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Jul 27, 2009 7:49 pm US/Central
Nepali Man Fulfills Murdered Dad's College Wish
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
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Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Nepal native David Rai had only been in the United States for a couple months when his father was killed during a robbery at the T.L. Food Store in east Fort Worth. But a community has pulled together to make sure that the 20-year-old will be able to fulfill his father's wish -- going to college.
"I still remember, he just looked at me and he left me," said Rai.
On the day of his murder, Jas Bahadur Rai was going to take his son to community college. "David's dad had planned on enrolling David at Navarro," said Jim Chandler, pastor at Meadowbrook United Methodist Church.
But after his father's murder, college seemed like an impossible dream for Rai. He ended up working two jobs. "It was really hard on me, because I had to look after my sister," he told CBS 11 News. "I was in so much deep trouble, financially."
That is when Chandler and the Meadowbrook United Methodist Church stepped in. Even though the Rais were not members of the congregation, the church started paying for David to attend community college.
"Investing in people is the best investment you can ever make," said Chandler.
That set off a chain of events that David called a miracle.
After finishing up a semester at Navarro College, he decided to apply for financial aid at Texas Wesleyan University. And, after university leaders heard his story, they offered Rai something even better -- a full four-year scholarship. "They're giving me everything for free," Rai said. "Basically, I won't be paying for college or living there at dormitory or even eating."
Rai had some money left over from the church, and tried to give it back. Chandler refused, and told Rai to keep it.
"I'm ready to just go study hard and make something out of it," said Rai.
Jas Bahadur Rai had been living in the United States for eight years before David came to join him. The 48-year-old wanted his son to live the American Dream. During that time, the former cook and Nepali tour guide became an American citizen.
If he were here today, David Rai said, he would say, "He's proud of me."
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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