10.15.10 *FOUND | Apple of God's Eye

Made by Survivors founder, Sarah Symons told me before I went to visit Apple of God's Eye (which she graciously coordinated) that I was "going to fall head over heels in love with Apple. I'm warning you, your life will never be the same. They are my heart. They are family. I would do anything for them."

Apple of God's Eye (AoGE) was started in 2000 by Silvio, Rose and David Silva and Dr. Jose Rodrigues after hearing stories of young girls being left for dead in the red light districts in India. Considered "unclean" as prostitutes, even in their death, they are treated as garbage and only the trash truck will take the body away. "She's just another Nepali prostitute." There are thousands of Nepali women and girls that are trafficked in to India, may whose life will end as previously described. Unwilling to accept this reality, Silvio and his family stepped out on "faith and a dream". Ten years later, they have five homes filled with almost 200 lives! "Eating clean and healthy food, sleeping in a warm bed, and going to school. We have girls and boys with their dignity restored, dreaming and knowing that God is a real God of love who loves and rescues and presents new opportunities when everything seems hopeless."

I have to write about my first impression because it's important to pay attention to what your gut tells you. In this journey of meeting new people every day, many whose language you cannot speak, well, you learn a lot from body language. So, let me tell you, when you meet the family of AoGE, you are embraced and there are immediately warm eyes and smiles that surround you. These are not just shelters, these are full-fledged homes where there is a mother, a father, a couple of dogs, and many sisters in one house—the older ones looking out for the younger ones. I remember the first time I met the women at Ashagram in India on my first journey to the east. It was that same feeling—how can one suffer the abuse you have and as the result of healing, come out with so much joy? If ever I've seen lives that are truly reborn it's these beautiful women. If you ask the founder and those that are hard at work really shepherding these young people, you will hear them say that for them it is just that they are there for them. They also attribute their life-change to something that happens internally on a spiritual level, and for them this is the healing love of Jesus Christ shown tangibly to them by those house parents who step in and show them what it means to be loved, cared for and nurtured. For many it is the first time they have felt this way. To take someone at their word, to believe that when they say they will be there for them tomorrow, they will in fact be there. They start to dream again. The word "flourish" is the best description for what I saw behind doors flung wide open to show me what it looks like to live a life that's loved. The shelter homes are beautiful and bright and each resident shares a room with several of her "sisters"— all of the rooms have big windows that look out in to Kathmandu Valley where the late October sun shines in and the future looks bright. "You are a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

In additional to physical, mental and spiritual rehabilitation, Apple of God's Eye is very education focused. The want all their participants to attend the best schools possible and go on to receive higher education. Silvio is from Brazil and much of their funding comes from Brazil—so most of these young people, learn to speak Portuguese and English as well! They are also very focused on bringing up leaders within their own organization. Many of the house-parents came through the program and can therefore empathize with those that are welcomed in to their homes. Everything seems to work right here. I can't explain it... I know there is a lot of hard work that happens here, a tremendous amount of dedication from all involved, but there is something bigger at work here, something that not even the best therapists could orchestrate. I think this is a bigger kind of Love.

In addition to education, vocation is a big push for AoGE. They have a big studio set-up for carpet-weaving. The looms are quite large and those that are "masters" at the loom carefully follow patterns for custom designs. Each of these are made to order for local customers or exported overseas. Apple of God's Eye is very interested in nurturing growth in their vocational training programs. These are very, very capable young people that live in a country with very few income opportunities. Let's support organizations like this one that are clearly making a difference and life-change is apparent. Let's uphold this as the standard for after-care, where lives aren't just rescued, but lifted up and given wings to fly.

On a breezy, warm afternoon in October, Meena and her husband and I sat on the porch eating big bowls of noodles, sipping tea, watching the kids take their turn on the bamboo Dashein swing. Meena shared her story with me and her hopes for the future. Her and her husband are newly weds and they are full of dreams. They know how hard life can be in Nepal, but they are full of faith as they have seen their lives changed by God's love and by people who believe in a second chance. I will hold that afternoon's tea and noodles conversation near to me when I think back on favorite moments of this journey. Thank you Meena and Apple of God's Eye for showing me life on "faith and a dream". Beauty found!

To support their work, read their stories, view their photos and learn more about Apple of God's Eye, visit: www.theappleofgodseyes.com
To order a hand-made rug, visit Made By Survivors, if they don't have the design you are looking for, they can further your request on for a custom creation.