Our Fifteen Kids & Workers

Ali

Singing in Church Service

Our Kids Often Read Outloud to Illiterate Villagers from their Braille Bible

Jumla Blind Hostel

One of our workers just returned to our ministry base in southern Nepal.  He had gone for a visit to our Blind Hostel up in Jumla.  It’s not an easy trip!  He came back with a fresh report and photos of the work.  I immediately noticed a difference in the overall health of the children and their appearance.  When I first visited them two years ago their clothes were tattered and they appeared disheveled.  I bathed together with some of the older boys at an ice cold glacier spring and noticed that they did not have soap.  Now that we are providing their necessities, I can see a marked improvement in their condition.  They have gained weight, look much cleaner, and are clearly happier.  I am so grateful to the Lord for the way He has enabled us to provide for these kids who are truly “the least of these.”

Following is the story of one of the kids living in the Blind Hostel told in his own words.

My name is Ali and I am fifteen years old.  I was born in a remote place of Jumla where the rest of my family lives.  I am the only child of my parents.  They are very old in age now, and they cannot do any work.  They also cannot read and write at all.  My village is very remote, illiterate, and poor.

My parents told me that at the age of nine months I got an infection in both of my eyes.  They took me to a local shaman for treatment.  During this time I was kept in a basket (made of bamboo) covered by cloths for nine months.  This was done to protect me from evil spirits.  The locals thought the demon spirits may cause me to lose my eyesight.  Most people believed in the local shamans for treatments.  They kept me in the basket for nine months, but my eyes could not be healed.  Later, my father took me to the district hospital at Jumla, but there was no possibility of treatment.  So then my father took me to Nepalgunj Eye Hospital by borrowing money from another villager, but it was too late to save my eyesight.  Eventually, I became a fully blind.

Some years later, I wanted to attend school, but there were no schools for blind children in my area.  The only school I could attend was in Jumla.  I joined this school, and I have completed five years of education.  Now I study in grade six and can read and write using Braille.  This is a great opportunity for me to study.  My favorite subject is health because this is helpful to know about sanitation and the physical structure of our bodies.

I came to believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior about a year ago, and I love to attend my church every Saturday.  I was impressed with my friends who were already Believers.  I came to believe God for giving me freedom, peace and enjoyment in my life.

In the hostel, we have a particular time of prayer with God, and we fellowship with Him by singing hymns and choruses.  Besides this, we entertain ourselves by telling funny jokes and sharing our feelings.  We have a timetable for eating, reading, playing and sleeping.  This has made us disciplined students.  I perceive that this is a very good part of the hostel.

I want to be a teacher in the future, so I am working hard in my studies.  I also like to play musical instruments like drums, tambourine and keyboard, but I don’t have a lot of access to these things.  When I take a break from studying, I like to listen to radio programs for the latest news.

We have been sending $1500 every month to support the children in the Blind Hostel.  Sponsorship for one of the blind children is $100 per month.  Send us an email if you are interested in becoming a sponsor.

Many thanks for all you have done to stand with Bev, Shane and me in our work in South Asia.

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

ChurchAsia - P.O. Box 82080 - Baton Rouge, LA 70884

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