The “Cave People”
The “Cave People”
Region: Asia/Closed
Rescue Soldier: Manzil (Aim)
Mission: Pioneer hope/help to the Cave People
A Global Unusual Soldiers leader named “Manzil” is making plans to go back to a remote village in Asia in great physical and spiritual need. In some parts of the nation the people have been labled the “cave people” due to their homes in the past often being in caves in the wilderness. This particular village that Manzil is focusing on can only be reached on foot and it will require the mission team to cross a river. This trip will be a second trip.
Read Manzil’s vision below:
Greetings to you in the most precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ! I trust you are doing well. We too are fine here by the amazing grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The “Cave People” COMMUNITY:
“Cave People” community is one of the neediest communities in Asia. The “Cave People” are also known as “Praja” are marginalized downtrodden alienated economically poor, politically powerless and socially uprooted. Their populations approximate numbering little more than 50000 people. During our visit we went to *** District and had spent few days with them. This community used to be a kind of semi-nomadic. But in present days they have started settling down and started cultivating crops. But they don’t have enough skills to produce good crops which can feed them for year. The people of this region generally eat rice for their meals almost in all the meals either lunch or dinner. But this particular community where went said to us that they eat rice once in a year or if they have some guest within themselves or if some guest brings rice along with them. They are very humble and innocent people who love to live in a community bond life. Most of them are following Hinduism and Animist as their religions but in present days they have started following Christ. The particular place we went has a small church where we slept on the muddy floor inside the church, because they had only that to offer to us. We cooked food for ourselves and for the community as well. So together we had meals that delighted the community and we were blessed. I was happy to see smiling faces among the children and child bearing young mothers because of the meals that we shared with them. The community needs supports from all spheres in their lives which can be highlighted below:
Education: Education is the backbone of community. But due to their semi-nomadic life style particularly senior or young adult people could not go to school. At present also school is located in such a distance place that small children cannot go to school. As we asked them they said it takes them 2:30-3 hours to reach. On the mountainous risky way where there is high risk for slippery parent does not want to take risk of losing their children. Therefore, out of love to their children they don’t send children to school. And also we saw they need to cross a river to reach to that school. So during rainy season it becomes more dangerous for children. Therefore, a small primary school for them would serve best to start kickoff to strengthen the community particularly in *** focusing “cave children” and community.
Skill Development Training: Since the community does not have education and any other good skills through which they can earn money and support their families. So in the days to come they can be given some kind of advance agricultural technic with certified seeds that will bring good crops which will help them to produce more and meet their food needs. For women some kind training such as tailoring machine, handicraft can also be some kind of income generating program.
Health and Family planning: what we saw was really surprising because most of the young ladies were with 2 to 3 kids in their arms and standing beside her. They don’t have any health facility in that particular place for the community. If someone becomes sick then there is no way to get treatment until they reach to Manahari which is nearest market for them. But it takes 4-5 hours for them by walk. And for us it took 7 hours walk to reach to our particular destination from Manahari. So, they can be given some kind of basic health care training so that they themselves can take care if something happens to them. And also they must be given family planning training with which they will be able to maintain population and will be able to give better care for children. Because what we saw was many children in families but they don’t have food to eat, cloth to wear and school for education.
Discipleship Training: As few of them have started following Christ as their Lord and Savior, so now is the time to guide them in the right way and teach them how to multiply disciples. While we seek to help them socio-economically to be strong through education and health facilities. We need to also focus to continue to share gospel with others those who are still in the darkness. And through effective training they can be taught discipleship multiplication skills to reach out the remaining unreached “Cave people” community.
Finally the community needs much prayer and support without which the community will never be able to come up with dignity rather will continue to struggle for food, clothes and shelter.
