Mumbai

Upon hearing the word “Mumbai” you might immediately think of Slumdog Millionaire. As my plane approached the ground I did see several slums but no kids were playing cricket on the tarmac. It is the economic and entertainment capital of India. It is a city of contrasts with amazing wealth and poverty. It is also very diverse with people from all over the country and institutions recognized around the world. It is hard to think of an equivalent city.

Well I did not see all the tourists spots, go to the beach or even stay in a hotel. I did something better-I stayed in the homes of local people hearing and seeing their involvement with various projects and work in the city.
Saturday I met with a couple who are doctors operating an HIV clinic in Thane. The husband took me through a PowerPoint summarizing their work and some of the main issues they struggle with. I was privileged to join in a staff meeting that afternoon hearing about some of the families, facility needs, and ideas for connecting with the larger medical community. The shame associated with HIV and view that God is judging them keeps many people from reaching out to these people. It can be overwhelming to holistically address these patients since there are also relational and psychological wounds. Their program and these doctors are well respected in the community and there are some opportunities for partnership with a local hospital.
Sunday evening I stayed with a family who have a passion to serve the community around them yet strive to call others to serve with them. They are Christians and though Jesus calls them to visibly love those around them, it is difficult to convince others to step out of their comfort zone. I had a good conversation with their oldest son about ways youth might be able to get involved in even small ways to make a difference. Education is a huge problem and he has a close friend who teaches children from the slums and connects them with a local government school for further education. Their younger son is applying to do grad work in counselling. There are hardly any counselors in Mumbai but with the mounting pressure on students and employees along with natural strain from being a congested city, there is a huge need. The number of suicide attempts in the city is staggering.
Monday I met with an agency involved with forced prostitution and the legal prosecution of the perpetrators. They have a tough job and nothing is simple, quick and straightforward. The girls want to make a living, the owners want money, and the authorities can sometimes be bribed to let things slide. Even when they finally coordinate with the authorities to make a move and rescue the girls, the girls do not always want to leave their previous life. The legal prosecutors face threats and physical danger from others for taking away someone’s business. The aftercare workers also have a difficult task in helping these girls deal with the abuse, their own identity and worth, and their transition and acceptance back into regular society. The government provides meagre supplies for living causing most to want to return to prostitution. There are so few counsellors and even fewer who have any experience with the trauma of prostitution. In spite of all this, it was encouraging to hear of all the women who have been saved, learned a skill, and become wives and mothers.
Our charity shop, ASHA, is small but growing and we love to support projects addressing education, healthcare and local handcrafts. I definitely think that those I met in Mumbai working with HIV, education in the slums and forced prostitution would be worth supporting.