In exactly 26 days T-squad and I will make our first stop on this epic 11 month long journey to India. Here are a few facts about this beautiful country….
- India is one third of the size of the United
States - One sixth of the world’s population live in
India - Capitol: New Delhi
- Languages: Hindi, English, and 16 other
official languages - Religions: Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, other 3.8%
- All men in India are created unequal. The caste system has been
embedded in the Indian culture for the past 1,500 years.
The
Caste System
Brahmans –
priests and teachers
Kshatriyas
– rulers and soldiers
Vaisyas
– merchants and traders
Sudras –
laborers
Achuta–
untouchables or the Dalits
This last group who are known as the
untouchables (Dalits) or outcasts comprise one fifth of India’s population,
160
million people. The Dalits are considered too impure or too polluted to even be ranked as worthy
beings and inhuman in their own country. The untouchables are shunned, insulted,
banned from temples and are not allowed to interact with the rest of
the population. In some extreme and very common cases, they are raped, burned,
lynched and gunned down out of pure hatred and prejudice.
Here are some common headlines found
in the news…
“Dalit boy beaten to death for plucking flowers”
“Dalit tortured by cops for three
days”
“Dalit ‘witch’ paraded naked in
Bihar”
“Dalit killed in lock-up at
Kurnool”
“7 Dalits burnt alive in caste
clash”
“5 Dalits lynched in Haryana”
“Dalit woman gang-raped, paraded
naked”
“Police egged on mob to lynch
Dalits”.
A few facts about the beautiful people of India called
the Dalits…
- In the year 2000, there were 25,455 crimes committed against
Dalit
- Every hour two Dalits are assaulted
- Every day three Dalit women are raped
- Every day two Dalits are murdered
- Every day two Dalit homes are torched.
Will you please get involved?
Please pray for this country of over 1 billion people, that they are receptive to what we have to say about Jesus. That God will prepare and soften the hearts, where we can plant a seed where the gospel can grow and produce faith! Please pray that we are able to speak truth and love to these people, that they began to have compassion for one another and treat each other with respect. Also, have a special prayer for the Dalits, that they know that they are loved without limits by God and that they are wonderfully and perfectly made.. and that they have worth and that they matter in this world. Pray for my squad and I, that we have a heart to serve and the ability to love the people of India. That we will seek His will will obediently follow wherever He takes us, with confidence in His direction and faith that He will empower us to do His good works!
