Nepali believers made a treacherous journey through Meghalaya’s towns to safety. |
Abirami is a goat farmer. She and her family raise these animals in a gorgeous, mountainous area of Asia. But today, she is far from her home and her goats. The one thing she does have is her life. If she had stayed at home, she would probably be dead.
Abirami is one of several Nepali Christians—among hundreds more Nepali people—who had to flee from Meghalaya, India, in the last month. A sudden outburst of violence between tribal groups in a boundary dispute left Nepali settlers in Meghalaya at risk of losing their lives.
After four people were killed in a market in May, a tribal group issued a warning to all Nepali settlers to move out of the area immediately.
Gospel for Asia-supported missionary Bansi pastors a church in one of these Nepali areas. He helped about 30 of his people find a way to escape to safety in a neighboring state, but barely. As they started their journey, a mob surrounded the Nepali believers and started beating them. Pastor Bansi and other church leaders managed to stop the mob and help the believers leave in a vehicle. The journey was treacherous, but they arrived safely.
Now, the believers have no way to earn a living in their place of refuge. Abirami and the others had to leave all their possessions behind. Finding food is a struggle. A few of the believers are recovering from injuries received during the attack as they were leaving Meghalaya.
Pastor Bansi plans to travel and visit the believers to encourage them and try to help them. He requests prayer for a safe journey, and that the Lord will care for these Christians who had to run. Pray also for the Nepali people surrounded by threats and violence.