Journey to Daduwa: The Long Way Home

After a 3.5-hour hike down the mountain from Daduwa to the valley below, I paused with Rae and Raju to reflect on all of the goals that we had accomplished on our "Journey to Daduwa."  In spite of the long trekking hours, the leeches, and many other obstacles, it was a very successful trip.

Although this particular "Journey to Daduwa" has come to an end, our work among the Gurung people of the Lamjung district is far from complete.  We have pledged, with God's help, to work alongside Raju until there is a growing and vibrant community of Jesus-followers established among them.  We are thankful for each one of you that shares in this journey with us.   Please continue to pray with us that God will move in the hearts of the people of Daduwa!

P.S.  - Due to a glitch on the mini-DV tape, the first few seconds of this blog entry wasn't usable.  My apologies!

Journey to Daduwa: Leeches!

Not much else to say here - if you walk through the jungle in rainy season, leeches are just part of the deal. At least Rae had to deal with the biggest one.   We encountered these little hitchhikers on a 3-hour trek to one of the outlying villages of Daduwa.  We visited one of the larger schools in the area to see about the possibility of conducting a community project there in the future.  This all-day excursion was a success - in spite of the leeches!

Journey to Daduwa: Raju's Heart for his People

For this visit to the village of Daduwa, Rae, Raju and I had several ministry goals.  One was to follow-up with the leaders of the village regarding the medical camp that we conducted there earlier in the year in partnership with Health Care Ministries.  Secondly, we wanted to spend time with a friend, who just happens to be the only believer in the entire village area.  Both he and his wife are in desperate need of discipleship and encouragement in the face of tough opposition.  Lastly, we wanted to continue to build relationships with other villagers and look for opportunities to share the Good News with them.

Obviously, we weren't interested in having the cameras rolling when we were engaged in ministry.  However, we did pause briefly to allow Raju to share his heart for Daduwa and the Gurung people.  This village complex, consisting of 9 distinct clusters totaling more than 500 houses, is Raju's home.  These are his friends and neighbors.  He wants nothing more than to give them an opportunity to hear about the Truth that has changed his life and can change theirs as well.  Take a moment and listen to the heart of a Nepali pastor.  Consider the challenges he is up against.  Pray about how you can help.

Journey to Daduwa: You sent us here!

Finally, after 8.5 hours of trekking - the last 4 steeply uphill - Rae, Raju, and I arrived in Daduwa.  We left Pokhara around 9 in the morning, but by the time we reached our destination, it is well after dark.  Rae and I took a few moments to shoot this video update while waiting to sip some warm milk tea on the porch of a village hut.  Having reached the place where we'll be ministering for the next several days, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank those of you who make trips such as this one possible.  We didn't travel to Daduwa on our own - we were there because you sent us!  We are deeply grateful for the prayers and contributions of many friends, family and church members who make our ministry possible.

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Journey to Daduwa: Raju's take

So apparently, not long after setting out on the climb into Daduwa, Raju got ahold of the video camera and took a few seconds of footage of me and Rae hiking along the well-worn jungle path.  The difference between our perception and Raju's perception?  According to him, this is the "little easy part."  :)

Journey to Daduwa: Climb Time!

After taking a lunch break in Ram Bazaar, we're ready to hit the trail again.  What lies in front of us?  Just a 3-4 hour climb up to the village of Daduwa.  Refreshed and rested after a full morning of hiking, we're ready to get moving up the hill.

Journey to Daduwa: Lunch Time!

After a one-hour bus ride and a four-hour hike, we have reached the river that flows past the little village of Ram Bazaar, which lies in a valley that marks the start of the 4-hour climb up to our final destination.  Before we embark on the final push up the hill to Daduwa, Rae, Raju and I have a chance to get off of our feet and refresh ourselves with a good lunch of rice, lentils and curried vegetables.  The river that we crossed in 2 trucks about 8 months ago (taking a team from Health Care Ministries to Daduwa for a 5-day medical camp) is now swollen with run-off from the late summer rains.  At that time, the water was clear; but in this clip you'll see that it's a muddy brown due to the large amounts of silt being carried with it down the valley.

Journey to Daduwa: When it Rains, it Pours!

In our last blog entry, we took a moment to show one of the first mudslides that had blocked the road to Daduwa.  As we continued to walk, Raju, Rae and I were impressed by the sheer number of mudslides that we encountered.  After less than two hours of walking, we had counted 21 mudslides that either partially or fully obstructed the road.  By the time we reached Ram Bazaar for lunch, we had passed nearly 40 mudslides in all.  In Nepal, "when it rains, it pours."

Imagine the challenge of clearing 30+ road blockages, just to re-open a road so that your family can travel to the nearest city.  Now imagine clearing that road every year after the annual rainy season ends.  This is a great illustration of the endless cycle of "progresslessness" that most Nepalis cannot avoid.  In spite of their hard work and willingness to sacrifice, it must seem to them as if fate has conspired against them.  It's no wonder why so many of them are overjoyed when they hear about the Hope that is found in Christ!

Journey to Daduwa: Rainy Season brings Obstacles

In this second installment of our 10-part series, "Journey to Daduwa," we get a chance to show you the reason why we're walking to Daduwa, instead of being able to ride the bus.  Rainy season in Nepal generally lasts from June to September, and the consistent rains cause all kinds of problems for villagers that live in mountainous areas.  Hundreds die each year in mudslides and flooding, and beyond that the the lives of thousands more are adversely affected by blockages to roads and trails which essentially cut them off from food, supplies, medical services, and other needs located miles away in larger population centers.  Life in Nepal is a constant struggle to overcome obstacles, and these mudslides are just one very tangible example of that struggle.

Journey to Daduwa: Where the Road Ends, the Adventure Begins!

When I was young, I loved to read stories about men and women who left the safety and comfort of their homes in exchange for the jungles of exotic, far-away lands.  Books that told the stories of great men such as David Brainerd, Hudson Taylor, Victor Plymire, Jim Elliot and Nate Saint were among my favorites.  Their undaunted courage and perseverance in the face of great hardships still inspires me today as my family and I live out our dreams of adventure here in Nepal.  What an awesome privilege it is to fulfill Isaiah 52:7 - in a very literal sense - as we work among villagers who until now have only known the ancient traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism, Shamanism and other animistic beliefs.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to wander through the jungles of a remote, exotic land to share the love of Jesus with a tribe of people who have never heard?  If so, I want to invite you to join me, and my friends Raju and Rae, on a journey to the village of Daduwa in the Lamjung district of north central Nepal.  In this 10-part series, we want to give you a glimpse of what it is like to travel to a remote village in the mountains of Nepal.  We hope that you will start to understand what it's going to take to reach the least-reached of this nation.  Come along with us, and enjoy the adventure!

This first blog was filmed at the "end of the road," just a couple of hours after we left Pokhara.  Normally, the road would take us all the way to the village, but since this was rainy season, the road was washed out and most of the ground had to be covered on foot.   But, as you'll see in the coming days, where the road ends, the adventure begins!