In 2003, as my youngest was off to college and I was heading into the empty nest stage of life, I was presented with the opportunity to go on a missionary trip to Jamaica. Upon my return, I was left with lots of questions. What did we really accomplish? What difference did we make? Was the impact of our work just a temporary fix or would there be a longer lasting impact?

The one thing I was sure of was that, one day, I needed to do something bigger and longer term to make a real difference in our world. From that time on, I prayed that God would present me with an opportunity, a project that I could really sink my teeth into. The verse laid on my heart, “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, so you do unto me.” (Matthew 25:40). As time passed, there were many times I didn’t think God was listening, and that he wasn’t going to show me the way. Haven’t we all felt that at times?

In 2009, during a women’s bible study, our small group read Kay Warren’s book, Dangerous Surrender: What Happens When You Say Yes to God. The light came on! If Kay Warren could devote her life to working with AIDS patients, I could follow the call stirring in me to work with victims of sex trafficking. I had been caught by the horrors inflicted on young girls who fell prey to the atrocities of this dark world. I began to read and research all that I could and decided that I would work in an aftercare program in India for rescued girls and women.

Along the way, well aware of the dangers of that work, I concluded that education, especially girls’ education, is the solution for a majority of our world’s ills. Through a series of events that I know were orchestrated by God, I ended up in India for six months to volunteer in a girl’s school called Pardada Pardadi located in one of the poorest rural regions of the country. Pardada Pardadi was founded in 2000, in a region where girls had never attended school. Child marriage is common practice in that region, with young girls often sold into the sex trade under the guise of marriage. I was so excited when I returned to the school in 2012 to see everyone again. On day one, l learned that two of my favorite girls, Moni and Jaya, had been “married off” — sold into the dark abyss of sex trafficking. I was heartbroken, yet committed to doing all I could to improve the lives of 1400 girls who attend PPES.

Due to the resistance of the concept of educating girls in this backward, rural region of India, the school developed an incentive package to encourage parents to send their daughters to school. Students would receive three meals a day, free education, uniforms, textbooks and transportation and 10 rupees per day for attendance. If girls wanted to marry, they could not stay in school, and therefore, would not receive the money earned upon graduation. This has proved to be successful in reducing the risks of child marriage. Over the years, through education, our girls have learned about the dangers of marrying young, as well as human trafficking.

I left the U.S. on September 11, 2010, to set sail into this foreign land, where nothing was familiar nor comfortable. Upon my return in 2011, I had no intentions of ever returning to India. The challenges of living in the conditions associated with dire poverty, as well as the heartbreak experienced through unthinkable situations were too much at times. I quickly learned that God had other plans for me. The tug on my heart, as well as the knowledge that I had truly been able to make a difference during my time at the school, led me on a journey that I would never have imagined for my life.

In March 2020, I will return to India for the 12th time. My involvement with the school has, at times, become all consuming. The love for my Indian “daughters” and the way God has shown how easy it is to make a difference in their lives in unimaginable ways have caused me to now consider India my second home. Though I live here, my heart is almost always there. There have been times that I’ve wanted to quit, but God has other plans.

I was able to start a health and hygiene program, teaching the students to brush their teeth and wash hands with soap. From there, we’ve built a health center for 1600 girls, with a full-time nurse and two doctors, a vaccination program, medical clinic for villagers, a mobile medical van, and sanitary pad project-to name a few.

God has a plan for each and every one of His children. For years I prayed, asking him to show me the way. Before 2010, I could never have envisioned that His will for me was to end up serving in one of the very poorest and remote regions of India. What might your calling be?

MEET OUR GUEST BLOGGER

Mary Cairns lives in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. She has been an interior decorator since 1995. Her children are married and have blessed her with five grandchildren. As a lifelong community volunteer, Mary shifted her efforts in 2010 to a girls' school in rural Uttar Pradesh, India, where she became committed to improving the lives of girls and women. Meet our team of bloggers.

HOLY YOGA

KENNETT CAMPUS: FRIDAYS AT 9:30 A.M. AND FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH, 9:30 A.M.
JENNERSVILLE CAMPUS: MONDAYS AT 9:30 A.M.

Join us as instructor, Nancy Pledger, weaves the Word of God into a one-hour Holy Yoga practice with space for self-reflection and time to connect with God on your mat. Classes meet the individual where they are and modifications are available for new and more experienced students so that all can reach their potential.
Just bring a yoga mat, water bottle, and suggested donation of $5. Anyone from the community is welcome so bring a friend! Extra yoga mats will be available for anyone with the need to borrow one. If you’d like more information or to be on Nancy’s Holy Yoga email list contact her at: njpledger@gmail.com

Childcare is not provided.