Books, Nepal and Dreams

I just finished reading the wonderful book, Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal by Conor Grennan. I was immediately drawn to this book because Nepal is sell so heavy on my heart. Last spring, a few of us tried to put together an outreach there to focus on human trafficking prevention ministry, and we really just felt God close the doors over and over again on the timing. It was hard, because my heart was broken for this nation and it's people. But I knew it was just timing, and that I would go there one day.

So when I saw this book, I knew I wanted to read it. And I'm so glad I did. Conor tells his story of Nepal, the first stop on his around the world journey. He shamelessly admits that the sole reason he went to Nepal to work with orphans was to justify to the other 9 months of the year spent traveling & partying 'with a devastating comeback ready, like: "Well frankly Mom, I didn't peg you for somebody who hates orphans," and I would make sure to say the word orphans really loudly so everybody within earshot knew how selfless I was.' It's terribly honest, or maybe just terrible, but I appreciated his candor. He didn't set out to change the world. But did it ever change him. The Little Princes was an orphanage that cared for displaced children of a trafficking ring. These kids had been taken from the parents by false promises, then abandoned. The Little Princes Children's Home cared for them when no one else would. The longer Conor stayed, the more Nepal and these kids stole his heart. He leaves after 3 months, and sees so much more of the world, but Nepal and their faces burned into his memory. A year later, he returns. He discovers that some of these children still have parents alive, and that are looking for their missing kids. It inspires Conor. He moves back to America and starts a NGO [non-government organization] called Next Generation Nepal to reconnect these trafficked children to their families. It was ambition, and maybe some say naive, but it worked. He hiked through jungles and villages, and one by one he found families. And slowly, they came for their children and these kids discovered home & belonging again. One of the most influential characters in Conor's story was Liz, an American girl who would later became his wife. She was his source of encouragement and spiritual guide. Her faith in Christ was big enough for the two of them, until Conor found one of his one.

I loved this story because it shows how many different roles there are in preventing human trafficking. And because it happens in Nepal. I long to be one of those who can restore what was stolen in this nation. And maybe one day I can.