Though hardships created by this blockade will continue, so will believers’ plans for Christmas Day.

“I will say this for the Nepalese: they are resilient,” says Noel Becchetti of Asian Access. “These people are tough, and I respect them for that.

“They are still trying to organize a Christian celebration for Christmas, and they’ve invited the President and the Prime Minister.”

Constitution compromise denied

At the start of the week, Nepal’s government announced it would make changes to its highly-debated constitution, in order to appease Madhesi protestors. The Madhesi community–a group with strong ethnic and cultural ties to India–is demanding more political power and the redrawing of state boundaries.

A deeper matter lies below the political surface of this issue, says Becchetti: religious freedom.

“Nepal passed the first-ever constitution in the history of their country in September,” he says. “In that part of the world, the big issues are: what kind of a country are you? Are you a secular country, or are you a religious country?

“In this case, the pressure [from India] was [to] be a Hindu country.”

India’s ruling party is comprised of hard-line Hindu nationalists, says Becchetti, and they were watching the constitution process closely. When a multi-ethnic, multi-religious coalition developed Nepal’s constitution and chose to pursue secular democracy, India took action.

“In retaliation, within about one week, India blockaded the border with Nepal.”

(Photo courtesy Asian Access)

This constitution blockade has created many problems for Nepal’s people, who were already struggling to recover from this spring’s series of earthquakes. As winter sets in, families are struggling to get by with shortages of fuel, cooking gas, medicines, and other essentials.

Click here to help send supplies to Nepal through Asian Access.

Despite the continued constitution blockade, Nepali believers are pressing on to make Christ known.

Constitution blockade can’t stop Christmas

Tomorrow, Nepali leaders who partner with Asian Access are planning a Christmas party to celebrate Christ’s birth. A few years ago, the event and its Gospel message were broadcast on national television.

Because supplies are limited by the constitution blockade, it’s unlikely that food or electricity will be available at this year’s Christmas party. Would you pray that the event happens anyway?

“The government’s been supportive of these efforts, so they’re trying to get some sort of a party together–I don’t know with what, but,they’re going to give it a try.”

(Photo credit: S Pakhrin via Flickr)

According to The Indian Panorama, Nepalese and Indian dignitaries met in New Delhi, India to discuss the blockade and corresponding humanitarian crisis.

Meanwhile, government officials back in Nepal reportedly reached a political agreement with protesting Madhesi parties.

See what started the blockade back in September.

Nonetheless, dire humanitarian needs remain as the political resolution unfolds. According to UNICEF, India’s blockade and fast-approaching winter months are putting over three million children at-risk.

“The situation over there in Nepal is worse than what happened in the first earthquake,” shares *Suren, Vision Beyond Borders‘ contact in Nepal. “The government’s saying to the public, ‘Do not stay in the line anymore because you will not get the petrol.'”

Line of gas cylinder at Kathmandu
(Wikipedia)

In Nepal, fuel is used for cooking, as well as transportation. One of Suren’s ministry friends spent five days and nights waiting in line, only to receive five liters (approximately 1.3 gallons) of gasoline.

“There is no food, no transportation, and it has affected every life…in Nepal. And, obviously, it is affecting ministry as well.”

With transportation and other vital resources on lock-down, life in Kathmandu has come to a virtual standstill. Along with it, the translation work of Suren and his ministry team.

“Our work is to record the Gospel in all the languages and dialects of Nepal,” he explains. “[Because of the blockade] we can’t really move around, [and] our people cannot come to us. It’s like we are being paralyzed.”

And yet, there are a couple of “silver linings” to the blockade crisis.

Blockade helps evangelism

The first advantage: government eyes cannot be in all places at all times.

Nepal’s government is “really against” Christianity, Suren explains, even though the country’s new constitution is secular. However, few officials are monitoring evangelical Christian activity right now because their attention is consumed by the blockade.

(Photo courtesy VBB)

Suren’s ministry and its partners are taking advantage of the open door. “As much as we can, we are trying to send the Gospel to the people. It has been quite an opportunity for us to witness to the people.”

In recent days, 3,000 microchip SD cards carrying heart-language Gospel materials were sent to contacts in a remote village.

“They can do that now, because the government has no time to think about what Christian activities are going on within the country,” says Suren.

“Life is hard, but ministry-wise it’s been a good opportunity. When you go with a message of hope, people are more receptive.”

What you can do about the blockade

With so many world events competing for attention, please don’t forget about Nepal.

(Graphic courtesy Vision Beyond Borders)

“The world is not even thinking about this because [they see it as] a political problem between two countries,” Suren explains.

“Pray that the people of Nepal may not starve to death. We need to really pray for the political situation between Nepal and India, so that this problem may [be] resolved as soon as possible.”

Support Suren and his ministry through Vision Beyond Borders.

* name changed for security reasons