Why IFRE and why Nepal?

When I first began looking for a place to go for this mission trip I was looking at Africa or China but really had nothing specific in mind; the only thing I was certain about was that it would be something with children. I looked at several organizations and the locations they had available. I even emailed 2 or 3 of them. Then my sister directed me to IFRE; IFRE stands for Institute for Field Research Expeditions. At first I didn't like the sound of the organization because I was so sure I should be going with a Christian organization. I spent several hours going through their web site and finally decided to email them. They had the best prices and I figured, what would it hurt?

The next morning I had a response. I still wasn't sure where I would go, what I would do, or even if I would go with this organization. The director there was great. He was quick to get back to me on every email and answered all my questions. I prayed about it and asked God for direction. Through several emails with the director I felt piece with this organization and decided to go with them. With the decision made about the organization, I also felt direction on where to go.

As I said before I spent several hours on IFRE's website. Each time I was on there, I found myself viewing information on Nepal. Prior to the decision to take this mission I had never heard of Nepal. I decided to do some more research. Nepal is a small country about the size of North Carolina. It is located between China and India and the home of Mount Everest (You would think with that fact I would at least have heard of the country). Eighty percent of the population is Hindu, ten percent are Buddhist, four percent Muslim and less than one percent are Christians. If that isn't enough of a reason to go let me share what else I learned.

From 1996 until 2006 Nepal was at war with it's self. In short, a group of people who called themselves Maoists wanted freedom from the monarchy. They spent ten years engaged in a civil war in which thousands of families were torn apart. I read stories about mothers who were taken as slaves while the rest of the family was torched and then their were fathers who left their families in the middle of the night. Children were abandoned and left to fend for themselves. Many villagers would set up what they called a safe house for the children but all they really did was put the children to work, made them beg on the streets until they raised enough money and then abandoned the children yet again.

The children who were fortunate enough to make it to an orphanage are now left with the feeling of abandonment. Although the organization I'm going with is not Christian themselves, these children desperately need to feel Christ's love. I emailed a local Christian church in Kathmandu today to help guide me as give these children the thing they need more than anything else: to know that Jesus loves them.

I will continue to post as I learn more. Thank you for sharing this adventure with me!