Katie is a graduate of the Discipleship Training School (DTS) based in Madison, USA. She describes her recent outreach experience in Pune, India.

My heart raced as I followed our translator, Joy, up the dark, narrow stairway. The edges of concrete steps crumbled and small stones bounced down the steps behind us. We slowly made our way to the top floor, passing doors on both sides of each landing.

At the top was a tiny room where several young women sat waiting for us, captives of a vile trade. The room was open on the sides and covered with a tin roof. We slid our shoes off at the door and took a seat on the floor.

We introduced ourselves in our broken Marathi, then switched back to English. While Joy translated, Areli and I taught the women about their incredible value. We told them they had infinite worth because God created them.

At the end of the evening, Joy told us some news. “There is an eleven-year-old girl who has lived here all her life,” he said. “Her name is Monica. Her mother was a prostitute, but she died years ago. An older woman here has taken care of her since then.”

Joy explained that this is very rare. If a mother dies – or is even gone for only a day – her children could be sold for that day or for the rest of their lives.

“We can take Monica from here to live at the children’s home,” Joy said, with a big smile. He had been praying for six years that the lady who ran the house would have mercy on Monica and give her a chance at life.

I was so excited. There we were, about to witness a rescue from one of the worst situations on earth!

But just as we were about to leave, the tables turned. Monica couldn’t come home with us that night. We prayed that the Madam of the house would let her go when we returned the following evening.

Day two at the brothel felt entirely different. We brought snacks and treats for Monica and the other women at the brothel, hopeful that we could celebrate Monica’s going away party. We sat in a circle, singing songs, joking with the ladies and trying to learn new words in Marathi.

But one lady didn’t join in the festivities. She stood off to the side with her three-year-old son and Joy. She talked for a long time and Joy took notes.

“I have some more news for you,” Joy told us afterwards.“Monica isn’t the only one who will come home with us. We will also bring this boy, Akshay.”

It was Akshay’s mother who had been talking to Joy. She had been in jail for a couple of days. She couldn’t even tell Joy what had happened to her son in her absence. She feared for his life. Giving her son to be raised at the children’s home was difficult. Tears formed in her eyes as she said goodbye. But this was the best thing for him, and she knew it.

When the children were released to us, the Madam said, “This is the only good thing I have done in my life.”

The rest of the night was an incredible celebration. We felt like we were walking on clouds as we escorted the two children from their old life to the children’s home. Monica would not stop talking and smiling, even though none of us girls could understand her!

As I listened to Monica’s chatter, the weight of the last two days struck me. I couldn’t believe these two children were free. Just as we’d read and prayed many times during the DTS, “the children of the needy were rescued from their oppressors.” (Psalm 72:14)

Read more incredible stories about this DTS outreach in India at : http://www.madisondts.wordpress.com