Staff
Rekha Rai
- rekha.rai@wordmadeflesh.org
- Country
- Nepal
Rekha was born to a high caste Nepali family. Her father left when she was a baby and her mother died when she was still a child. When Rekha's brother became sick with meningitis, her step parents left them both at the government hospital. Her brother died just a few days later, and a family friend brought Rekha into her home. With no one else to cling to, she devoted herself to her Hindu gods.
Gautam was born to a Nepali family in Bhutan. His mother, who was a Christian, died when he was still a child. When Bhutan exiled all Nepalis, Gautam and his family fled to rural Nepal. Soon Gautam went looking for work in Kathmandu and eventually got a job as a waiter in a hotel restaurant.
When Rekha was 17 years old, she began to work at the hotel where Gautam was a waiter. When Gautam heard about Rekha's life, he knew he wanted to become her family and to care for her. They married and had two children, David and Dipa. In 1998 they met Seth Allgire and Silas West. Through their relationship, Gautam decided to follow Jesus Christ, but Rekha was reluctant to give up her gods. When Dipa became very sick, Gautam prayed to Jesus for the first time, and Jesus healed her. Through this, Rekha began to open herself to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
For the next three years Gautam and Rekha lived with Silas and Kimberly West and their family, building up the community with their love and service. They gave birth to a son, John, in 2001. God has called them to become parents to the homeless and abused children of Kathmandu's streets. In Gautam's words, "After experiencing God's love for us, we cannot forget the love He has for those whom no one else loves." They have responded to the love of Christ by inviting nine girls into their home, where they serve as Directors of Karuna Ghar, Home of Compassion and parents to the children.