When the Hopeless Find Hope

These are life stories as told by a few of the women of the Ashraya Project in Tenali, India. These stories are filled with heartbreak, hurt, tears and sorrow. The Ashraya Project began in 2007 as a refuge, restoring hope and dignity to women seeking a way out from one of the worlds many, growing Red Light District’s. These are not the stories of ex-prostitutes or former sex slaves but rather stories of daughters of the Most High, who gives restoration, freedom and hope that can only be found through Jesus Christ, in relationship with God the Father. These are not the stories of wounded women, rather stories of women who found that in Christ no wounds remain and new life is possible. These bold and beautiful women have received grace and forgiveness from the Lord and in turn extended grace and forgiveness to those who trespassed against them. These are the stories of women who have realized that grace does not lead to recovery, it leads to love. These are stories of true love, full life, dignity, hope and salvation.


JASMIN AND HER TWO CHILDREN, JAYASEI & VIJAYA LAKSHMI

This is the story of a 28 year old, mother of two, named Jasmin. Jasmin’s world was shaken three years ago when her thriving family was disrupted by illness. Her loving husband of over seven years became very ill. Seeking medical attention the family was informed that the bile in his blood system had manifested as a visible sign, jaundice, of a much more serious condition in which his severely damaged liver was becoming toxic to his entire body. While there are many known treatments to prolong and often treat an ailing liver, the level of caste and severe poverty of this young family rendered them unable to seek necessary medical attention and Jasmin’s husband suffered a painful, rather abrupt passing.
Shortly after her husbands death, the survival of Jasmin’s entire family was in jeopardy. Having no extended family, no trade skills, because of her poverty, and no aid to care for her or her two young children, Jasmin’s family lively hood worsened and her hope of survival grew dim. In utter desperation, as her last worldly possessions were stripped from her, Jasmin sought to sell the one thing she had left, her body. She quickly became enslaved to prostitution at the mercy of seeking men to provide a means of financial support. Though it was still not much, Jasmin entertained various sexual partners and grew more and more ashamed and burdened by the means in which she was providing for her desperate family. Appalled by her behavior and convicted of her lifestyle, she left the sex trade and sough another means of providing for her families needs. She began to approach anyone she could for work in her village. One woman, who was aware of Jasmin’s previous trade, informed her of an organization that was providing trade skill training to women seeking to leave a life of prostitution. Desperate, she listened intently as the woman spoke of Harvest India’s Ashraya Project. Jasmin immediately sought out Bishop Suresh Kumar and pleaded to join Ashraya, as her last resort and necessary as a means of survival for her family. She was welcomed to join immediately. As God would have it Bishop Suresh also had an opportunity for her young children, Jayasei, who was age 4 and Vijaya Lakshmi, who was age 2 at the time, to enroll in the on-site orphan children’s home where her two children could receive a free education while she studied and learned the trade of sewing.
It’s been almost two years since Jasmin and her children came to be a part of the Harvest India family. Her two children are growing into their full potential and receiving a unparalleled education for underprivileged children. Education will completely free them from all caste labels they once bore. Jasmin is joyful, proud and thriving. Her and both of her children have all come to except Jesus Christ as their personal savior. They are so thankful for the provision and love that they receive everyday from the body of believers that they encounter and blessed by the new opportunities they awake to each morning. They are truly grateful to Harvest India for restoring a path of dignity and hope and leading them to receive eternal life in our Lord and Savior.


ANNAMA, HER SON RAVITTEJA AND HER DAUGHTER TRIVANI

Meet Anamma, a 27 year old woman of hope and dignity. Just two years ago, a God ordained encounter would change everything about life, as she had come to know it. Anamma is the proud mother of two beautiful children. Raviteja is 11, currently studying 6th standard and Trivani is 6, currently studying 1st standard. Both are thoroughly enjoying the life they have come to know in their home of the last two years. Anamma tells her story in private. She fears that if others were to know of her past, she would be treated differently and it might somehow disrupt the lives and new social abilities her children experience in this safe environment. Annama’s husband, Srinivas, passed away three years ago from the AIDS virus. While she is unaware how he contracted this debilitating disease, it has been confirmed that he has passed this potentially life threatening disease on to Anamma. Raviteja and Trivani are not carriers. Just prior to his passing Annama and Srinivas had began construction on a small home in their village of Selapadu. They had received a small amount of government funding for the project with the promise that more would follow. Upon Srinivas’ passing government aid ceased and left the remaining Rao family members in desperate need of financial aid. In desperation, with no help from Annama’s or Srinivas’ families, who were also very poor, she began to beg for food on the streets of the village where the Rao property still sits, unfinished today. Unable to support herself and children by begging she fell into a lifestyle of prostitution in the nearby Red Light District. In the morning, Annama would pretend to head out to the fields for work but would instead lose herself in a daylight of the dark and poisonous work of the sex trade. She grew increasingly ashamed with each passing day and soon found that her work was unbearable. In desperation she took to the streets of begging again and sought work in any other trade. She was unsuccessful and returned to prostitution. She found herself at the end of her rope and in desperate need of a savior. Although she was not a Christian she sought out the most compassionate and caring man she knew, Pastor Sampson, the pastor of the local village church in Selapadu. His heart for the broken and weary has captured her attention and as she began to grow weary she approached Pastor Sampson and fell at his feet pouring out he life of darkness and shame since her husband’s passing. She had fallen at the feet of a Harvest India pastor. Sampson had attended Harvest India’s Bible College prior to beginning his ministry and founding the church at Selapadu. Because of his great tie to Harvest India, Pastor Sampson was well aware of the Ashraya Project which had just opened for women in unfortunate circumstances seeking freedom from an enslaved live of prostitution. He connected Anamma with Harvest India and, in God’s perfect timing, her and her two children were being fed, meeting new community, learning new ways to provide for their family, receiving free education and being given shelter through the Kingdom work of Harvest India. She cannot thank God enough for His mercies and grace, which He has showered upon her in the last two years. She gives all the Glory to God saying, “Praise God, He has given me dignity and hope. Thank God for his shelter and blessings.”