Sold. Dedicated. Unjust.

Yes, dedicated to a goddess.  Sold to the temple.  Complete dedication, chosen for them.
It's called the Devadasi System.  It's a long, old Indian religious tradition.
Little girls are dedicated to the goddess for a few reasons.  Most often, it is to make money for their family. Because they are dedicated to the temple/goddess, they are never allowed to get married.  One of their duties is to perform sexual favors for the local men.  This is their life.  Even worse, they are told that it is their duty - their calling.  They are married to the religion.  They never have a husband.  They may have children, but never stability.  And they must exploit themselves.

Some are also sold straight into prostitution.  They are either unwanted or uncared for.  They are just slaves, and they must do what they are told to survive.


I read about this at 15.  This broke my heart.  It planted a seed in my core, and it's grown into a passion for not only the girls in India, but internationally.


However, the seed is still there, and I still have a heart for girls in India.  That is why, eventually, we hope to adopt a little girl from India, specifically, if God provides.  

They are in danger, not only because of this religious cult, but because girls are seen as a burden to parents.  Sometimes they are abandoned at orphanages, sometimes they are blatantly sold straight into prostitution.  Some families even bury their little girls alive. 

Again, if you have read my blog, you know that this breaks my heart into a million pieces.  Especially the prostitution.  Especially the fact that they have no rights.  Especially because God calls us to care for those that cannot care for themselves, and not enough people are taking action.

Mary Ellen Mark is a photographer that took pictures of young Indian prostitutes in brothels.  Just a warning, if you go look at them, some are explicit (only because they're realistic).

Don't forget to enter the Giveaway with a Heart, especially if this breaks your heart...

The Sunday Sentence!

If you haven't entered the Giveaway with a Heart, please check it out!  It's for an amazing cause!

It's Single Sentence Sunday, again!  They come so quickly!  Remember to let me know if you do one, and leave your link in a comment.

Today's Sentence:

We impact the lives of others by making meaningful, intentional relationships and being aware of the people we come in contact with us daily.

Missions!

I decided to do Kelly's Show us Your Life today, and I was so excited to see that today's topic was Missions!


From the time that I was 9 until I was 13, my family lived down in Laredo, Texas (one of the driest, hottest places in America) and my parents worked for a mission organization that hosted short-term trips into Mexico, Cuba, and El Salvador.  I had the amazing privilege of going on more mission trips than I can count and having a complete change in my perspective.  Since I could go on for many posts about these experiences, I decided to limit myself to five things that I learned then and on mission trips I've been on since:

1.  American culture is not the only culture in the world.  After years spent immersed in a culture completely different than mine, I had to learn how not to judge.  It's amazing how highly we think of ourselves.  Sure, we like to learn about different cultures, but we often think that ours is the best.  My mind had to open, and I found that I loved some of the ways that things are done in Mexico, even better than the way we do them here!  

2.  God is the same on the mission field and off.  I would get frustrated every time I returned to normal life after a summer filled with mission trips.  Why did God speak to me then, and not now?  One realization changed my life, though, and that is that God is never changing.  He was the same God there as he is at home.  I'm the one that changes!  I'm the one that pulls my focus away from the things of him.

3.  Hand Sanitizer is the bomb.  Yep, I said it - the bomb!  I think I have used over 5 gallons of this stuff in my lifetime.  Ok, maybe not, but it really helps.  There are some super civilized and clean places, but there are some crazy dirty outhouses that you have to squat over and find that little 6 inch hole and hope... And then not only rub your hands, but your ankles and your arms... all over with whatever germ-x you can find.

4.  Orphanages need help.  I remember one in particular in Nuevo Laredo, MX that was just horrific.  There was one little girl that was never adopted or helped, and I think she had some mental issues.  She would come sit in your lap and get really close and whisper in your ear: "I love you; do you have any money?"  It was just awful.  I saw roaches climb in babies' diapers and I saw children with scabs on their heads that showed just one of many diseases available.  They need help badly, badly, badly.  More than anyone I met there.

5.  God is bigger than me.  And he's bigger than language barriers, and culture barriers, and my presuppositions.  He is the change agent.  He may use us on trips, but he is the one who softens hearts and saves his children.  I have nothing to offer except willing hands and words and heart, but He is everything and provides all we need, no matter where we come from, or what side of the ministry we are on.

Sharing God's Word all over the world is part of my heartbeat, and I'm thankful to have married a man that feels the same.  This will always be part of my life, in a big, big way.

Heart-to-Heart #1

I have had this awesome opportunity to have led small groups for girls for over 5 years now, which means that I've met a lot of girls.  I have found that there are some issues and thoughts that so many girls and women have, and that has led me to do a lot of studying on them.  Well, I thought I would share what I have learned.  I don't know if this will last, but if I run across something in my quiet time that reminds me of this, I'll do another "blog-isode" and we'll just see how it goes.  

Here's #1!  It might apply to you and/or somebody you know, and it might not.  But enjoy!

Dear Girl with Daddy Problems: 
I've met you way more often than I should.  I wish there were less of you out there!  Daddy's should not hurt you.  Daddy's should not leave your family.  Daddy's should not take their own lives.  And Daddy's should never ever ignore their little girls or not show up to things.  But sometimes it happens, and then you are left to deal with a life scarred by a man that you did not even choose.

I have talked to a lot of you.  I have heard awful things that break my heart over and over again.  I have heard you be open with your knowledge of how this has affected your relationships and your self confidence.  And sometimes, I don't know how to help.  Scratch that... a lot of times, I don't know how to help.

But there is someone who does.  There God wants to be the Father to the fatherless, but we have to let him.  This isn't always easy, especially if we have a lot of hurt inside.

First, I want you to know that God knows it hurts.  And I can tell you from experience that it is good for you to recognize that it hurts, too.  One of my favorite songs is Tenth Avenue North's "Hold My Heart" because it sings about going to God with broken hearts and knowing that he is the only answer.  And that is what he wants from you (Psalm 51 talks about being a broken sacrifice).  Don't try to patch it up or tape it together.  He is not blind to your heart's brokenness, and he wants it just like it is.

Also, I need you to know that God can heal you.  He wants to heal you and make you whole again, and it is possible.  In fact, God can use this in you.  I bet that this letter would be more effective if it came from one of you!  You can reach people and you can decide that you and your family will be different.  What an amazing opportunity!!

The biggest thing that I see in many of you (not all) is a feeling that you are not good enough.  You want somebody to love you, especially if you are scarred by thinking that the one person who should've loved you, didn't.  You put everything in a boyfriend or husband because he is a man that gives you worth.  You don't go after your dreams because your dad never told you that you were capable.  You settle.  But this is not how it has to be.  You are capable through Christ.  He is the Father to the fatherless, and he thinks that you are beautiful, gorgeous, and worth every minute of his time.  And he just adores the way you are, and he gave you big dreams.  Most of all, he wants to hold your heart, and help you realize just how valuable you are to him.

I want to be there to hold your hand.  Every single one of you.  This problem makes me so angry.  And it makes God angry.  He hates when innocent children are hurt.  And he wants to pick you up and give you a Daddy that is better than you thought you could have.  He wants to whisper in your ear that he loves you and believes in you.  He wants to give you the confidence that you feel was taken from you.  The best thing about the confidence he gives, though, is that it comes from a never-ending source, one that no earthly father could provide anyway.

I'm praying for you.  I'm going to write a book dedicated to you one day.  And I'm going to prove to you that there is a way to get over this.

Love,
Me.

If you have a situation like this, I was being serious, and I would like to write a book on this one day.  It is a big problem that I know God cares about.  If you would like to share, please don't hesitate to comment or email me at sarahannrogers09@gmail.com!  Thank you!

Sunday! Yay!

This is coming a bit late because I am stuck right in the middle of a take-home Shakespeare midterm due on Tuesday.  Yes, I know you are all jealous of this opportunity, but I am the one who gets to spend hours poring over iambic pentameter and renditions of wars and plots and magic and men starving women to get submission.  Yep, it's super exciting.  I can't wait to finish this so that I can return.  That's why I am not rambling!
Remember, if you do your sentence, link up in a comment.  Thanks!

Today's Sentence:

What we feed our flesh determines how healthy we are; we should think of our spirit the same way.

Sueño, part 3

This is a continuation of Sueño, part 1 and part 2.

In the first two parts of this mini-post-series (as I have just now named it), I wrote first about my view of dreams in general and then about some specific dreams that I have. As I wrote part 2, I realized that there needed to be a third part that addressed how I have been dealing with these dreams and where I go when I'm terrified of pursuing them.

Lately, I have been reading through the book of Romans with my friend Megan. We have been reading through books of the Bible and after we finished the last one, she let me choose, and Romans has always been a favorite of mine. This will come into play in a minute.

Growing up, I always knew that I wanted to write and communicate. I didn't necessarily take it as God's promise to me, but I knew it was a dream that was placed in my heart by him. I always took a poke at writing here and there and I always loved English classes, but I never took it too seriously. I always thought that I would just do it when I grew up.

So here I am grown up - and terrified.

As I have sought God more intensely and in a deeper way, I feel him pulling me toward pursuing what I've always known I should do. But here's the problem: I feel like a grain of sand on the beach of bloggers, authors, and people with much better things to say and much more eloquent ways of saying them. I am very aware of my insignificance and my lack of knowledge and/or talent. I want so badly to begin writing avidly, but I feel small and transparent to everyone around me. Everyone blogs. Everyone can write.

What makes me different? Why would I think that God would use me? Why do I have a burning desire to do something everyone is good at? How can such a small rock make the splash I've dreamt of making?

(Sorry this is long, but stay with me...)

Here is what God's been showing me:

Romans 4 talks about Abraham and his faith in God. By his faith he was made right (verse 3). This caught my eye, because I have so lately been prompted to action, but I have not had faith that if God was leading me, he would accomplish what he wanted, which really is all I desire. But what really got me was this:

Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. (verses 20-21)

Although I've never heard God promise this to me audibly before, I have known it in my heart and my spirit, and it's even been prophesied over me before (don't get freaked out; it's ok if done Biblically). If God really wants to do something, who am I to stand in the way? My lack of action shows my lack of faith. When God is leading us somewhere, our own insecurities or self-awareness are actually roadblocks to his will. We prevent his work in our lives by false-humility.

If God wants to use me, so be it. I've started writing. I'll keep writing and hopefully be led by him as I continue to seek his face. Believing in his promises are freeing, perhaps terrifying, but amazingly, wonderfully freeing.