Monday, May 6th, 2013
We walked through a broken fence in our backyard onto a path that lead us through woods. The path split in two and we took a left and walked toward empty fields. We walked through the fields for about 20minutes and then through a river, sounds like a song, “over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go!” haha!!
We arrived at a village, one of many that surround where we live. This one was different because Uncle said this was one of the poorest.
They all stared at us as we walked through a cluster of homes built from bamboo, mud and straw. They greeted us with the palms of the hands pressed together in a prayer like manner, with the bow of the head, “Namaste”, the traditional greeting in Nepal.
The younger kids would run up, greet us, giggle and run away, it was so funny.
I want to explain to you how the people look but I'm finding it hard to express in words. There are two different types of people in Nepal. One group looks more of an India decent and other look more of a Chinese decent. This village looked Indian. Brown skin with dark black hair. The women are beautiful and very timid, they greet us and break eye contact immediately. They all share a sweet smile of curiosity.
Underneath my smile is a hurting heart for these girls.
Many young children of South Nepal don't go to school, especially girls. Parents think giving them an education is a waste of money, because when they marry they take the benefit of the education with them.
Many are forced to marry before they reach the age of 10.
10 years old.
I can't grasp that thought.
10 years old.
That's not the youngest we came across either. Some as young as 7.
I remembered reading a fact sheet our contact gave us and it stated that when women wed they have a beaded necklace as a representation of marriage (much like our wedding ring in the States). Most of these young girls have necklaces. Two of which looked about 12-14 years old with a baby on their hip. My mind wanted to think they were holding a niece, nephew or a younger sibling but deep in my heart I knew those babies were their own.
I noticed that families prefer girls over boys. When it comes time to marry off a daughter, an interested man must pay a dowry to the family before taking her. Some girls are killed over dowry. When I was in India I heard a story that an interested man presented a dowry the family wasn't happy with and the father slowly burned his daughter till he got the money he wanted.
Who burns their own child for money!?!
I'm sure there are similar stories like that here in Nepal.
Girls are regarded as animals or second class citizens.
My throat wells up with anger and hurt for what happens in this country.
I hear so many people say, “the root of evil is the love of money.”
No.
“The root of all evil is the lack of Jesus Christ.”
So here's a list that will help you and I pray for Nepal.
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We want the people of Nepal (especially men) to know the Lord and to show love for women and children. (It's very common that women and children are abused in the home)
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Pray that all children will get the education they need.
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Pray for child marriages to end.
- Pray for God to send more laborers because the harvest is ripe ready for the Kingdom.
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