October 26-November 13 We had a great time in West Nepal. After teaching for three weeks in the Bible School in Nepalgunj, we set out on our adventure westward into the Kanchinpur area of far west Nepal. We were looking for a village where a new church had been started. Earlier this year we had sent money to build a church building there. I was interested in seeing the place and meeting the pastor and the believers.
We didn't know how to get to the village, we only knew the general area and the name. Night had fallen and we were proceeding over the rough road with a crippled vehicle. Two jarring high-centers with the two wheel drive jeep had left us with only 2nd gear and reverse. As we proceeded through the dark, we saw some people on bicycles pull up to the side of the road. We stopped and L. B. asked them the directions to the village. According to them, the village was about 10 kilometers further.
We proceeded onward and encountered some crossroads. Deciding to stop and get further directions, L.B. walked to a darkened house and asked the occupants the whereabouts of the village. When he returned to the jeep and opened the door, one of the bike riders that we had previously talked to was coming down the dark road behind us and ran into the open door of the jeep with his bike. L. B. helped him get up from the ground and then talked to him again. He said that they were going the same way we were going and would ride ahead of us. A man and his wife and baby were riding one bike and another man was mounted on the other. As we followed 7 them, they took us through various villages, around curves, through crossroads while they rode by the light of our headlights. It would have been next to impossible to have made it through those places and at that distance without them.
When they arrived at their destination, they decided to get in with us and show us how to get to the village. It was yet another 3 kilometers from here to the village. We, of course, had never met them. It was strange how we just happened to meet at the side of the road and get reacquainted through the collision of the bike with the jeep door. Strange or staged by an unseen hand? We choose to believe that the Lord who sends us also goes before us preparing the way.
When we arrived in the Tharu village, we were surprised to find that there were almost 50 people who were waiting for us. Though it was now hours into the evening, they were ready for church. It is a time when we also needed to be ready. We had a great time of ministry in the evening and after the service found that they had prepared a bed for us in one of the village houses. Before retiring, they informed us that they wanted another service in the morning.
What an awesome spot to awaken to a beautiful sunrise in the Terai of western Nepal. A mist hovered over the ground. The buffalo, tied to trees, provided a foreground for the pink ball of the rising sun to bring to life the sound of birds and the activities of animal and man in this tranquil setting. The temporary church building was made of small tree trunks holding up the roof timbers which were covered with grass. The walls were of sticks covered with a mixture of cow dung and mud. On the crude wall behind the pulpit was a small, also crude, cross. It was a good service. One of instruction to the new Christians.
We began our trip onward through various villages. I began to recognize some of the villages I had visited in years past. We were now in the Tamong area. In some of the villages, most of the people were now believers. Driving down the road, L. B. would recognize people along the way and would greet them with the Nepali Christian greeting of Jai Masahi. (Victory in Jesus).
Along the way were the Rana Tharu people. A few years ago there were no believers among them. Now there are about 80 Rana Tharus in one of the churches in that area. We were limping along in the crippled jeep when we came to a river. A wide one. The driver pulled his pants up and tested the waters and decided to try to cross. We did just fine until we started up the bank on the other side. We just did not have enough power in 2nd gear. We were stuck. We all piled out and tried to push it out, to no avail. Then we looked across the river. Driving up were three big tractors pulling trailers loaded with bagged rice. They came right on across with their loads and one of them pulled us out. Again they (just happened to come along at the right time).
We found a mechanic in Dhangadi who cobbled together some parts for the lever mechanism on the side of the transmission -- it worked -- somewhat. After preaching at Pastor Joseph's the following morning, (great singing and worship) we made our way homeward to Nepalgunj.
Sunday evening was the beginning of a youth convention in Nepalgunj. They had asked me if I would speak for the early morning devotions. On Sunday morning we found out that the guest from the States had a flight delay and that I would need to speak on the opening night of the convention and also speak for the midmorning service. I prepared for the service that evening using the subject of Spiritual Growth which was to be the theme of the convention. Just a few minutes before we were to go to convention site, the Lord dealt with me to change the message. He gave me Esther 4:14. There were attacks on me. One in the form of dozens of low flying mosquitoes that had a voracious appetite for my ankles. Then as I began to speak I inhaled a bug. I coughed and preached but, praise the Lord, the anointing prevailed, the Lord showed up and we had a great service. Over 250 young people stood to their feet to commit their lives to take the gospel to their country. God is faithful.
After meeting in Kathmandu, our group made the trip down to Chitwan, a national park near the Indian border. Robbie Rai set up the tour for us and hosted it. We stayed at a real nice resort in Chitwan. The room Steve Ivie and I had had a loft in it. It was new and real clean. They had an evening of entertainment with Tharu men doing native dances. The first evening we did some village evangelism. The team did drama and personal evangelism. I was witnessing to a couple of young men. Their English was limited and my Nepali was nonexistent. I called one of the Tharu guides from the resort over to help me interpret. After I explained the plan of salvation to the men through this interpreter, I also had them repeat the sinners prayer through the interpreter. Later I found out that not only did the two young men receive Christ, but the interpreter did too.
The next day we did evangelism in another village. The young people did a couple of dramas and another one preached. Several people received the Lord right on the street. The local pastor was with us and prayed with all the people himself. In Kathmandu, I met with three other team members to conduct a four day Pastors and leaders conference. Lane Abernathy had set up the conference. Kevin Cooley and Kevin Castro, missionaries to India were the other speakers. They were expecting 400 leaders to show up for the meetings. As they continued to come in, the final registered amount was 850. It posed a huge logistical and financial crisis but the Lord worked it all out and we had a wonderful conference. The teaching covered several subjects. Healing and the Believers Authority. Provision and prosperity for the body of Christ. The men were anointed and there were many impartations into the lives of those precious Nepali men and women. How wonderful to experience the rivers of anointing.
One day stood out especially as the urgency rose up in me to challenge them to do the daring and dangerous and follow the call of God to go into new territories and plant new works. Many responded in obedience to the direction of the Spirit in their lives. At the last service we laid hands on all the 850 people there. To some it was a time of impartation and to others there was a stirring up of the gifts that the Lord had put in them. Seeds were sown. Words were spoken that will change the course of many lives. Anointings for ministry were imparted to pastors and leaders.
Pray for these great men and women of God as they take the life changing message of the gospel to Nepal, India and Bhutan and wherever the Lord may send them.
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