Our group of 9 came together tonight for the first time in Kolkata, India. We all have come to India to bare witness, give support, and raise awareness to human sex trafficking, the most horrendous crime against humanity.

We are a group full of unique, strong, gifted women who all share a passion for speading love and light and I look forward to this journey with each of them.

Today we started with yoga, as we will each day. I look forward to this time to clear my head, ground my soul, and nurture my body.

 Our first day is all about Sanlaap. An organization that rescues girls and women from sex trafficking and other abusive situations. I saw girls from 3 years old and up. A good bit of them were in a 30 day lockdown which is a normal procedure here to ensure they do not try to flee. Why would they flee if they have been rescued? Most, for obvious reasons, are mentally traumatized and scared of anyone and everyone and therefore do not trust. Secondly, many have no idea that their own mothers or family members actually were responsible for selling them in the first place so they think they want to go home, when in reality they cannot.

During their time at Sanlaap they learn skills like sewing, block printing fabric, jewelry making. They get mental health counseling as well as physical health care and education. As they grow stronger and more confident and independent they are able to move to a separate building on the property where they can stay for a small “rent fee” and go off property to work during the day.

The people who run Sanlaap are angels. They are passionate about educating the next generation that sex trafficking is not the only way to make money and they do not have to take that path.

It was a beautiful morning getting to witness change in action. Hope is the word that comes to mind. And just like everywhere I have ever been around the world, the kids were kids who wanted to feel our love…to feel like they matter. This to me is my personal mission always. The relational element to these journeys is always what I deem most important…every single human wants to know they matter.

We spent some time at the Sanlaap shop where they sell all the items they make at the center. We all bought our fare share of scarves, purses, bags, wraps. And the money goes straight back to them…the best kind of shopping.

This evening was hard….beautiful at moments but extremely hard to understand circumstances that lead to sex trafficking and the horrendous experiences so many young girls and women live with. We walked through the red light district tonight, in the dark, no cameras allowed, hand in hand and huddled together. The smells I will never forget.  The Darkness was palpable in every way. Women and girls sitting on doorsteps of closet sized rooms with only a bed inside. Vacant eyes everywhere. And then suddenly a burst of Light, a child runs by us…this is their hood, this is their normal, their playground. They are playing, laughing… Made me happy for a second, then devastated….they are only boys playing in the streets, the girls are elsewhere and my insides ache. I am confused and overwhelmed trying to understand so much during this slow, long walk. I have found myself angry at Men in general even though consciously I know that it is not all men. Yet I am still angry at them.

Thankfully there again was light amidst the stark and seemingly endless darkness. Sanlaap has created a Drop-in Center a few feet from the red light district. It is intended for the children of sex traffickers…a safe place to go while their mothers are working, so they no longer sit in the room, lay under the beds. This is the project that we fundraised for. They are looking for larger facility. There are activities for the kids, food, mentoring, and again Education. Because as we look at the options for changing this cycle of sex trafficking…it seems to be education is the only way. Showing the next generations that this is Not the only way.

I end this day with more emotions than I can handle. But the only one I want to focus on tonight is Hope.