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Ancient Culture

One thousand years before Columbus launched to discover America a determined community of Newari people began to build a Hindu kingdom capital in Bhaktapur, Nepal.  Some of their structures still stand and their 3,000 year old culture remains to this day.  Yesterday, in this medieval city, I watched a goat being led to sacrifice to some ancient Hindu god.  He was followed by a procession that included musicians and priests.  Interesting…the sacrificial animal in the lead, followed by the worshipers, then the priests.  Some of the world’s most primitive religious rites are preserved in Nepal, just as they were practiced thousands of years ago.

Bhaktapur Church

Bev and I will be in Nepal until December and one of our tasks is to strengthen the church we launched here in Bhaktapur five years ago.  Though this congregation has not grown as rapidly as some of the others we have planted, it is steadily progressing.  Bhaktapur is truly a stronghold of resistance and we knew when we started this work that it would be a challenge.  David and Sony Sagar have done a tremendous job in laying a foundation of prayer, commitment and faithful evangelism.

Property Search

We are also looking for property where we can expand our children’s home.  We have 14 children and they are growing up right in front of our eyes.  All of them have been rescued out of desperate situations.  Bev and I have a dream that one day we will care for over 100 children.  But to fulfill that dream we need to find property.

A church in Europe has committed $75,000 to this project and I am spending the month of September in search of a suitable place.  My dream is to build a “Children’s Village” where we can house our kids in cottages of no more than 12 children to a home with a care provider in each cottage.  I have visited orphanages in Nepal and India where as many as 200 children were housed in one building.  Regardless of how compassionate the workers may be, it always has the feel of an institution.  Though the method I want to develop is not as efficient, I believe it will help us maintain a healthy emotional environment for our kids and permit us to grow at a comfortable pace.

My plan is to build in a rural setting where we can find the space for gardens and practical skill training in addition to providing a solid education.  We’ve learned now what it takes to care for a child and I believe we are ready to build on that experience.

Thanks for all you have done to help us reach a desperate land.

Rick

rick@rickzachary.com - bev.zachary@gmail.com - shane.zachary@gmail.com

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