11 years of freedom.

Mid-September, Freeset celebrated its eleventh birthday, which is truly an amazing thing - for 11 years, this business has been working for the freedom of women who have been trafficked, exploited, and sold into the sex trade.

11 years of community.

11 years of providing women with a choice.

11 years of returning dignity to those who have been abused.

11 years of working towards breaking the cycle of the roles passing from grandmother, to mother, to daughter.

11 years of a reason to smile.

Daily I remind myself just how lucky I am, that I have been given this opportunity to work alongside the most incredible people, both the women Freeset hires, and the close-knit group of international staff.

To be around a group of people who have been called from the corners of the earth by God, who have sacrificed years of their time, money, and skills, is really quite inspirational.

Not only am I blessed to be here, but when I have lived in an environment that is an assault to the senses, I really begin to be thankful for the privileges I have back home in New Zealand... I could list the differences in the quality of life back home in comparison to here, but each is on a completely separate scale. It is easier to just acknowledge these differences, and understand that the society of the life we all live today is the way it is, and there is no immediate 'fix'... which is why we are working towards freedom, for a greater quality and equality of life, and for His love to enter the homes of the oppressed and voiceless.

This is why Freeset is still 11 years young, and will continue to fight for the freedom of the women our hearts have been captured by.

Here are some photos of the celebrations that took place at Freeset - colours, sarees, music, dancing, and plenty of food! Initially the music + dancing side of things wasn't going to happen as we felt that it might be too soon after Shanti's sudden death (two weeks), but in the end it was decided that the women needed something to enjoy and be happy about - a chance to celebrate their freedom.

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Destination #3: Pune, Maharastra

I received some very exciting news today. Although apparently Mark Smith (my go-to person at Interserve - such an amazing help!) thinks that it was going to be taken as an inconvenience on my part... he emailed me today to say that I have to go to a compulsory orientation in March, in Puna, Maharastra. But I couldn't be any more excited! To have to visit this amazing city of 3.4 million people (almost NZ in one location!) is not going to produce one inch of a complaint!

So thank you Mark!! :)

Wooo! Now check out its amazingness:

And there it is (A)! On the Western side of India from where I will be (West Bengal on the map).

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Oh my gosh... look how beautiful that walk would be - this is about 35km South of Puna, and the 19km walk takes you to Rajgarh Fort.

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It could almost pass off as a LOTRs type scene in New Zealand!

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I have a small thing for the trains of India - there is so much history to them!

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Yum yum yum! Kebabs! Whenever I eat these in India, I will always think of Larissa and Lyd!

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Mmmm this looks amazing, whatever it is. All I know is that I can buy it in Puna. And that I am going to hunt it down. And then consume its apparent yumminess.

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As always, I am in love with the colours. And I especially love the look of the worn-out paint. Adds so much character.

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What can I say? I am excited for all the new foods in India! It will be like I am weaned from milk for the second time in my life and trying a whole new range of tastes and textures.

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Apparently this is a library. Why can't libraries be like this in New Zealand?!

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Right. I am so sorted. One of my favourite forms of dance in one of my favourite countries. Someone pinch me. But at the same time don't.

Everyone get excited with me!

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