Day 26 – Kala Dhaka and the Earthquake

Kala Dhaka is an isolated, semi-autonomous Pashtun area in the Karakoram mountain range of northwestern Pakistan. Prior to the earthquake of October 2005 in Pakistan’s northern areas, Kala Dhaka was forgotten, unknown, and untouched by the outside world.  It is highly unlikely that any foreigners have entered Kala Dhaka in over 100 years, and certain that there has been no presence of the gospel among them. It is a place where hospitality coexists with hate and violence. 

The earthquake brought the whole region into the global spotlight, and millions of dollars of relief and development aid have poured into northern Pakistan through NGO’s large and small.  Kala Dhaka was by some measures only slightly affected by the earthquake, as compared to other areas which were severely affected. Therefore, Kala Dhaka didn’t receive much aid. This has been a source of dismay among many of the Kala Dhaka elders who have seen the attention given to other areas and now want some attention for their own people. The Kala Dhaka Coordinating Committee of clan elders has given an open invitation to NGOs to provide services and aid to their people. This is an opportunity never seen before, and which may disappear as the earthquake fades from memory.

 

Pray that: 

• God be praised!  There is an open door and a clear invitation for outsiders to work in Kala Dhaka and other hitherto inaccessible, remote Pashtun areas affected by the earthquake.
• Culturally, sensitive and light-bearing workers will come to these fields.
• The elders who have given a clear invitation for aid work in Kala Dhaka will be unmistakably blessed by God  for opening the door to their tribal area.

 

 

 

Jeremiah 32:17 Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.