I hadn’t had a brilliant night’s sleep (continuation of cold/upset stomach bug), but after a bit of a rough start to the day, felt much better as the morning progressed. Debbie was also feeling better (she had had an upset stomach). I feel very much that this was an answer to the prayers of our brothers and sisters back at Faversham Baptist Church and at the Big Life Ministries church whose service we went to yesterday.

We were therefore all able to enjoy a visit to ‘Freeset’ – a business which makes jute bags and printed T shirts. The majority of the workers there are women who have been rescued from the sex trade. Freeset was initiated by Kerry and Annie Hilton, Baptist Christians from New Zealand who realized that the house they were living in in Kolkata was in a ‘red light district’ and so they prayed to God for a way they could help the women involved.  Heather, the person who took us round, explained that many women in this ‘trade’ have often been abducted for this person or are in some other way forced into it and that they really don’t have any freedom. The project can literally ‘set them free’ by giving them the opportunity to earn a decent wage and to be part of a caring community through a holistic package of training and support (which includes a crèche). Heather explained that for many women in the sex trade it is not necessarily easy for them to leave it as those with a vested interest may still exert a strong influence which forces them to stay in it. As we were being shown around the business and the various processes that are involved, I very much felt that the women seemed very happy and relaxed, but were also working hard. This not just a ‘social enterprise’, but a serious business and their products are exported all over the world (including to the UK). We were certainly very happy buy some of their products at the end of the tour!

We then went round the corner to ‘Love Calcutta Arts’ – a sister company of Freeset which has a diverse product range: on the one hand, they make beautiful cards and stationery made from recycled saris and on the other, plastic water filters! We were shown around by a chap called Peter whom we had first met yesterday when he preached at the Big Life Ministries service we went to yesterday. Some of us also bought some ‘Love Calcutta Arts’ products as well.

Both businesses add to what we are learning about what God is doing in Kolkata. The people involved in both very much want to do something which serves God by helping people in need, but in order to do so, they are using their God given talents and abilities to make viable businesses with products that people want to buy – fantastic and inspirational!

Both businesses are housed in magnificent buildings which have ornate (if faded) features which seems typical of Kolkata. Also, in order to move from one business to another, we had to pass through some fascinating back streets which were full of colour, life and activity including men making effigies of various deities, presumably for religious festivals.

As we arrived back at the BMS Guest House, it started to pour with rain – the first proper shower we have had since we arrived, although Pastor Asis referred to it as ‘drizzle’ (compared with what can arrive in Monsoon season). It seemed pretty heavy to us though! However, it didn’t last long and when the Sun came out, all that water dried up very quickly.