Leaving Home to Go Home

It's hard to believe, but our first term is rapidly nearing completion. Kristi, Nate, Abby and I are scheduled to depart from Kathmandu on August 7 - less than 10 days from today. We are knee-deep in boxes and trunks at the moment, as we try to get everything ready to be stored for the coming year of itineration. After a one-week stay in Bangkok, Thailand for medical exams and check-ups, we will arrive in Birmingham, AL on Monday evening, August 14.

We are certainly excited to be heading home - Nate and Abby are ready to see their grandparents and get into all sorts of trouble with their cousins. But at the same time, we are not ready to leave our new home here in Nepal. After the initial period of adjustment to the language and culture of this remote Himalayan kingdom, we have settled in to a great life of ministry here. It is hard to leave so many close friends, and to let go of ministries with which we have been closely involved. Please pray with us that our time of itineration will pass quickly and successfully, so that we can return to Nepal by as soon as next fall!

We are looking forward to seeing many of you - friends and family members - very soon! If you are a pastor, and would like to schedule us for a service this fall or in 2007, please e-mail us at envisionnepal@pactec.net. Blessings!

The Joys of Traveling in Monsoon Season

Traveling during the rainy season in Nepal is always a risky proposition, and I learned that lesson again this past week during a trip to Jiri, a small town located northeast of Kathmandu that used to serve as the first stop for trekkers on their way to Everest Base Camp. The seven-hour journey to Jiri passed without incident; however the trip back was another story. The night before, a large landslide had occurred just west of Charikot, and a large boulder had been deposited in the road, along with a huge mound of mud and debris. Fortunately, an intrepid Nepali engineer had been working with a bulldozer since early in the morning to clear a lane past the rock and over the mud. After waiting for about an hour, I was able to get my STL Kia up and over the obstacles - much to the elation of my colleagues, who were not enthused about the possibility of spending the night in a village "hotel." With the landslide behind us, we made our way home to Kathmandu, arriving around 9:00 pm that evening.

Our trip to Jiri was memorable for more reasons than the mere crossing of landslides, however. We had been invited by some friends there to attend the dedication of a new church building. The dedication service and fellowship with local believers was a source of great joy, in spite of the constant drizzle of rain. It was encouraging to see what God is doing in this part of Nepal. Our prayer and hope is that this new building will be a blessing to all of the congregations in that region - that it will serve not only as a sanctuary for the local church in Jiri, but also as a venue for training and special meetings for all of the churches in that region. On behalf of the believers in Jiri and the AG of Nepal, we would like to express our special thanks to Pastor Todd and the congregation in Franklin, TN for helping this project in Jiri become a reality.

Bicycles and Boat Rides

I recently spent four days travelling in west Nepal, where I was able to meet with several pastors and visit several of our churches in that area. On Wednesday, July 12, I was able to make the 9-hour drive from Kathmandu to Nepalganj. Using the hotel there as a base, I visited Tulsipur, Tikapur and Pahalwan over the next three days. At each stop along the way I was able to meet with dozens of pastors, attend the dedication service for one new building, and witness a revival that is happening in one of the most remote jungle churches in our fellowship. In the tiny jungle village of Pahalwan, over 200 believers meet every week - and their number is growing rapidly. It is amazing to witness what God is doing there. The village is so remote that we had to drive on a dirt road for nearly an hour, then ride bicycles through the jungle for about 2 kilometers, cross a river in a rickety wooden boat, and then hike for another 10 minutes just to get there! And yet, in that remote place just a few kilometers from the border with India, the pastor and his congregation are making plans to construct a new building that will seat over 1,000! With a heart full of excitement and praise to God, I returned to Kathmandu on Sunday, July 16.

This trip was my last chance to visit west Nepal during this term, as we are scheduled to leave next month (August 7) for a one-year furlough. I am looking foward, however, to seeing more revivals and amazing growth in these areas when we return to Nepal next year.