Below is the transcript for this episode of our Harvest Bridge Podcast! You can listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, or watch on Youtube (press CC for the captions) by clicking on the video below.
Welcome to the Harvest Bridge podcast. A part of our work here at Harvest Bridge is connecting local leaders in South Asia with people like you, here in the United States. Through our podcast we want to provide a place where you can hear their voices and listen to their stories in their own words. There is a transcription available for those who prefer to read these stories. Today we would like to share a conversation between Kate, the Executive Director of Harvest Bridge, and Shalva*, our ministry director in Nepal. In addition to the ministry that happens throughout Nepal, Harvest Bridge supports missionaries specifically called to the border of Nepal and Tibet. In this interview, Shalva shares about the restrictions China has on the Tibetan people, and how ministry is happening in seemingly impossible circumstances.
Before we hear from Shalva, let’s talk for a moment about Tibet. Tibet is an autonomous region of China. That means that while it has some independence, the Chinese government has tight control over its politics, culture and religion. The restrictions you will hear Shalva share about in this podcast show just how determined China is to keep this control. But why does China want this control over Tibet? Why would a powerful country like China have such an interest in keeping the Tibetan people under its control? Tibet is the third largest source of water in the world, making it a critical resource for China. It is also positioned directly between China and India, making its position critical in the tensions between these countries. There is also the concern for China that if Tibet gains full independence, then other minority groups in autonomous regions in China would be empowered to do the same. With that background, let’s hear from Shalva about the impact of this control on daily life for the people of Tibet, and how the missionaries of Harvest Bridge do ministry in spite of these challenges.
Kate: Can you say that thing that you had said before about how Tibet, like if you’re born in Tibet, you can’t get a visa to leave until a certain age?
Shalva: Sixty years of age. If you are born in Tibet you cannot get a passport [before] 60 years of age, because the Chinese government [thinks] if these people will go to another country they will protest the Chinese. And sometimes they [Tibetans] will torch their body. In another country you know, many times they try to torch the body, in Kathmandu also. So that’s why Chinese government is not giving visa, passport until 60 years of age. After 60 years only you can only apply for the passport in Tibet.
You just heard Shalva share that, for those born in Tibet, you cannot get a passport until you are 60 years old. This restriction is just one of the many ways China is trying to prevent the people of Tibet from becoming more independent. By keeping them isolated, they cannot leave Tibet, share what is happening there, or protest. He also referred to the Tibetan people “torching” their bodies. Self-immolation as a form of protest has become tragically common, with over 150 people having burned themselves to death since 2009.
Shalva: Tibetan life is very miserable. You know, if you live in Tibet, if you go to the grocery market, if you want to go to the grocery market, you need to scan your body. You need to scan your whole body; you have to go through the machine like in the airport, you scan your body. You are not allowed to take matchbox, any lighter or anything in your body, and you scan your whole body, then show government photo ID. Then only you are allowed. Otherwise you cannot go to the grocery market also. So, Tibet life is very miserable.
Shalva shared here that even something as simple as going to the grocery store has become controlled. Before you can go into the store, your body is scanned. Something we only see in the highest security areas like airports here in the US is a part of daily life for the people of Tibet.
Shalva: You know, the Chinese government is capturing them and not allowing them to, you know, get connected with the outside world. So, because of that, you know they are coming to the Nepal people’s border. So, so we are utilizing that facility for our missionaries to preach the gospel. But it is hard, very hard. Some Tibetans come. But if they are healed in Jesus’ name, they will quickly believe in Jesus. So we have that kind of – many families also coming to the Lord. But their life is very tough in the Tibet, that’s why they try to infiltrate into Nepal, because they want some kind of freedom. They have no freedom.
Life has become so difficult in Tibet that people are coming to the border with Nepal to attempt to escape. It is here that the missionaries of Harvest Bridge are able to do ministry with them. This is a dangerous ministry – more on that in just a minute. First let’s hear from Shalva about what is happening with the children.
Shalva: Then another thing, you know, the Chinese government captures their children. If they have children and Chinese government says ‘we will teach your children and we will give [them] a good education, a good job if they will get, then they will take the children to the facility and then, you know, they have a different schooling, conditioning, schooling and other things and they will raise in that environment. And after coming from, you know, that education, they will not support their parents. So you know, this kind of, you know, wiping out the Tibetan population like that, you know, the communist strategy we see.
Recently, human rights watch groups have sounded the alarm that China is attempting to wipe out Tibetan language and culture altogether through a controversial program involving residential school systems for Tibetan children. The Chinese government promises a good education for the Tibetan children, but the program assimilates Tibetan children into Chinese language and culture, distancing them from their heritage and their families.
Kate: So, the reason for them not giving them visas till they’re 60 is basically they want to cut down on young people getting out of the country and spreading the word of how oppressive the regime is and how oppressive China is?
Shalva: Yeah.
This is the context for the people of Tibet, who come to the Nepal-Tibet border, seeking hope. And the Harvest Bridge missionaries meet them there.
Shalva: Yeah, our missionaries are living in the Nepal-Tibet border. And they are doing a small business in the border, like snacks or like selling some vegetables – some, some kind of business, simple, small business. It’s not very expensive – rent there, rent is not very expensive. So, so they, they actually, these Tibetan people, come to [the] Nepal border for buying the daily necessity things, because they are a little bit cheaper, cheaper, they find in Nepal. Its daily necessity things are very cheap in comparison to Tibet. So because of that, [they] come there. And our missionaries, they are sharing gospel and some are sick and they are praying with them. And some of these Tibet people also live in Nepal side and they, some are interested, some are getting healing, and they are making them disciples.
To build relationships with the people of Tibet, the missionaries set up small shops on the border. Here, they sell necessary items for less than they can be bought in Tibet. In this marketplace ministry, the missionaries are able to get to know the Tibetan people, and then share the hope of the gospel with them. But couldn’t the missionaries in Nepal cross over into Tibet to do ministry? Let’s hear again from Shalva:
Shalva: Actually we have some churches in the border, not inside the Tibet. They are allowed to travel until 20 kilometers inside the Tibet without a passport, without visa, and without a passport, with a Nepali ID card, citizenship. They can travel until twenty, twenty-five kilometers. So sometimes our missionaries are going there, but they cannot preach there, but they are just making the relationship with the people. Getting to know each other and making friendship, asking them, ‘when you will visit us, you can stay with us.’ You know like that, things they are sharing there. And of course there is persecution in Tibet. You know, these Tibetan Buddhists, they are against the Christianity. They, they are deadly against. If they know that you are preaching the gospel, you are Christians, then they will almost kill you. So they, they, you will lose everything and they will destroy you – kill and throw you somewhere in the forest. And nobody will find your dead body. So this is the situation. So that’s why our missionaries are not preaching in the Tibet.
The ministry leaders of Harvest Bridge can go as far as twenty-five kilometers (or about 15 miles) into Tibet, but the risks increase dramatically in this short distance. According to Shalva, those sharing the gospel will be killed and their bodies disposed of in the forest. Even though their ministry in Nepal is not without risk, the risks in crossing into Tibet are even greater. Even with this risk, some missionaries cross over into Tibet to build relationships with the people. Despite all of these obstacles, the missionaries are doing ministry, everyday, in any way that they can.
One Harvest Bridge leader sent in a report sharing about her ministry with women and children on the border. She organizes gatherings for the women and their children to build their faith. Another hosts house fellowships that allow for deeper discussions about faith and Bible training sessions. He writes “despite the rugged terrain, we remain committed to nurturing spiritual growth and fellowship in their remote corner of the world. We hope to bring light and hope to the people, drawing them closer to God’s love and grace.”
This is just a snapshot of the ministry happening on the border to support the people of Tibet. In spite of the unbelievable obstacles, the missionaries are sharing hope and healing.
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