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Sarah Samsel (right) teaches children in India how to make corn husk dolls during her mission trip in January.
A local ministry opened Sarah Samsel’s eyes to a world she never knew.
Samsel, who has spent nearly all her life in Clarkesville, went on a mission trip last month to India with a group from Rahab’s Rope, a Northeast Georgia ministry that works to “give hope and opportunity to women and girls that are at risk or have been forced into the commercial sex trade of India,” according to their web site.
Samsel is the gardens and grounds coordinator for the city of Clarkesville, and she is charged with tending the garden at the Mauldin House and all around town. She also does her own personal artwork as a hobby.
“I first learned about Rahab’s Rope when a friend took me to their store in Gainesville about five years ago. I thought that their mission of helping women in India escape human trafficking was fantastic,” Samsel said. “Rahab’s Rope immediately became one of my favorite places to shop, but it wasn’t until 2018 that it really started to click with me just how real and desperate the needs of our world are.”
That year, Samsel was asked by her mother to read “Raising World Changers in a Changing World” by Kristen Welch.
“The unbelievable poverty that defines the norm for such a large percentage of the world absolutely shocked me,” Samsel said. “I’ve always been told, ‘Eat all your food. Other people are starving.’ But ideas like starvation and human trafficking were so far from my personal reality they just seemed like abstract concepts to me.”
As the reality of those struggles hit her, she gained a desire to go on a mission trip. Rahab’s Rope was a perfect fit for her, as their involvement with art lines up well with her skill set and interests.
“Teaching art to women as a dignified way of earning income and then selling the women’s art in their stores is a big part of how Rahab’s Rope gives hope and saves lives,” Samsel said. “But I never dreamed they would ask me to teach art classes in India!”
When she arrived in India, Samsel taught corn husk doll making in two one-on-one classes and in two group classes. She got to ride elephants and try new foods, but also gained an understanding of suffering that goes on there.
“We visited slums, interacted with women who had been abused and witnessed how difficult it is for children living in poverty to get an education,” Samsel said. “But we also saw incredible gratitude, excitement and huge smiles on the faces of the people we served. It was humbling for me to witness their joy in the midst of struggle.”
Samsel said the children were especially fun to be around.
“I’ll never forget the 40 children with big brown eyes who each greeted us with a handshake and an enthusiastic, ‘Happy New Year!’ It was slightly overwhelming, but I was one of six people on our Rahab’s Rope team and my teammates helped so much,” she said.
Samsel thanked her family and friends who helped her financially and through prayer to prepare her for the trip.
She hopes to make another trip with Rahab’s Rope soon, though she is not yet sure where the next one will take her.
“As much as I missed home, leaving India was hard for me because even though it was only a 10-day trip, I felt connected to people whose accents I could barely understand,” she said. “But seeing these people, hearing their stories, visiting their houses – these are things I will never forget.”
Rahab’s Rope was founded by Vicki Moore, and the group has a gift shop on Washington Street in Clarkesville and another in Gainesville.
For details on the ministry on how to donate to their cause or get involved, call 678-707-7055.