We have safety arrived in Nepal and as we were flying in we saw such breathtaking scenery. We saw the mountains above the clouds and as we got lower we were taken aback by the sheer beauty of this country. During the first five days here we’ve had squad wide debrief. It’s a time for rest and a time to refuel for our upcoming month of ministry in Nepal. One day during our debrief here, we met a guide that took us to meet the Kumari Goddess. I didn’t know much about her, but he told us we could meet her because he knew her family. We researched a little about the Kumari Goddess, and we learned that she is a Goddess that the Hindu/Buddhist worship. They pray to her and wait outside of a temple where she lives. She comes to a window twice a day for a couple of minutes and gives a facial expression. They believe that whatever her facial expression is, that’s the answer to there prayers.
There was a group of 8 of us who went to go see her. We all agreed when we met her we would pray for her and not to her. The girls in our group went in first and then the four of us guys went in after. When we walked in the heaviness in the room was palpable. It was so heartbreaking. Her feet are never aloud to touch the floor so they were in a gold pan with water in it and she had a little, frail body. She never leaves this temple and as soon as she bleeds she is no longer the Goddess. She will be replaced by another little girl until the same thing happens. They never get married because they believe that any man that married her will be cursed and die. The Kumari also don’t have names. We later found out that this little girl was 8 years old. All of our hearts broke for her, her life is already planned out for her throughout and she doesn’t have any say so in it. You could see the anger, bitterness, and sadness all over her face.
As we were praying you could feel the heaviness start to break down some. We all continued to pray as we walked though the temple and we gave her a name. We named her Hope. We know that there is Hope in the Lord and that He will continue to break down all these false walls and idols, so children like Hope will be free and be able to make there own decisions one day.
It reminded me that although there is so much beauty surrounding Nepal, it is filled with people who are broken and lost. We are so excited to get started with our ministry this week and to see God continue to work in the hearts of these people. 
