If you spend any time in the cities of Nepal, you will become aware of the large number of kids who roam around, live, and beg on the streets. Because of the cost of school tuition, many kids are unable to get an education and are left largely without parental presence. They are at risk for a number of things including drugs, poverty, and prostitution.
The amazing group of people we had the privilege of working with this month are doing something to stop it. They work to rescue, love, and empower the street kids in Kathmandu. They do this through weekly soccer tournaments, feeding, and messages about the love of Christ. On top of all this, a big part of their ministry focuses on running a school specially designed for these kids who live either on the streets or in the slums. They are the poorest kids who in the world’s eyes don’t have much hope for a future. Until recently, they had been holding the school in a very makeshift room without much infrastructure or support. They felt led to lease a space so that they could hold the school in a more permanent location, but were denied by landlords who did not want the slum and street kids in their building. So the family graciously decided to donate the bottom floor of their home to build this school! That is where we got to come in. We were given the task of transforming the rooms, used mostly for storage, into a school for the children. We have come to call it- Extreme Home Makeover: School Edition!
Here are some during and after photos! We so hope that this beautiful school will bless the children!
I just love the picture that this school paints of the Kingdom of God. While these kids might be looked down upon to the outside world, God sees them as his beloved sons and daughters who He desires to LAVISH his love upon. They now have not only a school where they can learn, they have a colorful, fun, and safe space to do it in. We all pray that this school will be a sanctuary for them where they can just be free to be kids and be given a hope and a future! I am so thankful for the awesome Nepali team who is doing this out of their own pocket, and through volunteer teachers and staff. Pray for them as they are in need of another teacher to come on full time and also a van to transport the kids to school.
