Each Has Their Own Story

Yesterday, we had, what I would consider, a fairly relaxing day...but it was pretty intense too! We went to the base of our Indian brothers and sisters and the team had the opportunity to meet so many people! It was so awesome....our hosts are doing so much in the movement of the Dalits it's incredible....they should really be honored for all they are doing and all the people they are bringing to India to fight for the poor and the oppressed. There was a gentlemen named Micheal Lawson. He has created many documentaries on the Dalits and the Indian people....he is now shooting a new documentary on the abuse of Indian women....they are probably going to title it...Forgotten Indian Women. It should be quite amazing. We also got to meet a young Indian woman who has been working in India for 17 or 18 years now and is starting to work in the sex trafficking arena....she was quite an unusual Indian woman....quite contrary to many of the Indian women we have spoken to thus far....she was very driven, not afraid to speak out against men and if they are being ridiculous, and just so strong. It was quite inspiring.

Carla and I had the opportunity to hear a couple of the women's stories that will be on the film. The stories are absolutely gut-wrenching....

Both of the women have the same basis, but different details making them each their own story....it just angers me to no end the atrocities these women face....and a bit helpless, but it felt good to just look them in the eyes and let them know we cared about them and they are loved! Both of the women were basically deceived by men of the upper caste system who were landlords and had their own rice fields and such. They both were told they would be provided for, loved, given much in their lives, and they had nothing to worry about....they gave up everything to be with these men because they were in a higher caste. Their families warned them about marrying men in an upper caste and that they could not support them once they married up because their families were still in such a lower caste. I asked Carla if she felt the women understood eventually that the men didn't love them....she said that their love is not like the way we think of love....it's not about feeling compassion, feeling safety in another person, finding your soul mate, it's about being provided for....being able to eat....having a place to live.....

One of women, Ponnai, really had no emotions when she told her story...she just told her story and moved on. She was describing how her marriage went after "she fell madly in love" with this man....she ended up becoming pregnant four different times from this man. Each time, he would take her to the hospital for an "injection" for the baby. The injection would make her unconscious and she would wake up and her baby would be aborted....a fifth pregnancy was nearly full term and again, the baby was killed.... During her marriage, she also found out this man was married to another woman, who actually had a son from this man....this son, would come and beat her for several days....she showed us scars that she had all over her body.

Another woman, Rose, she was a bit older than Ponnai...her skin a little bit more worn and wrinkled....you could tell she has lived a life....not so full...but she has made it through. She showed quite a bit more emotion and was much more soft in her heart. Rose was the youngest of three daughters growing up in her family and her father died when she was very young of an illness. She, nor her sisters, have ever been to school one day of their lives.... I really felt all Rose lived for as a young girl was to find a man who would take care of her and to marry....when she found this man of the upper caste, she said "I was so excited, I had so much hope..." They were married for 10 years and had no children....well, she was pregnant, but again, she had an abortion. These two women both had abortions because the men were in higher castes than the women and it's not culturally accepted for them to have children with a lower caste......stirs a little anger in ya, doesn't it? Rose wasn't able to conceive anymore children after her first abortion so they did not have any children throughout their 10 year marriage. This man was also married to another woman and basically kept Rose around to work in the rice fields. He left her about 2 years ago....she has so much shame over this marriage because she has no children, she has no husband now, she has no family....the woman has 3 saris to her name. She has nothing....however, there was something that brought just a glimmer of hope to her eyes. She still goes to church every Sunday....and really, all she wants is to be baptized....she said this several different times. Really, that is all she wants.....is to be baptized!

Both of these women work as laborers in the rice fields for about 30 rupees per day.....that is less than $1 per day. That is what they have to look forward to each day. One of the women has worked in the rice patty for over 8 years....from 6am to 3 or 4 in the afternoon.....hard labor for 9 to 10 hours a day...think you could do it? I don't think I could....

Yesterday, as I listened to these stories, I am not sure it really sunk in how much these women go through and endure through this life....as I write today, my heart breaks for these women and makes me wonder how these women find hope in each day....but they do, they find hope through the conferences our Indian brothers and sisters are holding, they find hope through Him, and know someday, their lives will be good.

WOW....that is all I can say.



1. Carla connecting with Ponnai and Rose.



2. Ponnai after we spoke with her....you can feel the block in her heart. Please pray for Ponnai, as we all know how that feels to just not want to go there....



3. Rose....she was so beautiful and just hung on every word Carla said....she really wanted her story to be heard. Please pray for her, too...I think she can feel it!