It’s been eight months since Meghan Tschanz of July 2012’s H Squad met Anala. That fiery little girl in the back room of a Mumbai brothel changed her life, and Megan hasn’t forgotten about her. Meghan remembers the story this way.
Anala was born in a red light district in India. No one really knows her mother’s story but it probably goes something like this: her mother was kidnapped from Nepal around the age of 13 and sold into prostitution for around $70. After that her mother stood at the edge of a run-down alley all day, wearing thick lipstick, heavy eyeliner, and bright eyeshadow, waiting for a man to come to bed with her. She would be his for only two dollars.
Two dollars to do whatever he wanted to her. Two dollars for her body and her dignity, and half of that to the pimp who owns her. When her customer finished with her, he casually left, continuing on with his life as if she was nothing more than an object. This was her routine, probably 10 or 15 times a day, just like the millions of girls just like her across India.
Somewhere along the way she became pregnant and gave birth to a bright-eyed baby girl. She named her Anala (fiery). She loved Anala for six months, until she was sold to another pimp. Anala became the property of the pimp, a man who makes a living selling women as objects.
As she grew up, Anala wandered around the district during the day, until one day she stumbled upon the Manna House of Prayer: a place transformed from a brothel to a daycare and prayer center. Women drop off their children there before they go to sell their bodies.
This is the life Anala has to look forward to if something doesn’t change. I asked Abhay (our contact and the Director of the House of Prayer) if we could just kidnap Anala and give her a new hope for the future. He said that the pimps were violent and would kill over property like Anala. I asked if we could call the police and he told me they were corrupt and would be paid off by the mafia. I asked what we could do.
He said to pray.
“Pray. And love, that is all we can do for now.”
I finally understood the words of Mother Teresa, “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.”
Even eight months later, Anala still motivates me to change the world, to try my hardest to make it so little girls like her don’t have to grow up in slavery.
It’s that very righteous indignation – my dissatisfaction with the status quo – that led me to help start the new ministry: Kingdom Journeys Women.
KJ Women is a new ministry where a group of young women who share my heart for broken women will traverse the globe to set the captives free. We will serve as a voice for the voiceless and come alongside organizations around the world who are empowering women. We will impart the priceless gift of hope while gleaning wisdom from radical, Spirit-led female leaders as our mentors and coaches.
In the spring of 2014, we will travel back to India. I hope to see the young girl who continues to inspire me to fight for women around the world. Our route will also take us to the nations where we will speak truth and start a movement where the world knows the intrinsic worth of a woman.
In January 2014, Meghan and her team will launch into some of the darkest places on earth and bring Christ’s kingdom. If you’re interested in following their journey or praying for them, check out kingdomjourneys.org.
