The Witch Doctor in Indonesia

Indonesia

Muslim 86.1%, Protestant 5.7%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 1.8%, other 3.4%

Language: Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch, local dialects (of which the most widely spoken is Javanese)

Democratic

12.5% (2011 est.) under the poverty line.

Marshanda was a preschooler who was abandoned my her mother at a young age and adopted by a witch doctor. The witch doctor's family needed a baby sitter and a house-keeper so Marshanda was quickly taken in. The duties were supposed to pay for her 'room and board'. However, only when Marshanda was good was she allowed to sleep inside on the dirt floor while the rest of the family slept on mattresses. Most nights Marshanda was tied up to a tree in the backyard. She dreaded night time and hearing the dreaded voice of the witch yelling "Come here you miserable dog!" This meant she would face another painful experience for some reason she did not understand. She knew better than disobeying the witch so, time after time she ran fearfully into the little, wooden house. 

The witch would wait for Marsharnda just inside the door ready to slap her across the face so hard her ear would ring. "This plate is dirty!" the witch would scold dragging her to the smoky, back room where the cruellest punishments were undertaken. First, the cigarette burns then the cuttings on Marshanda's arms, legs and bottom. Marshanda tried not to cry loudly because bringing the villagers' attention to the witch's actions brought more punishments. Accidentally wetting herself also bore her more beatings due to the mess she had created.

As time went on the cutting increased and worsened. Marshanda was cut under her hair; her warm blood trickled down her face and neck. Since she was never washed her hair became matted with blood and dirt which also caused oozing sores.

Thankfully the next door neighbour noticed the child's suffering and called the police. But the police could not care less since Marshanda was a girl. They never turned up. Marshanda's suffering continued and she became like a wild animal. She never spoke and would whimper when anybody came near. 

The village leaders heard the neighbours' concerns for Marshanda but did not know what to do. They were scared to approach the witch since she knew how to retaliate and inflict curses on the village. However, one villager suggested that Marshanda should be sent to a preschool at a nearby Christian seminary. The villagers approached the leader of the seminary called Mirah. Mirah seethed with anger when she heard about Marshanda's treatment and led the villagers to talk to the witch immediately. 

Mirah explained to the witch that she wanted Marshanda to be treated like other girls and, if this did not happen they would find someone else who would. The witch was outraged and slammed the door in their faces. Her angry voice faded to the smoky, back room. 

A week later, Marshanda was found wandering in a daze down the village's central, dirt road. She had a rag tied around her head, her dirty clothes were soaked with fresh blood and her head had been laid open with large gashes. Mirah was told about Marshanda immediately and with the village behind her she demanded the witch to sign the papers to give Marshanda up for adoption. The witch aggregately snatched the papers and signed sneering "the girl was a lazy dog. Never could do any work... I'm glad to be rid of her." It was amazing the witch gave-in so easily!

After Marshanda's rescue she was soon adopted by the cook at the seminary and students love her as their own little sister. She is no longer a wild and frightened animal with blood stained clothes but a lively, young girl. Marshanda loves to sing and dance, taking every opportunity to perform and giggles as a every young girl should. 

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. - Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. - Joshua 1:9

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. - James 2:18

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy. - Psalm 103:2-4

Step into India

India is...

80.5% Hindu, 13.4% Muslim, 2.3% Christian.

41% Hindi - most widely spoken language and primary tongue. However, English is the subsidiary official language and most important for national, political and commercial trade and communication.  

Democratic

29.8% (2010 est.) are living below the poverty line.

                                                                                                                                                                             
Little Aliya works in a garbage dump on the outskirts of Bangalore collecting things to sell for her family who are living in dire poverty. Her family belong to the lowest Hindu caste, the Untouchables currently known as Dalits. Dalits are less respected than animals. They are believed to be cursed by the Hindu spirits. Hindu scriptures state that Dalits are 'unborn' meaning 'it would be better if they weren't alive'. Despite the governments law to end the discrimination against castes, currently many Dalits are denied basic needs such as medical care and education 

Many Indian girls, particularly in the Dalit caste struggle before they are conceived. In India, most parents only want boys and therefore many take ultrasounds to ensure they only give birth to a boy. However, Aliya belonged to a Dalit family who could not afford an ultrasound. Girls like Aliya are perceived as cursed; some Indian people it is because that they led a bad former life and therefore deserve to be shamed in their present life. Aliya suffers from constant abuse and fear, working from sunrise to sunset as a slave in appalling conditions. Aliya has no hope for the future. 

"What do you want to be when you grow up Aliya?" There was silence. "The little girl stared."

However, there is hope for some Dalit girls. Asha is eighteen and also lives in a Dalit family. Her father, Moses Swamidas is a Catholic bishop. He does not live in a shanty town and is highly respected by Dalits. He is known as a leader who protects Dalit's rights using the Bible and education as his tools. He has strived to give education to his daughter and other Dalit girls who schools do not accept since 1976. He passionately preaches that ALL men and women, Dalit and high-caste, Indian, American, African and European are created in the image of God.


Bishop Moses Swamidas' 'Bible Faith Mission Academy' blesses special children like Aliya with education which is made possible by sponsors from the West. Today some Dalit children have grown up to become an 'unknown breed' of professional workers and are ever so slowly closing the equality gap between the rich and the poor, the high castes and the Dalits. However, some Dalit children are purposely not taught to speak English but a tribal language. Without knowing English these children will be excluded from becoming professionals. Globalisation, westernisation, computerisation and privatisation are dominating the economy and only allowing the high class compete leaving the poorest to struggle. Therefore not knowing English makes it nearly impossible for them to escape poverty and their caste's bondage.

Maya is one lucky girl who attends school and loves to read and write in English which will make her employable and help her to fight poverty. Going to school also teaches the community to participate on a wider social, economic and political scale, allowing them to make helpful contributions to society. Even the most basic education teaches women to make better decisions for their families.
Maya excited for her future, she hopes to move out of the dump and to read the bible. She is already starting to learn her rights under Indian law so others cannot take advantage of her and her family.



Especially female teachers such as Bishop Moses Swamidas' daughter Asha, teach the children English and bring hope to the Dalit girls for a better future. Now more girls hope to go to university and have dreams to be a voice for the Dalit caste.

                                       

                               Visit Bishop Moses Swamidas' Bible Faith Mission Academy website @
                                                  http://www.partnersintl.org/partners/sa/inbf

*girls' names have been changed.

Stories of Hope and Courage

I have been reading a book called 'Forgotten Girls' (Kay Marshall & Michele Rickett, 2009) recently. It is challenging yet intriguing, encapsulating the real life situations girls are facing around the world. As I continue reading I will retell the most challenging/inspiring short stories and explain how these terrible situations may be or were improved.

Blurb

"All over the world, women and girls face starvation, displacement, illiteracy, sexual exploitation and abuse. 

In fact, statistics show that the world's most oppressed are overwhelmingly female.

Moved by their plight, Kay Marshall Strom and Michele Rickett took a trip across continents to partner with ministries working to help females and to interview girls in some of the most difficult places in the world.

These pages hold those girls' stories: stories of deep pain and suffering, inspiring courage, and incredible hope. They are the stories of girls who have discovered their value in God's eyes, in the midst of cultures that have rejected them. They are stories of rescue and redemption by God working through compassionate people - people like you.

These pages might hold pieces of your story as well, as the authors invite you to pray and speak on behalf of the millions of women and girls who still need to know how much they're worth. Our powerful God will help us as we read, speak and pray on their behalf, that the forgotten might become free." 

Stories are coming soon!

Remember the forgotten. Speak for the speechless.

Welcome to my first blog ever!


"[We] can do all things through Christ, because He gives [us] strength." ~ Philippians 4:13



Hi! I'm Philippa Paull and my goal is to make a difference in girls' lives around the world.

This blog will encompass my journey to help girls living in unjust circumstances around the world.

Beware! It will be passionate, it will be real, it will be moving but most of all it will be empowering!

To be honest, only God knows the exact details of where I'll go or what I'll do. "I'm a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world." ~ Mother Teresa 

My plan is to start small and finish BIG. 
To begin with, this blog will include real stories of forgotten girls around the world. If I find interesting multimedia, facts or events they will be posted. - If you find anything please e-mail me the link. :)

It is my privilege to share my journey with you, and I hope that you will discover how you too, can make a real difference in forgotten girls' lives.

May we be the change we want to see in the world,
Pip xx