In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge – Proverbs 14:26.
The earthquake in Nepal left more than rubble in its wake. It left heartbreak, loss and uncertainty.
When I look at Drastaa’s weathered face, I see unimaginable pain and devastation. I see someone who has suffered a crippling loss. She lost her only grand-daughter. The girl was only 16 years old. She had gone in to the forest to gather firewood when the earthquake struck, killing her. That day when Drastaa woke up, little did she know that her world would be turned upside down and that she would be facing the future alone.
Her life is like a heap of rubble. She has no idea how she was going to pick up the pieces and rebuild her life. The odds are stacked against her. She’s elderly. She’s a widow. She can’t work to support herself. Life for widows in Nepal is hard and they are victims of discrimination, isolation and rejection. In addition to the stigma that is attached to widowhood, she had to worry about the spreading of diseases because of the unsanitary conditions and the monsoon season which is typically lasts from mid-June to mid-September. A monsoon can seriously hamper relief and recovery efforts.
“As one whom his mother comforts, So I will comfort you” (Isaiah 66:13). Pray that Drastaa will receive this comfort and the help she needs to get back on her feet. Ask God to reveal Himself to her, letting her know that she is not suffering alone.
Leave your fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; And let your widows trust in Me – Jeremiah 49:11.
When the earth started shaking, Tarana’s husband rushed inside their home to look for their children, unaware that they were safe outside. The house collapsed on him, and Tarana is now widowed, caring for five children on her own – Gospel for Asia
When I read about what happened to Tarana’s husband, it brought tears to my eyes. I was touched by this family’s tragedy. In a matter of minutes, Tarana’s had lost her husband–she was a widow and her five children had lost their father. He had gone into their home, risking his life the save them.
What is going to happen to Tarana and her children? They are homeless. Their house was reduced to rubble. Where could they go? Who would help them? How is she going to rebuild their lives?
I encourage you to pray for Tarana and her children. Pray for their protection against disease and danger. I read that in the wake of the earthquakes, the UNICEF is working with the Nepalese government to stop child trafficking as the organization feared that there was a surge in the number of cases. According to Tomoo Hozumi, a UNICEF representative in Nepal, “Loss of livelihoods and worsening living conditions may allow traffickers to easily convince parents to give their children up for what they are made to believe will be a better life.” The traffickers promise education, meals and a better future but in reality, many of these children end up being “horrendously exploited and abused.”
As a widow with no source of income and raising five children, it is possible that Tarana could be approached by traffickers, promising her a better future for her children. Pray that God will watch over them. He is now the Father of these children and He will guard them. “…He will save the children of the needy” (Psalm 72:4).
Drastaa, Tarana and all of the other survivors need our prayers. Gospel for Asia offers these suggestions for prayer requests:
- Comfort and hope for those grieving
- Protection from disease and danger
- God’s provision and sustenance for relief teams
- Many to understand Jesus’ love
I applaud the work that GFA Compassion Services teams have been doing. They “have touched many lives through relief events during the past several weeks. They’ve focused on reaching remote, hard-to-reach villages where many lost homes, possessions, and sometimes loved ones.”
If you feel impressed to reach out to these survivors and you want to find more information on GFA’s relief work in Nepal, please visit http://gfa.org/earthquake/nepal.
Now, my God, I pray, let Your eyes be open and let Your ears be attentive to the prayer made in this place – 2 Chronicles 6:40.
Sources: Global News; The Weather Network; United Nations News; Gospel for Asia
Notes to Women 