Out of Nepal & Behind the Bars:
The first time I met Leela, she looked tired and angry. Her eyes were red and swollen; probably from crying. She did not get along well with the rest of the girls in her cell, or with the CARITAS staff working in prison. Wanting to know more about her story, I asked her why she was in prison? For the next half hour she poured out her heart; complaining about everyone and everything in sight. She narrated the often heard complaints of many maids in Lebanon, that her employer withheld her passport and prevented her to go out of the house. She then told me the usual story of being harassed by her employer, beaten and starved, which is a common complaint one often hears.
We are noticing alarming number of young women brought into to Lebanon from Nepal; under aged, trafficked under false birth certificates and false passports. Leela, however, is 22 years old and brought up in Katmandu, the largest city. She is the oldest sibling, with the other two younger brothers still in school. She spoke fluent Hindi and had some education. She would often volunteer to read the Bible for us in the Cell. She had barely been a few months in Lebanon when she began experiencing harassment by her Madam. One day, unable to take it any longer, she retaliated against her employer and struck her. Though clearly not a clever move and not what Paul would have advised Onesimus the slave, she was clearly not a wimp. Operating under French law as practiced here, she is guilty, until proven innocent.
Reconciliation & Transformation:
Slowly I started sharing with Leela the good news of the Bible, specially Jesus’ teaching on the Mount., being humble, not to fight, argue, be silent when attacked, give everything to God and He will take care of the situation. I really and truly saw a transformation in her physical appearance, spiritually and also mentally. One week I was sick with allergies and could not go to prison. I got a surprise call from her. I was shocked and asked how she got this opportunity to call me. Her answer was so funny. She was called into CARITAS office to sign some travel documents. After she completed that, she saw a telephone next to the office, and using a telephone card called me up. But what she said really touched me. She said, I know you are sick because of us. We wear you down with our stories and needs. Please don't cry for us, we are ok and God will help us. You just get well soon!! Before she was sent back to Nepal, Leela wrote me a beautiful letter in Hindi. I would gladly advice the madam who felt wronged by Leela with the words Paul conveyed to Philemon about the repentant slave Onesimus, “no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear sister. She is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a woman and as a sister in the Lord” (Paraphrased from Philemon 1: 16)
PRAISE & PRAY:
• We praise & thank God for the grant from Breaking the Chains. This is enormous help for me and our team of loving & dedicated women: Elma, Irene, and Berbel; to visit & minister the maids.
• Pray for young women who are being trafficked from Bangladesh & Nepal in particular.
• Pray for my desire to open a Safe House for the maids in distress. This is a big challenge. May God make clear the path and His will.
• Pray we will have Lebanese believers who are experts in legal matters to come along side and assist.
Blessings Sarah & Dan Chetti
Mansourieh-Metn;
Lebanon
The first time I met Leela, she looked tired and angry. Her eyes were red and swollen; probably from crying. She did not get along well with the rest of the girls in her cell, or with the CARITAS staff working in prison. Wanting to know more about her story, I asked her why she was in prison? For the next half hour she poured out her heart; complaining about everyone and everything in sight. She narrated the often heard complaints of many maids in Lebanon, that her employer withheld her passport and prevented her to go out of the house. She then told me the usual story of being harassed by her employer, beaten and starved, which is a common complaint one often hears.
We are noticing alarming number of young women brought into to Lebanon from Nepal; under aged, trafficked under false birth certificates and false passports. Leela, however, is 22 years old and brought up in Katmandu, the largest city. She is the oldest sibling, with the other two younger brothers still in school. She spoke fluent Hindi and had some education. She would often volunteer to read the Bible for us in the Cell. She had barely been a few months in Lebanon when she began experiencing harassment by her Madam. One day, unable to take it any longer, she retaliated against her employer and struck her. Though clearly not a clever move and not what Paul would have advised Onesimus the slave, she was clearly not a wimp. Operating under French law as practiced here, she is guilty, until proven innocent.
Reconciliation & Transformation:
Slowly I started sharing with Leela the good news of the Bible, specially Jesus’ teaching on the Mount., being humble, not to fight, argue, be silent when attacked, give everything to God and He will take care of the situation. I really and truly saw a transformation in her physical appearance, spiritually and also mentally. One week I was sick with allergies and could not go to prison. I got a surprise call from her. I was shocked and asked how she got this opportunity to call me. Her answer was so funny. She was called into CARITAS office to sign some travel documents. After she completed that, she saw a telephone next to the office, and using a telephone card called me up. But what she said really touched me. She said, I know you are sick because of us. We wear you down with our stories and needs. Please don't cry for us, we are ok and God will help us. You just get well soon!! Before she was sent back to Nepal, Leela wrote me a beautiful letter in Hindi. I would gladly advice the madam who felt wronged by Leela with the words Paul conveyed to Philemon about the repentant slave Onesimus, “no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear sister. She is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a woman and as a sister in the Lord” (Paraphrased from Philemon 1: 16)
PRAISE & PRAY:
• We praise & thank God for the grant from Breaking the Chains. This is enormous help for me and our team of loving & dedicated women: Elma, Irene, and Berbel; to visit & minister the maids.
• Pray for young women who are being trafficked from Bangladesh & Nepal in particular.
• Pray for my desire to open a Safe House for the maids in distress. This is a big challenge. May God make clear the path and His will.
• Pray we will have Lebanese believers who are experts in legal matters to come along side and assist.
Blessings Sarah & Dan Chetti
Mansourieh-Metn;
Lebanon