Widows in India in the lowest caste

Posted on 16 June 2014 by Elze Erwteman

Women in India in the lowest caste

Interview with Nellie Vlak. March 2014.

 

More than 20 years ago Nellie and her husband Wim founded: “Good News Friend Ministries”.  This Organization works among the poorest people in India and other countries. Because of the work among women I interviewed Nellie.

Question: Have you experienced oppression in the lives of women in the countries you have visited and worked in the past 25 years?

Nellie: Especially in India and Nepal, the oppression is still very serious. A woman in those countries is worth nothing. Even in Christianity this is often the case. This is especially true for women in the lowest caste in these cultures. For example if you are a widow it might be that you have to go begging to live.

Women have to work very hard for an income of 1 euro per day. The work is then e.g. tea picking, working in construction, stone chopping. In case she gets an accident and e.g. she breaks her leg or her hand during work, she will be treated in the hospital in a simple way. Often she gets infections afterwards and will not be treated for this. Concerning her work there are no benefits and income. Often she has to beg.

Nellie and her husband Wim have brought the good news of Messiah Yeshua to these poor people.

Question: When these people come to faith in Messiah Yeshua what happens in their lives.

Nellie: When the women come to faith in Messiah Yeshua their personality develops and they realize that they are not slaves or disposables.  They are preciouss in the eyes of the Lord, the God of Israel.

Nellie and her husband have helped to set up homes for widows in these difficult circumstances.

Nellie: When we receive widows they are no longer recognizable after one year. Their identity is fully developed. They gain self-confidence and dignity. They are being baptized on the basis of their faith in Messiah Yeshua by immersion. The women in the houses do practical work and they pray for the needs of India and the world. Their website is: www.goodnewsfriend.nl