Join a Love Without Reason medical mission and be prepared to become part of someone else’s story in ways that you can never forget. Philip was impacted by what went from encounters into lifelong friendships. In fact, he includes many of those life-shifting moments in his autobiography, “If Philip Can, You Can Too.”

As a parent, you conjure up every type of scenario that could potentially happen. In fact, every parent experiences their kiddos pushing the boundaries every day, all the time. They are wired to test us and see how far they can go; it’s in their nature. However, sometimes that pushing creates a reaction that no one could imagine.

Rachel was a typical teenager. Born and raised in a city on the Eastern coast of India, she tested the boundaries with her parents. One day, walking out of her home turned into two nights spent on the street. Rachel had ended up in the heart of a bustling city alone and scared. Feeling relieved and grateful at the invitation of two strangers to join them in their home for her was just an act of needed kindness.

Rachel entered a home and woke up in a new city. In one evening, she had been drugged, sold, and loaded on a train. Waking up in Mumbai, Rachel was taken by the traffickers and sold again to a brothel. Rachel was a fighter and spent three years in a dank dungeon. She was kept from the sunlight that entire time. Why? Human trafficking is about utterly breaking a human life. Rachel was exhausted and finally became compliant with the trafficker’s demands. What was their price? For months an utterly shattered, helpless, and miserable little soul found her body every night brutally ravaged multiple times. This continued until the day her own life shifted. A young man who had been a customer was determined to fight for her to become his wife. His determination became a ray of hope. Rachel was freed to start her own life and family with him after incredible courage and perseverance.

Philip, who is the inspiration behind Love Without Reason, actually met Rachel during a Love Without Reason outreach trip. He could never forget her story. His friendships with Rachel and so many other families grew with each visit to India. With Rachel’s permission, Philip would often share her story with others who felt like an empty shell trapped in a life of slavery -like Rachel. Rachel’s story becomes their ray of hope.

It is special indeed to watch as Rachel continues Philip’s desire to help others. Today, Rachel is one of the biggest advocates for awareness and prevention of human trafficking of youth. She now shares her own story with young women of all ages in Mumbai. The Project Butterfly center is a place where women experience life-shifting moments. Working with those who advocate providing education and reintegration into society is truly transformational. The women find incredible courage and perseverance because they want to be free like Rachel.