Day 4 - The Kham Nationality
Located in the Rolpa and Rukurn districts of West Nepal
| Population: |
Language: |
Religion: |
| 40,000-50,000 |
Takale, Maikote, Shesi Nisi, and Gamale |
Shamanism |
The Khams live in the hill area of Western Nepal. There are five language groupings within the Kham nationality, and the people from the southern villages are often unable to understand those living in the north. The Khams were traditionally known as semi-nomadic shepherds, selling wool to earn money, but today many of them farm the land and raise animals.
The marriages of the Khams are always arranged by the parents. The girl is often unaware that her parents have arranged her marriage and many times the chosen boy is allowed to come, kidnap the girl, and then rape her. After this, she must live with him as his wife.
The Kham practice an old form of Siberian Shamanism. When a Shaman (witch doctor) dies, another boy in the village is chosen by the demon spirits to replace him. The boy will begin to have terrible nightmares and hallucinations and the demons will force him to obey them. The Shamans are taught that if they can learn to control the spirits, they will be able to stop the sicknesses within the village.
There is a belief amongst the Khams in a creator God, but they believe that many centuries ago, their ancestors lost touch with Him. The New Testament has been translated into one of the northern dialects and there may be as many as 1000 believers in this area. However, four out of the five Kham languages are still without even a New Testament.
The Kham people sacrifice a ram once a year, which they believe takes away the sins of the village for the past year. The ram must give his consent by nodding his head, which they believe is a sign that he is willing to be the sacrifice for their sins. If it does not nod its head, they cannot kill it, and they must carry their sins for another year. This redemptive analogy has been hidden in their culture for many centuries and is now being used to help them understand the message of the true sacrificial lamb who died for the sins of the whole world.
Key Prayer Points:
- Pray that God would deliver the Kham people from their fear of evil spirits.
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- Pray for the Shamans (witch doctors). Many Shamans kill themselves because they are so unhappy. They are actually quite open to the Christian message and about a dozen have already turned to the Lord.
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- New believers can undergo a great deal of persecution, especially from their family members. Pray that God will keep the Christians strong in their faith and help them to be an effective witness even In the midst of persecution.
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