My Night in Nepal

My night in Nepal was a night that my heart broke.
 

No, I am not in Nepal. Not yet! For that, I will have to wait until May.

But I had the opportunity to spend an evening with a Nepali couple.
And it brought me back to why I am doing this World Race.

In the midst of moving, stressing about raising enough money and trying to prepare for such a long trip, my heart was broken and set
back to what matters.

I walked into the house and was met by this dear couple's open arms. "Welcome, sister," they greeted. I loved them instantly. They made us an amazing, authentic Nepalese dinner (I'm going to have to get used to spicy food on this adventure!) and shared about their incredible lives.

Without sharing details (for their protection) I can tell you that they have given up their lives for the Lord's Kingdom. I don't say that lightly. The reason that they are in the US is because their lives have been threatened.

They shared about their heart for the women of Nepal. In their culture, in many of their castes, the girls are valued less than a piece of meat. Literally. For this reason, the young girls are often sold, sometimes by their own families, to the sex traffickers of India.  

Imagine the reality of this.

A young daughter, sister, niece, friend, sold into sex slavery in order to meet basic living expenses.
 

This is their reality.

 

Here are the statistics that they gave:

 

"15,000 Nepali girls are sold into prostitution every year. That's 1,250 girls every month, 41 girls a day and 3 girls every 2 hours."

This couple has rescued hundreds of these girls. Currently they have 25 girls who they call their daughters.
 

Tears was the only response that I had to their story.

 

It is heartbreaking, humbling, infuriating and inspiring to hear about such injustice and the courageous people who are fighting against it.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to commit a year to be present in the countries on my Race. But it is such a small gesture. This couple, just one example of men and women all over the world, are people who have given every part of their lives for the sake of these orphaned girls. And for the sake of the Gospel.

When asked if they were scared to go back to Nepal, to the persecution that they are facing, they both smiled and said "I have my Jesus, he is my salvation. I have peace. What else could I need?"
 

Please pray for the girls of Nepal.
Please pray for this couple and their mission and protection.
Please pray that my heart will be able to handle this.
And that my teammates and I will be strengthened by our Father to be able to bring his redeeming love to the lives of his people.