Putting angel into Evangelical

This painting was inspired by some very large pieces I saw in a Restaurant in London. I call it 'Red Girl Clubbing' and its part of a series (2 girls on a mobile is at the bottom of this blog). The originals were done by Paul Lemmon as part of an Exhibition: 'a Slice of Lemmon' put on by the Art Movement. Described as:

Voyeuristic, fixated and fetishist, Lemmon’s work is also exciting, provocative, atmospheric and compelling, in the way it inhabits an unstable, detached, partial and intrusive modern gaze. Like a Toulouse-Lautrec turned sinister.

I found his pictures very compelling.

On Friday night out with the Street Angels down Chertsey Road, Woking, we came across a lot of girls who had been out clubbing.

Quake had reopened after a couple of weeks with a Heavy Rock Band night. Plus of course there is BED Bar, Yates, O'Neals, Cameleon and RSVP

We met one girl who was very upset that she had been thrown out of 'Spoons for bumping into someone. Just 18 she said she had graduated from Police academy and was out celebrating. She was with her fiance. She was quite tearful. We saw her a number of times through the night talking to various people.

Two female street angels spent 2 hours with one girl who was very drunk. Her friends had left her and she had no money and was very upset and agitated. She tried phoning her friends - no joy. At one point she went to relieve herself , squatting down in the dark and a man came and squatted next to her. (I am still appalled at the lack of public toilets in Woking at night) So the 2 angels stuck with her to protect her. Eventually she thought of phoning her father who then came a picked her up by Toys'R'Us. and took her home. He was very grateful.

I suppose that epitomises what the street angels are about - having time to be with the vulnerable and see that they are alright and get home safely.

Very short skirts which leave little to the imagination, and high heels, seem to make girls even more vulnerable. We swept up glass and picked up bottles and gave out all our flip flops. Prevention is always better then expensive medical treatment.

After the drinking comes the eating as the Fast food outlets fill up with hungry punters. McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut, Subway, and the numerous kebab shops.

As one of the Pakistani taxi drivers told us: ' it seems the idea is to drink as much as you can, then get some food down you and be sick then you feel better and you get a taxi home'

It's what people call 'a good night out!'

The Angels patrol the streets to try and help people have a good night and not get into trouble, with a particular eye out for vulnerable girls.

The gospel reading for Sunday is from Matthew when Jesus is described, in contrast to John the Baptist, as 'eating and drinking' and called a 'glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners' (11:19)

I like that. He is at home on the streets, mixing with ordinary people. Those who are having fun, eating and drinking. Partying. Jesus felt at home in such company.

I was left reflecting why it is that the Church has been perceived as being so judgemental and unable to relate to people, so out of touch. Associated more with the aethetic, abolutionist John the Baptist - the puritanical, pietist streak of the church. Whereas Jesus the founder was so at home and so in touch with people. 'Come to me' he said, 'all you who are burdened and heavy ladened, and I will give you rest for your souls'. He understood people and knew what they needed. And being accepted and understood and listened to is so much of what people need. .....

Street Angels in some small way is helping to help put the angel back into evangelical ! So that the church (and not just the church) could also reach outside of itself and serve the young and the vulnerable on the streets. (By the way we are looking for more Angels to we can patrol on busier Saturday nights as well as Fridays - if you are interested let us know or signup online)

During the night, we also saw two foxes near the council offices where we are based. Running around frollicking in the town square. Maybe they too were looking for a good night out. They were certainly in search of food and drink....

'Out with the Angels' - Friday night in Woking

The painting was inspired by the concept of Street Angels

(based on a pic I found on the web)

This was my first time as a street angel - 11 of us on duty on Friday night. We gathered at 9:30pm for a 10 to 4 shift. Organised in pairs, two hours on and one hour off. The break time is spent in the council office staff room, which is also used by police and others.

I was with Margaret. It was a cold night but not very busy. We walked the streets to get an idea of the patch. Saying hello to one and all. Striking up conversations where wanted. Especially to people on their own. A Welsh girl. Man with dreadlocks who wanted to become an angel himself. A Russian bouncer outside Yates. The manager of a nightclub, RSVP. Plus the police – two teams the local community police and the quick response from Guildford, plus lots of taxi drivers, mainly Pakistani.

One team stayed with a very drunk 14 year old, under the station canopy, until her grateful mother came to take her home. We met a girl, Cloe, on her own sitting on the pavement outside a pub. Her 'ex' was inside and wanted nothing to do with her. We stayed with her while she vomited up the evening’s drink, gave her water and another team escorted her to the bus to make sure she was OK getting to a friend’s house.

A brother and sister were vehemently fighting in the streets, with a friend trying to separate them. Lots of things were said they would later regret. And it was at times violent. A shop window was nearly broken. In the end just being there, hanging around persistently and trying to talk to them, they eventually stopped. The sister was put in a taxi home and the police took details. They were known but not wanted. It ended all very amicably with both men expressing appreciation and exchanging hugs with the angels.

3 young girls who looked around 14/15 kept appearing, asking for lollipops. We did see one angel - a young woman off to a club in white body suit, dancing tutu and wings. She looked COLD…. And there was a jovial, old busker, who improvised a song about lollipops. A good laugh had by all ….

A taxi driver spoke to us of some of the abuse he had suffered at the hands of drunken customers. One man had ripped his coat and tried to strangle him. The 3 girls tried to cadge a lift off him, ‘mum will pay at the end’ they suggested. He refused "Mother’s never pay”, he explained, “mothers are always tucked up asleep in bed and never pay"

A night worker waiting for her lift, just grateful to be asked if she was alright.

We came across one couple arguing. So difficult to tell if the violence is going to escalate. And they didn’t really want any interference, so we moved on…

At the end of the night, we met Ted, a young man in a suit, who had had a £1800 bike stolen the week before, so he was off home, a 4 mile walk along the canal at 3am. We chatted and gave him a lollipop… He shouted back as he was walking off; “Amazing, the lollipop really does it for me, it really f***ing does!”

Woking seems to appreciate the angels on the streets. They just want them there on busier Saturday nights as well…….

‘At the centre and on the margins’

Dr Laiita Edwardes stared working at Pune and befriending Hijra or Kinnar (Eunuchs), who she calls ‘God’s special people.’ I met Panna, Koelli and Stella. All three have come out of the trade. We talked, they danced and Panna sang: ‘Koi bhi chore mujhe, Yesus kebhi nehin chorega’ (even if others leave me, Jesus will never leave me) Dr Lalita has served them, demonstrating unconditional love. It was a real lesson in acceptance.

This focus on the margins is reflected in our partnerships: Anti-trafficking in Bangladesh, Islamabad Christians against Narcotics, Delhi Brotherhoods shelter for street children. Ministry to hearing impaired in Tamil Nadu, Visranti ministry to abused women in Kerala.

Work on the margins as well as at the centre has been a hallmark of CMS work

Colonial Past Heritage and legacy

In the mid 19^th century CMS began work with the ancient churches in India. They concentrated on renewing Theological Education, helping the life and liturgy of the church, so it could be a missionary force.

CMS was opportunistic, engaging with ancient cultures, religions and other traditions, translating sacred texts and books, contributing to a revival of learning for all in the ancient civilisations of Asia.

The social work heritage, female education, health work with untouchables, has contributed to bringing dignity for all people. This is more than the traditional medical, education and church institutions which also developed from ‘starting small’. (see Venn principles – Henry Venn was an early CMS General Secretary)

I have met many in South Asia who have deeper claims to being CMS than I have, born in a ‘CMS hospital’, graduated from a ‘CMS school’ or a member of a ‘CMS church’.

The United Church Experiment

Part of working at the Centre has been to work with the established churches many of which CMS helped to found - the United Churches in South India CSI and North India (CNI) , and In Pakistan (COP) The Anglican Church of Ceylon and the National Churches Fellowship of Nepal. These remain our traditional partners.

I also visited Chennai (Madras) in search of St Thomas who brought Christianity in 52AD. What struck me was that the disciple who doubted the most went the furthest. And our most ancient partners – the Syrian Orthodox and Mar Thoma churches trace the foundation of their church to Thomas’s arrival and ministry. The Christian legacy is deeper than the British Raj.

The CHINDIA Phenomena

The Indian subcontinent is a vast geographical area and a growing economic force, part of the rising economic BRIC Nations (Brazil, Russia, India and China.

Indeed the ‘CHINDIA” phenomena as it has been called, suggests that China and India will change the economic face of Asia and probably the spiritual face as well.

Mission Movements

New Mission movements are part of this spiritual change of face:

Indian Evangelical Mission, Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association, Mission Board of Presbyterian Church of Mizoram, Anglican Inland Missionary Society of Sri Lanka, BORN Network in Bihar state, Al Bashir in N India, Isa-e-Jamat in Bangladesh, Bhutan outreach project.

CMS acts as a bridge between existing and emerging church movements. We have encouraged this growth through Leadership development, discipleship training and scholarships.

Ram Prasad from Nepal has been supported through various programmes, and now as a Co-Mission Partner, he is making a significant contribution to the growth of the Nepali mission movement through his leadership in the Mission Commission of Nepal.

Focus on Youth

South Asian Christian Youth Network brings together youth form the established and more emerging partnerships from all over the Indian Subcontinent. Over the years SACYN has been ‘Called to Peace’ in Sri Lanka and looked at ‘Gospel and Globalisation’ in Bangalore. And becoming ‘Bridge Builders’ in Pokhara Nepal in May 2010

CHALLENGES

The challenges of the subcontinent are vast. There is real need for Integral Mission, for a holistic social transformational Gospel meeting some of the challenges on the edges - Indigenous Mission reaching out to the tribal peoples of NE India. The untouchables. Himalayan Arch and the strategic place of Nepal. Myanmar, Tibet, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asian republics. How to connect up the Chinese and India movements.

The field is vast but the harvesters are already being mobilised from within the region. Our task is to work alongside them

Let Bishop Samantaroy of Amritsar Diocese, CNI have last word:

If Indian churches get together, then there is no need to look elsewhere…. Our people are encountering Missionaries from South India. We see their dedication and are challenged….CMS has adapted to the changing situation, doing mission with the locals. Now God has opened a door. It is a new Avatar (incarnation) - an Indian CMS - an Asian entity with a new face.

Sri Lankan Crisis Update

Sri Lanka is facing a continued post war humanitarian crisis.  Adrian our Regional Manager for South Asia writes: 

In February of this year before the formal end of hostilities in May, I visited Sri Lanka including the East Coast and was very disturbed by hearing many stories of human suffering as a result of the civil war. Thousands fleeing the violence only to be caught in the crossfire and either killed or horribly injured – with no access to medical treatment. Those that made it were sent to refugee camps which they were not allowed to leave and where relief organizations were denied access. I met an Anglican pastor who did not know if his parents and other close relatives from the conflict area were alive or dead. I visited villages in areas of resettlement, where there was fear of attack by unknown gangs. The residents in one village were going to a funeral of a young man murdered in his home by one such gang two nights before.

But I was also greatly encouraged by the active response of the Church of Ceylon – on the ground level to provide relief, counseling and support among the affected communities and individuals, and also nationally by its strong advocacy voice, and by their longer-term strategies for promoting peace-building and conflict transformation. The dedicated labour of Rev. Chandran Crispus and his team among internally displaced and recently resettled people in the Batticaloa area was one example of how the church is responding practically and effectively in these ways. They desperately need a vehicle to help to facilitate this work.

Nearly 80,000 people have died in 26 years of conflict in Sri Lanka in what has been Asia’s longest and possibly nastiest civil war. There are an estimated 300,000 Internally Displaced People and many are living in what are described by some as more like concentration camps than places of refuge. At least a million landmines have been laid. Thousands of children have been forced to become soldiers. In the final months of fighting at least 7,000 people were killed (and some local estimates such as those of the Roman Catholic church put the figure at 20,000) and 40,000 injured.

Now the government has achieved a military victory over the rebels. For the first time since 1983 the entire island nation is under government control. A relentless military offensive conquered 15,000 sq km which the rebels ran as a separate state in the north and east. But there is a huge task now of reconstruction and rebuilding as much of the land of the north and east have been laid waste by fighting, destruction of buildings and infrastructure, landmines and war debris.

But it is not just a matter of physical rebuilding. The Rt. Revd. Duleep de Chickera (Bishop of Colombo) has called for

“prayerful, purposeful and collective steps towards an integrated, united, and just Sri Lanka that has eluded us for decades. We must become a nation in which every woman, man and child, regardless of religion or ethnicity, is made to feel equal, free and proud to call themselves Sri Lankan. For this to happen we will be required to address the grievances of all communities, eliminate social fear and suspicion, restore the people’s confidence in law and order and good governance, and respond to the current economic challenges with immediate attention to the needs of the poorest, the displaced, the helpless, and the harassed amongst us.”

If anyone is interested in donating towards the CMS response to the Crisis  then there is a link on the website (take a look at the Sri Lanka focus page)  and there is more from Bishop Duleep 

But above all please continue to pray for Sri Lanka 

Shalom House Migrant worker centre SEOUL

 

'Migrant workers are our neighbours who we must embrace as our friends'

Shalom House is a part of the Namyangju Anglican church of Korea. Since the 1990s migrant workers from at least 15 countries have gone to Korea in search of their dream in Namyangju area around 1500 workers 

Run buy Colombo Kim,  in his tweed jacket he looked every bit a private eye. He certainly has a heart for justice and has been imprisoned as a result of protesting on behalf of migrants.  
This extensive centre ministers to Filipinos, Nepalese, Pakistanis, Indian and many others.They run Computer classes,   Korea language,   Fitness Gym, Hobby centre,  medical clinic, dental clinic,   physical therapy,  shelter for men plus another for  women and children.  Also a drop in centre selling clothes (fixed price 1000 Wan – less than a dollar) a library and resource centre with artefacts from Nepal Indonesia and Philippines as a cultural museum. 

I was particularly struck by the church where they ring the bell when the police come looking for illegal immigrants - resounding solidarity.

It would be a great place for a short term worker teaching English and also possibilities for English speaking clergy Accommodation and food can be provided

Afterwards we visited a Lent group in the home of the Shalom driver.   We sat on the floor in their flat and Rev Paul Koh conducted a simple service and then we ate food - many dishes in honour of the centre and its committed clergy and staff. A wonderful family atmosphere. And great food! 

Satvana - a home in Pune

Satvana Home started in 2005. Dr Lalita Edwards had been working in the HIV/Aids field particularly with children at risk. Initially she was doing casework in Mumbai and alter focused on Pune.

According to Lalita, India has 19lakh (1.9million) women who are living with Aids. 90% are married and living in a monogamous relationship. ‘India is about to be hit by the worst epidemic in the world'

 
She started opening up her own home, initially to 6 girls, high risk children from traumatised backgrounds, some on Anti-retroviral treatment.

Satvana currently has 25 children staying with 2 more on the way. Many are orphans, but some with a living parent or relatives are able to go ‘home’ twice a year, although I suspect they find more of a home with Dr Lalita that they do elsewhere There was a great atmosphere when we visited, a positive caring environment where children can grow and learn and have a sense of hope.

She uses a building belonging to a church, which is rented, The children can attend the church and the local schools. Satvana only has only one full time staff member plus Lalita herself and a social worker, Shamil. Also some voluntary help.

But together they make a small army

Bethesda Life Centres Goa

Bethesda Life Centres GoaMartin and Beena set up the ministry in Goa in 98 not long after their marriage.Martin spent time in Papua New Guinea for 3 years and they were also in Hillsong Australia as a couple for a year after their marriage.
Her father VA Thampy started the New India Church of God’ www.nicog.orgin Kerala in the 1970s. There are now more than 2000 churches over India as well as Nepal Dubai. They also run Children’s homes and schools, refuges for women as well as 11 missionary training schools. The model is sending out mobile teams. This is not so much a denomination but a mission movement ‘Christ for the Nations’ 

'ONE ACT OF KINDNESS'

Meena’s Father VA Thampy He was converted aged 19 in a remote village in Kerala from a Greek orthodox background. He became passionate about sharing the gospel even preaching from the top of Palm tree, using a home made megaphone (I’ll write that one up later) The story is told in a book by Brendan McCauley ‘India – one act of Kindness’ (Tate Publishing 2004).

DANIEL’S AND REBECCA'S ENCLAVE

I spent the day visiting the various projects: ‘Daniel’s Enclave’ home for 58 boys (where 2 of my children Andy and Jo have worked on summer programmes) I had kids climbing all over me and we even celebrated Jo’s birthday with chai and cake and banana chips.

The girls home ‘Rebecca’s Enclave’ is home to 36 girls. When we visited they were playing a version of HopscotchThey are also renovating a 3rd home which will they have bought to relieve the pressure on Daniel’s enclave Plan to take e in another 15 who need admission70& of the children are without parents, children of aids victims HIV+ve children are refereed elsewhere The others are mainly children of sex workers plus some leprosy background children

They also work with women to help them return to their villages.
Martin and beena have established a newtwork of support from churches in Woking,  Gretton and York a charity in UK exists to support wwwJames1v27foundation.org.uk
 

Girls from our church were also spending time there as part of as gap year travelling in Asia. Our church youth ministry 'Graceworks'  sends teams each year to work with them, to both encourage and are themselves encouraged by the experience. They appreciate short term volunteers but they also need trained people who can take responsibility and bear some of the burden for the work.

Goa has a colonial feel to it. The Portuguese colony with a strong Catholic influence . The relaxed, easy pace of life attracts tourists It is particularly famous for its beaches and now it seems for the casinos. I stayed at the Mandovi Hotel on Panaji, near the water front. A number of floating casinos blared out dance music. The Indian-Portuguese mix is reflected both in the food and in the churches. Here the twain shall meet.

BIBLE SCHOOL

I also visiting the bible school run by Manoj, Registrar and Ligi, academic dean. It started in 1997 as a missionary training centre They run a 2 year residential programme with a one year practical internship. To ‘train and send’ This might be to work with children, schools, street kids, church planting, training centres, mobile evangelistic teams

Around 20 students from Orissa, West Bengal, Kerala, Kanata, Tamil Nadu, Andréa Pradesh Manipur and Myanmar.  I shared my own journey in a mixture of Hindi/Urdu and English, as well as some Biblical principle of mission and some of the changes and challenges in the mission scene. The students were enthusiastic and welcoming, We then had a quick lunch before dashing off to the airport to pick up my flight to Chennai. A great way to spend a morning.

Autobiography of a sex worker: Nalina Jameela

I have just finished reading a fascinating book, ’Autobiography of a sex worker’ by Nalini Jameela. 

Nalini Jameela (50) holds her book 'The Autobiography of a Sex Worker' in the southern Indian state of Kerala December 14, 2005. Her long, wavy, black hair tied loosely in a knot, Jameela looks like any other Indian housewife. But this attractive, largely uneducated mother of two is a best-selling author and prostitute whose outspoken views of sex work as an ordinary career choice have stirred controversy in conservative India. [Reuters]

“I am Nalini. Was born at Kalloor near Amballoor. I am forty-nine years old.” When Nalini Jameela wrote the first sentences of her autobiography in a notebook in 2003, a client who chanced to read these lines left her — not out of fear of exposure, but because she had told him she was only 42!

When the autobiography finally appeared in print two years later, in Malayalam, it sold like hot cakes. In J. Devika’s English translation of the revised memoir, Jameela speaks as a sex worker, a description deliberately defined by her profession.

I wanted insight into the lives of some of the people I have seen in Pune and in Kolkatta. I have met children of sex workers, many HIV+ve in various orphanages, in the Alpha Village, in Satvana, in Bethesda, all desperately seeking love and affection . I was also struck by the movie I saw (Zindagi break the cycle Timothy Giakwad) which portrays sex trafficking of a young teenage girl. What is life like for these women? So when I saw the book in Hyderabad Airport I picked it up. It was an opportunity to read a real story of one such woman.

What is fascinating is the total 'otherness' of her life situation  and the experiences she goes through. She is a Malayalam speaking woman of a similar age to me, but totally different circumstances. She describes a chaotic, unstable, a ‘perchance’ sort of lifestyle wandering from opportunity to disasters, tossed about by people who variously use her and abuse her. At different seasons of her life a labourer in a clay mine, a wife and mother, a business woman, a sex-worker, a social activist and filmmaker, a political speaker and writer. She appears to drift between worlds and describes it all naturally without much polish.

She starts life a Hindu and marries a Muslim. It was particularly fascinating to read of the twilight zone surrounding mosques where she sought refuge at various low points in her life. One particular concern is protecting he honour of her daughter. Her greatest challenge is how to provide for and nurture her offspring without the normal social convention of a male protector.

It is disturbing in that it brings into the public arena what is so often swept under the carpet, it gives voice to sex workers. It even defines language which is more acceptable. It is controversial in that it gave voice to women sex workers through one of the community who has spoken out and told it as it is. Some accuse her of being too outspoken.

Sex worker are free in four respects. We don't have to cook for a husband; we don't have to wash his dirty clothes; we don't have to ask for his permission to raise our kids as we deem fit; we don't have to run after a husband claiming rights to his property."

One web based review I read: 

It's not long -- 143 pages -- and its translation doesn't feel right -- but I would say it makes complusory reading.
It is, in many ways a shocking book -- NOT because of what it says about the life of a sex-worker but for what it reveals about the lives of so-called "ordinary" Indians. ….. Jameela's story is one of extraordinary resilience - Against the backdrop of Jameela's account, however, "ordinary" and "extraordinary" cease to have much meaning -- she shows us that the huge majority of "ordinary" people have "extraordinary" experiences, in which case they are no longer extraordinary in the sense of unusual, but merely the norm –--- Jameela's life and the lives of the huge majority of those amongst whom she lives -- not just sex-workers, but the tradesmen, the rickshawallas, the policemen, the small hoteliers -- are marked by unrelenting insecurity, hampered by such extremes of heartlessness that it is really difficult to understand how they can bear to face up to their realities –
The Malayalam edition of her book was snapped up -- 13,000 copies were sold in the first 100 days, according to the introduction of this book. It is not a salacious book -- no-one reading it, I believe, is likely to get any cheap thrills from it. To some extent, I miss the spice that has been (I think deliberately) left out.
How ironic that less provocative books -- lacy fictions built on middle-aged fantasies -- are decked out like scarlet ladies, while this one, about and by a scarlet lady, looks as meek and saintly as a vegetarian recipe book!

See also related article in China Daily,  Dec 05  Indian prostitute mum sparks storm with book

Hijra of Pune February 2009

Penna, Stella and Koelli talking with Dr Lalita 

I visited ‘Budwar Pet’ Red Light district in Pune with Dr Lalita. We walked to the Satvana crèche run for children of sex workers every week day from 5:30 – 9:30 for the last couple of years. They weren’t there but it gave us space to talk (in hindi/urdu). Being able to communicate makes all the difference. It gets beyond the superficial, the outward appearance of things. Dr Lalita calls the Hijra ‘her special people.’

I met Panna who runs the crèche, Koelli from Keralla who has been in Pune for the last 25 years and Stella from Tamil Nadu for the past 20. All three have come out of the trade. As we talked they gave a demonstration dance and Penen sang a song: ‘Koi bhi chore mujhe, Yesu kebhi nehin chorega’ (even if others leave me, Jesus will never leave me)

Dr Laita stared working at Jadhav Natva Sansar and befriending the hijra or 'kinnar' (eunuchs). It was a real lesson in acceptance. Dr Laita has befriended and served them, demonstrating unconditional love. They are now in turn helping others. They all seem to call her ‘uma’ (mum) or ‘aunty’

We went on a walkabout the streets. Narrow dirty lanes, full of shops, DVD stalls, narrow lanes and gullies. People milling around.  Penna and the others greeted men and women and fellow ‘kinnar’ and the mamas sitting outside the doors. Everyone eyes everyone else up.
At night it is the twilight world of TGs (transgenders) FSWs (female sex workers) and MSMs (men having sex with men).  In the heat of the day, the home spills out onto the street, difficult to discern private and public, domestic and professional.    I was concerned about girls not much older than my daughter. So much exploitation. 

 
In her small one room flat over a cuppa ‘germ chai’, Penna showed me pictures of her heyday, her dancing days. With all her make up, she looked like a Greta Garbo figure from Hollywood. Then she earned 10,000 Rs a night dancing. But she wouldn’t swap those days for now anytime. Now she has a sense of peace and purpose.

Penna quoted by heart Isaiah 56: 4-5 in Hindi - verses that mean so much to her: 

'For this is what the LORD says: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.’

Zindegi: Break the cycle

Zindegi: Break the cycle   a film by Timothy Gaikwad.  Timothy has produced about 50 films  He showed us this latest 40 min docu-drama whilst on a visit to the Alpha village. 

The plot summary is taken from  Yet another AIDS movie by IMCARES

Zindagi is a story of a 16 year old girl who is trafficked from rural Maharashtra and sold into prostitution in Mumbai. This is a document of Her and many like her who go though this journey through hell. She gives birth to a daughter in the brothels. The little girls too is at the risk of being recruited in this oldest business in the world. Meanwhile certain simple social workers from a nearby church come to her rescue. The daughter is brought-up in a foster home and the mother is reformed. The cycle is broken! But ignorance is bliss. The parallel story shows a fourth generation prostitute. A young male child who is abused by his mother's customers, grows up to be a Hijra and eventually takes over the brothel. No child is safe in the red-light areas be it a male or a female.

There are simple and friendly looking agents lurking in the villages in India, to take advantage of poverty stricken families. They promise domestic jobs for young girls, pay some money to the parents, and then sell the girls in Mumbai's red light areas. This is true. This film contains some bold scenes of torture, post traumatic disorders and the apathy of women and children in prostitution. But above all it gives hope!

And that hope is exemplified by our visit to Alpha village.  A project of IMCARES  (Intermission Care and Rehabilitation Society) based out of Mumbai, where there is a ministry to streetkids.  The village itself is outside Pune and  occupies a plot of land behind an old Anglican Church (now CNI). 

It is not huge by any means, but it is a safe haven.  A smattering of buildings house around 50 boys, who are mainly Aids orphans or come from Mumbai sex workers as well as victoms of the 1993 Latur earthquake in Maharashtra  (there is another home for smaller boys and for Girls)  The 'village' has a small kitchen garden and views of hills around. The sense of care abounds. Lots of smiling faces and happy children playing cricket. 

Timothy Gaikwad is brother-in-law to my CMS colleague Adrian.  He is passionate about his agency Intermission but more about his street-ministry: 

'I am heartbroken and yet challenged to carry out initiatives that will help end this evil practice of child trafficking . We, at Inter-Mission Cares, have recently produced a film on child trafficking called Zindagi — Break the Cycle. Though this ‘A’ certified film (I don’t know for what reason), is suitable for all of India, it is primarily made with the church audience in mind. We attend church every Sunday and warm the pews. We have become so selfish in our worship of God, that we forget that He is a God of the oppressed and of justice. This film is being shown in churches so that we move out of our comfort zones and go out there, raise our voices, expose the trafficking racket, and also, most importantly, accept the oppressed back in society'

You can read more in 'Expressindia' Reeling Life Realities  and in a Tearfund article:  Film brings message of hope.     Intermisison is a part of both  Viva Network and the Micah Network.  The film was supported by Geneva Global   There is even a clip on YOUTube on the making of Zindegi  Just to give you a taster.  You can also watch a clip from another of Timothy's films Masiha Aaya Hain (a Saviour is Come) showiung a Bollywood style dance in a church that is opening its doors to the marginalised.    

 

Slumdog Millionaire

Great movie set in Mumbai.  Slumdog millionaire captures the hope of a Nation as a nobody is transformed into a somebody.  A classic tale of love triumphing over evil.  

Read the film's  synopsis

 

Slumdog Millionaire is the story of Jamal Malik (Patel), an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India¹s "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?"But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much?

Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika (Pinto), the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show¹s questions.

Each chapter of Jamal¹s increasingly layered story reveals where he learned the answers to the show¹s seemingly impossible quizzes. But one question remains a mystery: what is this young man with no apparent desire for riches really doing on the game show?

When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out.....

But as for the rest, go see the film. It's got that feel-good factor. And make sure you stay for the Bollywood-style credits.  As for me I'm off to Mumbai at the beginning of Feb to go and see for myself . . . . . 

Prison Ministry, Lahore, Nov 2008

Prison Ministry Conference, Lahore 25-28 Nov 2008   from a report sent by Aamir

Bishop Joseph from Catholic Church, Diocese of Faisalabad officially opened the conference. The ceremony was attended by more than 100 people, with over 40 attending the whole conference. Rev Derek, from Manchester shared on good practice in the British Prison system. Rev Falak a Pakistani priest in Manchester Diocese shared his story:

'Experiencing pain'

“ I was 5 or 6 Years old when I first visited prison with my mother to see my father. I was 16 years old when I dedicated my life to God and went to Catholic Minor Seminary to become catechist because I always wanted to be a catholic priest. I finished my training as Catechist and also completed teacher training. When I was 18 years old, memories from my past especially those of visiting the prison started running in my mind like a film. It was then that the Lord gave me vision to start prison ministry through this verse {I was in prison and you did not visit me}. I started visiting prison and meeting prisoners there. Bishop Joseph was my rector at that time so I shared my vision with him. He encouraged me a lot and later I received encouragement and support from various other people, one nun used to accompany me to visit the women prisoners. I visited Karachi central jail for five and half years. With all the support from the priests we were able to fight for Christian rights in 1991, and got notification for remission on studying Bible. 19 people got remission in Sindh on the basis of this. 10 years ago I went to UK and completed 1 year prison chaplaincy training. I visited different jails did a study comparing the prison system of Pakistan and Britain. In Manchester I continued working in the prison because this has become to be the core of my ministry. {I was in prison and you did not visit me}. I myself had never been imprisoned but I had an accident through which Lord made me experience the pain and I could relate it to the pain that people go through in prisons.”

Sohail ’s Story:  'Sharing Life'  

“

In 1998 when I was working with a multinational company, I was charged with a murder case. On 31st March I was sent to jail and the worst thing was that my elder sister, elder brother and father were all convicted with me. Seeing my brother and father in the same cell made me very angry and sad. My rest of the family suffered a lot during this time as no one was out there to earn living. After 3-4 months when I was out of my fear of prison I started meeting and talking to other inmates. I always used to get angry with Christians who visited me and lectured me to repent, because I used to think that I had already repented and God should move on to take me out of prison. I accepted Jesus as my saviour on 26th May 1999. Today I remember Mr. B.  who is not with us as he used to visit me in prison with Arthur and used to counsel me, they helped me to pacify my anger. Arthur gave me a book that changed my life, I could never forget one sentence that changed my life "don’t look at your hardships turn your face and set your eyes on cross”. Lord gave me vision and burden for my fellow prisoners. One mullah used to come in prison to teach Muslim prisoners so I thought; why shouldn’t I teach my fellow Christian prisoners. I started bible classes and sharing stories. I got peace of mind in serving my fellow prisoners and I made committed my life with Lord through this ministry.

I moved an application that there is no place for worship to Superintendant who threw it out and made mockery of our request. I was saddened by the suffering of Christians due to injustice and discrimination. I was very confident that we would not get the punishment from the court because the Lord had put peace in my heart. One night before the decision, that was 31st May 2001, we all (fellow prisoners) sat to pray in our cell and my fellows put their hands on us and cried and prayed. Next morning we were released by the court due to lack of witness and proof.

We stayed in prison for three years and two months during which my family came under heavy loans as no one was earning. When I came back home I got depressed to see the poverty and the financial burden of the family, we could only afford to eat one meal in a day. After one month my father asked me to go out and earn money, and I thought I had promised with God to serve Him, how could I go and just do a job to earn money. I went to Karachi to my brother in-law who was a pastor and shared with him that I had promised with God to serve Him but my family situation is hindering my commitment, he advised that me to turn my face from problems and set my eyes on the cross.

 
I started serving the Lord in faith and arranged a first worship evening for the prison work. I had only thirty rupees with me while I needed fifteen thousand. While I was arranging 350 chairs for the event a pastor came and said that I should be expecting so many people to attend as people do not come to such events. I felt discouraged but I asked him to pray that the Lord fills all these seats, which he did. I started my ministry SHARING LIFE and kept walking in faith with God and He kept blessing me, today SHARING LIFE is known in 30 countries. Along with working for the spiritual and physical needs of prisoners SHARING LIFE also works on advocacy issues. In the future we are planning to set up a micro credit programme for the families of the prisoners.”