For 12 years Usha has waited at the busiest road between Nepal and India. Among the dirt, filth, exhaust and clamor, she waits for moments to save vulnerable girls from exploitation.
Today she rescued a 16-year-old girl who was “married” to the 25-year-old man escorting her across the open border. It’s easy to cross the border between Nepal and India, which is marked by simple concrete piles. There is no wall, no fence, no barbed wire.
Her job is to identify and save vulnerable girls—a fight against traffickers who attempt to traffic and estimated 40,000 children each year from Nepal to India to work in brothels within India and throughout the Middle East.
Today, one girl’s life was saved because of Usha, who is now in a safe home, where she will receive counseling, job skills training, education and a message of hope. Even after being rescued, trafficked girls face enormous challenges due to the prolonged physical, mental and emotional abuse they endured for many years of their life.
The beauty of our Global Partners in Nepal is our ability to partner with them to shield against traffickers by providing girls means to earn a living. Not only that, we teach them about Jesus. These once trafficked women turn into activists who fight trafficking back in their hometowns.
And in these villages, we have been a part of fueling 450 house churches in communities where girls are trafficked.
I can rest a little easier knowing the 25-year-old man that attempted to take her across the border into India is in jail. And there will be many more who will receive justice.
What is going to keep me awake is knowing that Usha does not need to do this soul crushing job, but she does. Her lungs are probably similar to a West Virginia coal miner.
But after a long day on her feet, she arrives home to greet her husband and feed her baby that she’s been a part from for 12 hours. If you’re a mom, you know this feeling.
I’ll stay awake thinking about the 12 years and 12 hours a day of blinding heat, suffocating dust and horrific evil that leaves Usha undaunted. She’s a warrior. Maybe she can’t save the whole world, but she saved a 16-year-old girl today from a life of never-ending horror.
And tomorrow morning she’ll go again and stand at the Gates of Hell.
And she will batter them down. One daughter at a time.
It reminds me of Ephesians 6:13, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (NIV)
You and I have the same calling as Usha, to stand at the gates and batter them down by the power that raised Jesus from the dead, and to do it one life at a time.
And sometimes it may not feel like it, but I promise you that your life is as epic as Usha’s.
And Jesus sees you and every person He has called you to encounter.