
Arun and Shobha Massey were outraged at this oppressive cycle and decided to act against the injusice. 15 years ago, they created Joyful Children’s Home, a place where orphaned girls are given an education, fed amazing food (the most delicious meals I ate in my two weeks in India were in Joyful Children’s Home!), and brought up in a loving and undiscriminating environment.
(Me with some of the girls – they called us Aka, big sister)
In September, 2009, there were 70 girls there, all full of life and love and playfulness. They included us in their games and made us sing and dance for them. It was the most beautiful community of girls aged 2-18, some spoke some English and some spoke Karnata, some with sad pasts and some with tragic pasts, but all with joyful hearts.
Here is the latest of Arun’s update emails – it touched me as I read about the horrific lives they are rescuing the girls from, and inspired me that there is so much good in such dark places.
Dear Prayer Partners.
We left our house at 6 am on 16th August. Mamta and Chandrakala – two of our girls accompanied us to Jagdal where our church was celebrating 1st anniversary.
After lunch we travelled to Jamkhandi. Seema, our worker in that area wanted us to meet five new girls who needed admission in our Children’s Home. These girls were all in one of the red light areas of the town. The houses were closely situated and the surroundings were stinking. Many curious eyes watched us boldly. When we reached the dead end of an alley we stopped before a tiny room. Two small girls came out. One was around 10 years old (Aarti) and hunch backed. The other (Jyoti) was 9 years and very malnourished. Soon many men, women and children gathered around us.
We were shocked to hear the story of the hunch backed girl. Her mother was a prostitute and a drunkard. She got so mad at her crying daughter one day that she beat her with a broomstick so hard that crippled her. Her back is concaved. Her older sister is HIV+ and her body is covered with sores. The mothers of these girls died of AIDS. Their two boys and three girls became orphans when they were very young. No one wanted to be bothered with their responsibility. They begged for food and sometimes they did some odd jobs like cleaning in the restaurant nearby or running errands like bringing liquor from the shop for men who came to prostitutes in that area.
How in the world can any child live in an area like this! What a miserable life. All around these children everyday girls who are a little older than themselves are selling their body for a few rupees. Their play ground is the dark alleys where men are lurking to buy sex. When they are hungry and needy, instead of being attended by their mothers, they spread their hands in front of strangers. It is just a matter of time before they start selling their body for a morsel of food.
Their elderly neighbor pretended to be very concerned about these two girls. But she tried to stop our worker from bringing them to our Home in Dharwad. She had her evil eyes on them thinking that the girls can bring her some money in a just a few years by selling their young bodies.
From there we walked to another house where a young widowed mother wanted her 6 year daughter to come to us. A few houses away, lived another beautiful young prostitute who shouldered the responsibility of her younger sister, her older sister’s two sons and her own three children. Her older sister who was also a prostitute had died a few years ago. Convinced by our staff worker about the reality of short life of a prostitute and the dangers of the red light area, she begged for her two daughters to be taken into our Home and given opportunity for a safe environment and education.
We sat on two broken chairs in her kitchen. The room was so small, dirty and hot and we watched her boil some water and milk. We did not have the heart to refuse her hospitality. She brewed some coffee and served us. Our hearts entwined with these dear ones. Arun clicked a few pictures and showed to the girls. The little one giggled and giggled. Her laughter touched the core of our being. She made our day!
In spite of the jealous neighbors’ gossips and discouragements, a volunteer brought them to Joyful Children’s Home. The mothers shed some tears while departing but all the five girls took to our Home atmosphere like fish to the water. As we write this report, we hear their happy chatter and laughter. Praise God. Our God is in the business of restoration in their life. Nothing can stop Him!
Yours in His Ministry,
Arun & Shobha Massey
The terrible living conditions of the red light industry saddens my heart. And it makes me so angry that poverty steals the dignity of so many people around the world. But I cannot help but think: What phenomenal people! What bright futures these girls have! I really see God in such situations.
If you would like to find out more about the Devadasi System, go to Wikipedia – there are some very informative links, which the article cites as sources.
If you would like to find out more about Joyful Children’s Home, or Arun and Shobha Massey, including supporting them financially, please go to their website.
If you know of any other ministries which are doing wonderful things similar to Caring Hands ministry, feel free to comment. I love hearing stories of hope and light in places of darkness and oppression, we must celebrate the good things!
A Nightingale's Rose 