This week, we have spent time as a team back in Kathmandu visiting and volunteering with different ministries in the city to learn about their work and support them, The abuse and sale of human beings is a complex problem. And for as deep and multi-faceted as the problem is, the solutions are just as complex. Wherever in the world you see people working to fight trafficking, you'll see people working in prevention. Intervention. Protection. Rehabilitation. Legal, financial and psychological help. Governmental advocacy. Fulfilling physical and spiritual needs. Business and employable skills training. And no one organization can do it all, so it's so important to have different groups with the same goal working together to fill different necessary roles in the process of restoration. We have visited and learned about many inspiring organizations and ministries dedicated to many aspects of the solution. We spoke to the founder of Women LEAD, a leadership training and empowerment organization that helps young girls question the patriarchal cultural traditions they grew up with and gives the necessary skills to become leaders in government and business. We visited Beauty for Ashes, a beautiful business that employs survivors of sexual exploitation and teaches them sewing and jewelry skills and builds community. We have worked with Iris, a homeless ministry and Agape, an outreach to girls working in the sex industry here in Kathmandu. We visited Mercy Works today, a wonderful organization that takes in orphans, abandoned or abused children, and gives them homes and family. They have a preschool-8th grade school for all their students. Mercy Works also helps widows and their children by giving them fair trade work and a community. They have sustainable business ventures, a woodshop, a vegetable garden, a covered sports court... it was so so cool walking around the grounds and seeing all the wonderful things that have been set up for these precious people who would otherwise be rejected from society. As the girls on the team and I spent time with the girls at Mercy Works, jumping rope and singing songs from Frozen, I noticed all their radiant smiles and thought of the joyful future they have now, thanks to this redeeming opportunity. Each child that finds a home here is a break in the cycle. Each abandoned, abused or exploited girl that comes to Mercy Works and is educated and given trade skills and the joy of Christ is one more victory for freedom in our world. The team will decide on our individual projects soon (one or more ministries or areas of THI's work that we will hands on work with for the remainder of the trip) and start those in a few days. I am so excited about so many things that are happening here and can't wait to step in to be at least a small part of the beautiful picture.
2 Comments
mike
7/4/2014 01:02:56 am
I really enjoy reading your updates Becca.Yes, the problems are complex, and so are the solutions. Thanks for being another link in the band of growing unity to bring peace on earth and good will towards women and men.
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Beth Teran
7/4/2014 06:52:11 am
Thank you Becca for sharing your thoughts & experiences. I really enjoy reading your blog & following your trip. Praying for you!
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Becca LambChristian, feminist, idealist, wife, poet, abolitionist, dreamer, adventurer. Archives
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