Update from Crossroads

I know that many of us have been keeping close tabs on what has happened in Mumbai and continue to wonder how the terrorist attacks will affect our trip.  While we have been addressing your questions on an individual basis, I write today to address it broadly with our team.  

Yes, we are still planning to travel to Mumbai in February 2009. 

After discussing this situation with Crossroads and IJM leadership, as well as our trip leaders, we remain committed to this trip.  While the terrorist attacks can certainly induce fear in us, our families, and our supporters, we are choosing not to react out of fear.  We believe that our calling to love girls rescued from child prostitution has not changed and therefore we are moving forward with this trip. 

We certainly won't make rash decisions about traveling; we will prudently pray, ask, and consider before we travel.  This includes monitoring the relations between India/Pakistan, keeping abreast of what the US State Department advises, and listening to IJM at their Washington, DC Headquarters as well as the field staff in Mumbai. 

We have heard that security in Mumbai, and specifically the Leela Hotel where we plan to stay, has been improved.  We will take appropriate security measures in our planning as well (more to come on this).

We are choosing love over fear, while pursuing wisdom throughout this journey.  It seems that many of your supporters may appreciate this sentiment, as we've had thousands of dollars flow in for this trip in the last couple of weeks.   

Please let us know if you have any further questions/concerns.

Christine (on behalf of the leadership team)