Day Four

The bell rings at 5:00 a.m. for the students to rise and meet on the field for their daily exercise.  At 5:30 we all meet for chapel, where we are blessed by hundreds of young women singing praise to their savior, Jesus Christ--the God among gods in India. Later in the day, we listen in horror to Dr. Mary Mignon, who entitles her lecture "We do not have a license to kill." She describes the open discrimination that 'girl children' face in India. The most heinous offense is abortion, as women pay as much as $5,000 to have an ultrasound, so that they can detainee the fetus' sex, and abort it if it is a girl. Dr. Mignon tells us that a saying has arisen in India that basically admits that the cost of the ultrasound is a good investment, as is the abortion, because it saves the family from having to pay her dowry later when she marries. We are stunned by her continuing narrative, which describes atrocities like mothers stuffing rice down their infant daughters'  throats, others push them from windows and stage it as an accident.

Just an hour ago, I met a ten-year old girl named 'Amy Carmichael',  who was buried alive as an infant, but rescued, brought here to the P. P. Job orphanage, where she has been able to thrive (and been blessed with a name that implies she may be a great evangelist one day; her smile tells us her ministry is sure to be powerful).

Dr. Job tells the group that he has made it his passion to improve the quality of life for women in India. He comments that a girl is 'forced to be a slave all her life,'  first of her parents, then her husband (who is often abusive) and finally her children, who neglect the woman who has given her life to serve them.

In the afternoon, we prepare for the Commencement exercises, and watch a grand spectacle as 300 young women receive diplomas, their proud friends and families gather in the auditorium to celebrate.  Indigenous bands play native instruments, flags wave and hundreds of children march.

As name after name is called--many of whom scored 100 percent on their proctored exit exams--we watch proud young women who have faced unspeakable impediments and persevered despite them all. They are encouraged to continue to inspire others throughout their determination. To see young Christian Indian women committed to the things of God make us all proud to know them.

Families linger for hours, taking pictures, sharing a smile and a hug. They all realize that these women are special. They have suffered, but they have succeeded. They will help reverse the fate of so many young women in India by demonstrating to all the deep value of women to the rich culture they have helped to create.

This photo is of children dancing at the 5:30 a.m. chapel service.