It is the year 2072
Over the next week a series of posts from a recent trip to Nepal will be shared. This trip was in partnership with The Nepali Rescue Project and the work they do there to rescue girls from sex trafficking. Thank you to all our team supporters, our family, friends, churches, and workplaces, for making this adventure possible for the team!
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Did you know Nepal is 10 hours and 15 minutes ahead of U.S. east coast time? It is also the year 2072. In some ways Nepal is ahead of us and in many they aren’t. But one area that stuck me as “ahead”, aside from the hours that my jet leg keep reminding me of, is the border stations. To study this from home, to know of its effectiveness over the years, and yet to see it in person, the staff who power it, lead it, rescue from it, is overwhelming. The numbers are unbelievable. And yet, the tireless staff know it is not enough. Hand written statistics charts in the office clearly showed the increase of trafficking at the borders since the earthquakes this spring. Desperation is evident. Evil takes advantage.
But the tireless work of many is chipping at the walls of this plight and is no where near giving up the fight!
Today is Saturday. The van rolls over rickety bridges of thin metal and crumbling concrete, over wide milk chocolate colored rivers where locals bring their colorful clothes for washing. Lines and lines of families’ clothes are hung between the trees as the washing is slowly beat on rocks to remove the week’s hard labor from the fabrics. Each line is unique and colorful. These people are what make this country bright.
A small church is surrounded by vast green mountains. Small rock houses have children peeking at us through their glassless windows. Curiosity brings a few new faces into the church for service. No chairs, aside from the 5 for our team and a few for the elderly, are present. But don’t be fooled by this simple set up. As the mountainous air blows through the rusty metal pained windows, the worship begins. A church of roughly 100 sing in praise of the almighty who cares, who rescues, who hasn’t forgotten these people.
I pray with an elderly woman. Her arm is healed, her back loosens, her knees no longer creak. The joy of a miracle is clearly all over her face. Four girls declare from the stage their new found allegiance to the almighty. Bonnie is graciously given the pulpit to present the word. Inspired by teachings back home she talks about being treasured by God. He is always in a good mood. He is good. He gives good gifts. And He loves us. We are not to worry. We are to stay dedicated and He will provide. It reminded me that our lives, like the vibrant clothes hung by the rivers, will be evident to many for His glory.
The afternoon brought song and dance after a long and difficult assistance with a girl (consider Matthew 8:31). We sang songs inspired by my mom who taught me in children’s choir that I truly “love Jesus better than ice cream”, that silly hand motions break the giggle barrier, and we “love Him better every day” because of His steadfastness for us.
The team is tired, but catching a second wind in more ways than one. The food is outstanding. The scenery breathtaking. The people though are the true treasure. Tomorrow Lynn and Angie present on hygiene and heart health. We then move on to our next adventure the following day. The circuit of this mission in Nepal is tiring but oh so fulfilling.
Chris Tomlin’s “Not to Us” comes to mind today:
“Not To Us”
The cross before me the world behind
No turning back, raise the banner high
It’s not for me, it’s all for You
Let the heavens shake and split the sky
Let the people clap their hands and cry
It’s not for us, it’s all for You
[Chorus:]
Not to us, but to Your Name be the glory
Not to us, but to Your Name be the glory
Our hearts unfold before Your throne
The only place for those who know
It’s not for us, It’s all for You
Send Your holy fire on this offering
Let our worship burn for the world to see
It’s not for us, It’s all for You
[Chorus]
The earth is shaking, the mountains shouting
It’s all for You
The waves are crashing, the sun is raging
It’s all for You
The universe spinning and singing
It’s all for You
The children dancing, dancing, dancing
It’s all for You, It’s all for You
My all for You
Not to us, but to Your Name be the glory
My all for You
Not to us, but to Your Name be the glory
My all for You
Not to us, but to Your Name be the glory
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If you would like to donate to EMPOWER (U.S. efforts to bring awareness to sex trafficking) please donate here. Or to donate to the Nepali Rescue Project (Nepal efforts to rescue and restore girls from sex trafficking) please donate here.
3 Replies to “It is the year 2072”
We are just in awe over all this info! I just knew that the Holy Spirit would show up for all of you during this trip! What wonderful testimonies along the way! The info on Napal is mind boggling alone. Thanks for sharing thru this blog charity – really helped to picture what you were telling us. It’s wonderful! Glad you went and glad you are back safe and sound. PRAYER CHANGES THINGS!!
Thanks so much for writing such insightful blogs about the visit. It’s so inspiring to me what you have been through. I did not like the sound of the roads!! I have a question if that’s ok? I don’t get why the borders have been busier and evil has shown up? Sorry if I am being dumb. But in short what is happening in Nepal since the earthquake? I feel like the media has missed something…
Hey Felis! Great questions!
When natural disasters happen it often dislocates large amounts of people. Those that can stay in their homes might still have to travel farther to get employment. In Nepal these scenarios are evident even without a natural disaster, but with an earthquake recently occurring, it is all the more evident. Some cross the border to go gather rice at their uncle’s farm, find work in China or India, and send money home. To my understanding, Nepalis can freely go from India and back to Nepal on a daily basis without visa complications like say an American might have.
So this traffic of desperation employment can be taken advantage of by traffickers. For example, one community in a very mountainous and rocky area (very difficult to get to by car) faced increase risk of being trafficked (labor or sex trafficking) because traffickers knew if they showed up they could convince the desperate leaders/parents that they had a great job for the girls, youth, etc. “just across the borders” and the leaders were doing their community a favor by letting people go work. When in actuality it meant the girls are taken across borders never to be seen again.
So if nonprofits, like the Nepali Rescue Project, can step in with earthquake relief (blankets, tents, food) then the desperation is lessened and communities/leaders/individuals might be less apt to believe lies of traffickers.
Also, the staff at the border stations saw increased traffic in general – the need for many to work elsewhere was great. So there was more people to watch and interview to be sure their business across borders was sound. At one station, before the earthquake, we saw numbers in the 250s of those being interviewed in a month. After the earthquake we saw records of 380-450 being interviewed in a month. Many checked out to be traveling to legitimate work and some did not. In one day alone in June, 21 were interviewed and three girls were rescued as a result.