Dear Friends of Rahab’s Rope

Thank you for all your support prayerfully, financially and through words of encouragement. This journey would be too difficult alone. Today is one of those hard days of the reality in the life of Rahab’s Rope. As you know our women have been forced into prostitution, it is by no choice of their own. And even though they did not choose this life they are still rejected. Just like the woman at the well in John 4 many must go to the well to draw water when others are not there. Because of this they are a tight knit community in the sense that they only have each other for daily companionship. This community they have created for themselves is secure until one thing happens and that is a positive HIV/AIDS test result. When a test result returns positive the only community of acceptance they know ceases to exist and the rejection deepens. I can’t even begin to imagine the fear and loneliness that sets in. I have been requesting prayer for one of our girls and her two-year old son, Hemma and Samuel. Yesterday test results for both mother and child returned positive for AIDS. The reality is devastating! Hemma has been a resident at Rahab’s Rope for a couple of years and just like the woman at the well Hemma’s life has been transformed by God’s love. But, the harsh reality is that she can no longer live at Rahab’s Rope. The other girls are terrified of the disease and will not stay and new girls will not come if someone has AIDS. Today Hemma was taken to the bus stand and sent to her home village in hopes that her family will care for her until we can make other arrangements. This is a very difficult situation, as we have no housing for this situation. What we hope to do for Hemma is to buy her a sewing machine and put up the rent deposit for her own place. The sewing machine is the easy part as the cost is approximately $180.00. The rent deposit required in Bangalore is 11 months deposit in advance, then, there is still the monthly rent. Hemma is one our best seamstress and she will be able to maintain her rent through the sewing work we can give her through Rahab’s Rope, it is just getting her to that point. We cannot bring Hemma this far and fail her now. Jesus said, “I was sick and you cared for me”. We must care for Hemma and all the HIV/AIDS positive girls that will come after her. Today’s request is for a short-term fix for a long-term issue we must address. If God has touched your heart for Hemma and Samuel for this one need or for this situation at-large and in the long run please contact me. Please forward this email to your friends. Attached you will find a photo of Hemma and Samuel. Thank you.

In His Amazing Grace,

Vicki