Below are the journal entries of one of our team members, Parker Wayland.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
We’re in the air near the International Date Line just south of the Aleutian Islands on Singapore Air Flight 11 bound for Tokyo where we will have a 1-hour layover. Then it’s on to Singapore where we’ll change planes for the flight to Kathmandu, Nepal. This flight is 10 hr 40 min from Los Angeles to Tokyo, and it will be another 8+ hours to Singapore.
The flight to Los Angeles went very comfortably. There was a delay in getting my shuttle to the Best Western South Bay Motel in LA, but everyone was there OK, except Kim and Pam Lipka who came this morning. Aggravation – In my rushed packing yesterday I forgot to pack the underwear and socks. Fortunately I was able to buy replacements at a CVS drug store near the motel.
We had our first Team Meeting at the motel. Rich Fetzer has a compact electric piano – a flat plastic keyboard that lies out on a board and plays through a small sound unit. We sang hymns and praise songs – a good start for our mission.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
I’m writing this at the Goshen Guest House in Kathmandu, Nepal. We arrived in Kathmandu yesterday at about 11:30AM local time. Singapore had an inexpensive in-airport motel where we were able to get 4-6 hrs sleep and then fly from Singapore to Kathmandu in about 4 ½ hrs. I was fortunate to have 2 empty seats beside me from LAX to SIN, so I was able to lie down and get some pretty good sleep. After last night’s sleep I’m in good shape.
We were met at the airport by Dr. Steve Thorson and his wife Rebecca. We drove to our quarters at the Goshen Guest House in the Patan section of Kathmandu. It is somewhat rustic but functional. I’m rooming with Jim Ball.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Saturday is the weekly day of rest in Nepal, like Sunday at home. I’ve had no chance to journal this week and only 10 minutes now.
Wednesday we had a shopping day in the Thamel area – full of shops – especially tourist-oriented places. It was a lot more time than I wanted to spend, but I did get postcards for Elise and a couple scarves for Betsy. We ate at restaurants that offered both Nepali and western fare. One place we had MoMo, pasta packages filled with cheese, buff (water buffalo), or chicken. Buff is to Nepal what beef is to America.
It has been a long time (months) since they have had any rain here in Kathmandu and everything is covered with dust. Many of the streets are virtually dirt roads – they were once paved, but badly deteriorated. It is a big city, population well over a million, and is made up of a complex network of streets that run every which way within an outer rung and a bisecting N-S main street. There are virtually NO traffic lights, but the traffic moves surprisingly well through triangle and circle intersections. Drivers are semi-aggressive. They push in, little by little, until they have position to go on through. They stop short of hitting someone, seemingly miraculously. The traffic just sort of oozes along at a surprisingly rapid rate.
Monday, March 16, 2009
I’ve had virtually no time to write, so I’ll start with a brief summary of what we’ve been doing:
• Wednesday, 3/11: Changed money in AM; Lunch with Pastor Devi Bhujel, the D.S. of the UMC in Nepal; PM – Shopping in the Thamel district.
• Thursday, 3/12: Began the LISS at the Methodist Center in Kathmandu.
• Friday, 3/13: Continued the LISS, AM & PM
• Saturday, 3/14: Morning Worship at the Methodist Center. Continued and finished the LISS in the afternoon.
• Sunday, 3/15: Steve took us on a tour of Buddhist and Hindu temples. Late afternoon drove to Nagarkot, a favorite place for viewing the Himalayas at sunrise.
• Monday, 3/16: Arose early for the viewing. Returned to Kathmandu. The rest of the team is taking a walking tour of downtown Kathmandu as I stay at the Goshen House to catch up on this journal and to prepare my talk for the LTUTP seminar later this week in east Nepal.
It seemed to take forever to change our US dollars to Nepali Rupees. There were several forms to fill out, including one to record all the serial numbers of bills $100 and larger.
Rev. Devi Bhujel is the District Superintendent for all UM churches in Nepal – about 35 now. He serves under a UM Bishop in the Philippines and draws his support from the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) in the U.S. (The GBGM also paid for the translation and printing of the LISS and LTUTP participant’s manuals we use here.) Rev. Devi has things well organized for the Seminar.
We were told of some difficulties for the LTUTP scheduled for the Bhadrapur area in east Nepal next week. It seems the airstrip in Bhadrapur is undergoing repairs and is not in service. We will have to fly into Biratnagar, about 60-80 km west. However, there is political strife in the region and vehicles are not being permitted to use the highways – bhands attack and destroy the vehicles that try. We believe the Lord has sent us here to do this ministry, and we are praying that He will make a way.
Wednesday afternoon we went to Thamel (“h” is silent in Nepali) for shopping. Thamel is a crowded, twisty network of streets and alleys lined with shops and hawker tables with every kind of tourist trinket, clothing, art, restaurant, etc. you can imagine. I really wasn’t interested in that stuff, but did buy a couple shawls/scarves for Betsy and some postcards for Elise. The team spent 3 or 4 hours there.
Thursday 3/12 we began the LISS about 1 PM. There were about 30 men on the men’s side and about 40 women on the women’s side. Their own Worship Leader, Kumar, led songs on guitar and was eventually joined by a drummer. His voice was strong, although perhaps a bit off-key, but the worship was enthusiastic. Audrey Newton led off the seminar with her “Spirit of Worship” talk. Ted Newton followed with an energetic presentation of the “Seven Hebrew Praise Words” which really got the crown into it.
Most of the interpretation was done by Rev. Ganesh Maharjan, a man seminary trained in India who consistently presented our words clearly and energetically, as if he were preaching. He was literally a Godsend.
We closed at 5:30 PM. They had our evening meal ready in the Conference Room on the 5th floor. It consisted of white rice, dal (a lentil and bean soup), boiled vegetables and chicken. It is not safe to eat any kind of fresh vegetable here due to the human pollution in the water.
Kathmandu, and I guess all of Nepal, is on a power-shedding program. At any given place the power is on for 8 hours/day on a rotating 4-hour schedule. Now, in our area, power is on from 4-8 AM and 4-8 PM. Se we go to bed early and get up early. I go to bed by 9, get up about 5 AM, shower, have breakfast of egg and toast or cereal, and am ready for Team Meeting by 8 AM.
On Friday, 3/13, the LISS resumed at 9 AM. The talks went well. The people were all seated on the floor with their Bibles and Manuals spread out before them. There was a little distraction from children going around, but basically they were very attentive and studious. My turn came in the late morning when I spoke on the “Spirit of Power”. I felt Led to lead them in a prayer of deliverance afterward. This went OK, but there was a much more powerful experience led by Kim Bright on Saturday afternoon. (More on that when I get to it.)
Steve and Becky have been such great hosts! They are college classmates of Frank Billman from Houghton College and they are just going all-out for us. Since they’ve been missionaries here in Nepal for over 35 years, they know the ropes. Steve is a ½-time Pediatrician at the Patan Hospital here, too.
Saturday morning was the regular weekly worship service at the Methodist Center. Pastor Devi led the service, and Frank preached on the passage in Luke about how the potter shapes and makes the vessel for his own purposes and fills that vessel with what he wants. [God is the Potter, makes us for His work, and fills us with His Spirit and His Gifts to accomplish His purposes.] Pam and Sue did children’s ministry with about 25 children. We had all brought some craft supplies for the children.
The LISS resumed in the afternoon and again went well. We didn’t lose many, if any, participants. On Saturday we led them in a prayer for baptism in the Holy Spirit and covered all the material except
CAUTION: SOME MATERIAL BEYOND THIS POINT IS NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN.
Kingdom Encounters. That was the subject of teaching and ministry this afternoon. Frank did the teaching on Kingdom Encounters – the healings and miracles done through the Apostles in the book of Acts and then led everyone who needed a healing in a group prayer. After this had gone on for a little while, Kim Bright got up and boldly addressed the crowd. She said she knew there were some in the crowd who had been worshiping other gods and idols, and had not repented of it. She served notice that God would NOT do anything for a person clinging to another god and that they should come to the altar and repent before God. She knew there were some who needed to do this, and she wasn’t going to move from that spot until they came!
First one, then another, and then a whole flood of people descended on the altar. Someone said later that even Pastor Devi looked surprised at the large group of people on their knees at the altar. Jesus and the angels rejoiced……
We then had a time of Prayer Team ministry for individuals. Jim Ball and I paired up with Ganesh interpreting. It was a long time. Most, if not all, came for prayer. And it was a fitting climax to what I believe was a very powerful LISS. Christians are a tiny minority here in Nepal, but they are God’s people – people of the light – and the light of Christ is shining in this dark place.
Sunday was a day of visiting Buddhist and Hindu temples. First we visited Svayambhu Mahachaitya, a Buddhist temple area. They don’t just have one idol or place to worship, but many – each with its own god and legend. Some are good, and some are evil, but all are to be honored, feared and appeased. At the approaches there are vendors selling all sorts of things to offer as sacrifices – flowers, cloth, candles, food, etc.
The Buddhist temples have a multi-sided base with stations where idols of various gods can be worshiped. Above the base is a flattened hemisphere shape, solid, (called a “stupa”) upon which sits a square box with a pair of eyes and an OM symbol facing each direction. This symbolizes the gods constantly watching everything you do. Above that are 13 rings, or umbrellas, that represent the 13 stages to heaven. At the top is an ornate cupola representing heaven.
This whole thing is based on keeping the people in bondage to fear. For example, at the second Buddhist temple we visited, several Buddhist monks were in a little chamber offering sacrifices and singing songs to an idol of the god Majhyazima. This idol was depicted with a young child on its lap from which it was sucking the blood. Some of the child’s entrails were dangling from its mouth.
Lastly we visited the Hindu Pashupati temple area. There were funerals in progress as we approached. A small river, the Bagmati River, runs by, greatly diminished since they have had no rain here for 8 months. At the edge of the river are several platforms for funeral pyres. Several bodies were being burned. When burning is completed, everything is pushed into the river. [Steve says that this practice is one source of violence against Christians. Somehow it can be very threatening to the Hindu for the Christian to refuse this cremation procedure.]
Up the hill from the river were a series of pagoda-like shrines for individual worship and sacrifice. Outside each entrance was a bull, the animal the Shiva rides. Inside, in the center, was a sculpture shaped representing a phallus in a vagina. These were covered with red and yellow powders and other sacrificial materials left there. “The temple of Pashupatinath is located on the western bank of the Bagmati River. In its sanctum is the Jyotirlinga (believed to have self-appeared), the like of which is not found existent anywhere else in the world. It is believed that Pashupatinath is the Lord of the entire living beings and the source of eternal bliss and peace. (The Jyotirlinga) is a phallic idol, the symbol of Pashupatinath which has four images carved on its four sides.” [The quotes are from the Governing Council’s brochure on the site.]
Sunday evening we drove about 20 km east of Kathmandu and up about 3000 ft to Nagarkot. This area is high enough and positioned so one can get a beautiful view of the Himalayas at sunrise, when the weather is clear. We stayed overnight at a very nice hotel there and got up for the 6:15 AM sunrise. Unfortunately the weather was not clear. There was fog. You could make out buildings in a village immediately below, but could see nothing of the Himalayas. Ah well! We had a good time, even though the rides up and down the mountains on a narrow road full of switchbacks kept the adrenaline flowing.
This morning we drove back to Kathmandu and had lunch at the “Higher Ground Café” near Goshen House. The rest of the team is on a walking tour of downtown Kathmandu, but I’ve chosen to take the afternoon off for rest and to catch up on this journal. I’ll meet the team near Steve and Becky’s apartment at 6 PM. We’re all invited for tea and cake at their place, and we’ll hear more detail about their ministry here.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
We were off at 8 AM this morning to go to a special Hindu temple area up in the mountains. It is called Dakshin Kali, or South Kali. Kali is one of Shiva’s wives and is the goddess of death. She gets a lot of attention from the Hindu believers, although this shrine is not a tourist attraction. The priest is there on Tuesdays and Saturdays to perform the animal sacrifices. The walkway from the parking lot to the shrine was lined with merchants selling all kinds of things for offerings and sacrifices to Kali. Flowers, fruit, incense, chickens and roosters, and on and on. At the shrine the people were all lined up to go into the enclosure where the idol actually was. There was a canopy over the area supported by four brass serpents. To one side was a group of four slanted (for drainage) tables where the priest was. A person would give him the animal; he would kill it and then give the carcass back to the person. There was a crowd right in front of the idol as they presented their offerings. All very dark. No one wants the goddess of death to become unhappy with them.
On the way back we stopped at a Christian boutique run by the Nepal Leprosy Foundation to benefit their program of support. To support them I bought fourteen 7”x14” floral boutiques and a couple of larger ones with doves. This afternoon we are packing and preparing for the LTUTP in east Nepal – we fly tomorrow.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
We learned this morning that a 2-day strike has been called in the Joppa area of east Nepal where the LTUTP was scheduled. Pastor Devi is in east Nepal working out the alternative plans. As we prayed this morning, we acknowledged that God is in charge of all this and we will simply go where He leads.
We arrived at the domestic airport at 11 AM for our 12:15 PM flight to Biratnagar. As we were checking in, Buddha Air rescheduled us on an earlier flight. The one we had scheduled might not fly today. (I believe they decided to fly one full plane rather that two half-full.) The flight actually left about 12 noon and we were in Biratnagar before 1 PM. I had hoped that we could get a good view of the Himalayas, including Mt. Everest, as we flew eastward just south of them, but it was cloudy, even at 30,000 ft., and we couldn’t see anything.
Everything came through to Biratnagar smoothly, and Pastor Devi was there at the airport to meet us with a couple of vans. He took us to the Hotel Eastern Star in Biratnagar, a very nice hotel with hot water and maybe air conditioning. It is noticeably hotter here at this lower elevation. We’re just a few miles from the Indian border. I’m rooming with Jim Ball again. The LTUTP has been relocated to a church near here. We will be staying in the Eastern Star and driving to the seminar each day.
Friday, March 20, 2009
It is late and I can’t write for long, but this LTUTP has been so wonderful and amazing that I just must get something down.
It is being held at the Tanmuna United Methodist Church – way out in the beautiful farmland north of Biratnagar. It is a primitive village of thatched roofs and a mixture of cement and bamboo-mud houses. Everything is so neat and clean! Pastor Devi says this is the first UM church established in Nepal. It is obviously God’s will that our seminar be held in this very remote village because all other possible locations were denied to us by strikes and demonstrations.
There have been around 70-80 participants at each meeting – 45 women and 25-35 men. They are ardent worshipers and attentive students. Many are young people – teens and twenties, but there are also older generations. Early in the seminar Frank asked for testimonials from believers who were formerly Hindu and then from former Buddhists. The former Hindu said he was Christian because Jesus answered his prayers while the Hindu gods didn’t. He was completely paralyzed, but when he prayed to Jesus, he was healed! The former Buddhist was not involved in a miraculous healing, but she said she was getting nothing from Buddhism. When she prayed, there was no answer. It was all just give and do, with no response or results. In Jesus she finds peace, answers to prayer, blessings and joy. (This was Binu Magar, of whom I will write more later.)
Sunday, March 22, 2009
The LTUTP is over now and I’m back at Goshen House in Kathmandu. We flew back from Biratnagar this morning on Buddha Airlines. There had been a little rain, but there were still too many clouds for us to see the mountains.
The LTUTP seminar was just the right thing for these people. You don’t have to be able to read or write in order to pray. (Most could read and write, although some could not.) After introductions, we looked at Jesus’ prayer life. What, Why, Where, When did Jesus pray? I spoke on “When did Jesus pray?” After each talk we would have some sort of interaction, often a breakout into groups of 10 or 12 to discuss questions about the topic. Several pastors were present, and they spread out to help lead each group. There were more women than men, but the groups mixed. I think that is a good thing in this culture that usually keeps the two separate.
After the talks on Jesus’ prayer life we covered tools for better prayer, such as fasting, praying the Scriptures, listening, praying the names of God, etc. Then the teachings addressed obstacles to intimacy with God and how to break down these barriers. The seminar took Thursday afternoon, all day Friday, and Saturday afternoon after the weekly worship services on Saturday morning.
Our main interpreter from Kathmandu, Rev. Jeewan Lama, did the whole jog for this seminar, and he did it very well. He interpreted like he was preaching himself. You could tell he was adding quite a bit to what was said, but Rev. Devi and others confirmed that what he was adding was good and helpful.
I brought a Bible to give to an appropriate person as a gift. I asked Pastor Devi who I should give it to, and he said “It should be a woman. I’ll let you know.” I had noticed a young woman in the crowd who seemed to be much more active and energetic that the rest – always doing something for someone. Later, she came up to me and said, “Pastor Devi says you have something for me.” Her name was Binu Thapa Magar. She is a student in some theological program and a member of Biratnagar UMC. Very bright and talented, it seems Pastor Devi has also noticed her. Later, Jeewan explained to me that in Nepali culture, it is disrespectful to call someone older or younger by their name. It is a mark of respect to call them brother or father or son or daughter. So I call Binu daughter. She has my e-mail address, and I hope she uses it. I’m interested to follow her career.
There was a lot of joy. Numerous groups of 2 or 3 or 4, and a few solos, would get up and sing a “special music”. The people loved it, and you could tell the performers were real buddies. Like, “It’s what we do!” At one point Binu got up and did a graceful liturgical dance.
The food support was a major operation. A crew of both men and women worked over two fire pits behind the church to feed all the people. Big pots, 2½-3 ft. diameter, were used to cook rice, pork, chicken, cabbage, dal and other dishes. It reminded me very much of the operation I saw in Orissa State, India when I went there with LeeAnn and Lori in 1999. It was all very good, and I don’t think any of our team got sick.
Saturday morning a few more pastors came from far eastern Nepal where the strikes had shut things down and prevented us from going. The pastor from Devi’s hometown, where he had originally planned to take us, had to leave about 3 AM and come by motorcycle to participate in the day’s activities. He also brought the LTUTP banner which had been prepared, and even had the location changed on it to Tanmuna UMC. Frank was able to get that banner after the seminar to take back to ARM HQ.
At Saturday morning’s worship service at Tanmuna UMC, Pastor Devi asked for testimonials: Here they are:
• A woman’s epileptic daughter was healed after she was prayed for in Jesus’ name.
• A young woman had cancer on her right leg and was healed after prayer in Jesus’ name. She is a Christian now.
• A pastor’s faith and strength was renewed by the seminar.
• A paralyzed man saw the “Jesus” film and believed. He was healed.
• A woman’s son was mad. They prayed for him in Jesus’ name and he was restored to his right mind. He has a job now.
• A man who made Buddhist idols for a living received Jesus and was saved.
• A Hindu Priest left that role for Jesus.
Earlier in one of my talks I began by telling of my practice in African crusades of beginning by introducing the real God. I usually described Him as the God who created. But here in Nepal I have learned to also introduce Him as
The God who hears you
The God who answers you
The God who heals you
The God who loves you
And on and on……
Monday is basically a day off before we leave Tuesday to return to the U.S. I should summarize some impressions from this trip:
• The UMC in Nepal is strong and a growing light for Christ in a very dark culture. God is obviously moving here. The Christians are noticeably joyful and enthusiastic.
• Pastor Devi is a very able pastor and leader. As the only Elder in the Nepal Missionary Conference he has a lot on his shoulders, but God is in this, and blessings and growth will continue.
• Kathmandu is crowded and a rather dirty city. But they do work at bettering themselves and the city. The countryside is a different matter. The farms outside Biratnagar were models of how a primitive farm should look and operate. From the extensive terraces we saw from the air, I’d expect model performance there too. Nepalis are hard working!
• I believe we’ve completed our mission well. The needs are great, but the Gospel is loose in Nepal and it will never go back.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009 – on the plane going home.
I’ve learned so much about Hinduism and Buddhism, yet my understanding of these religions is so top-level that I certainly can’t claim to “feel” them. In fact I don’t want or intend to feel them, but only be able to empathize with people caught in them. Becky Thorson said you can’t deal with a Hindu or Buddhist on an intellectual level, but only on a heart level – to love them and simply share the Good News of Jesus’ love and power with them.
So what have I learned about these ancient religions? I knew beforehand that they were based on fanciful (untrue) myths about each god, and that idols of these gods are worshiped with many sacrifices and offerings. The Buddha was a real person, Siddartha Gautam, 560-480 BCE, who is believed to have achieved “enlightenment”. Both religions believe in a long series of reincarnations, with the conditions of the current life, the “karma” or fate, fixed, based on the merit performed in previous lives. Thus the current life is an opportunity to improve one’s karma for the next life.
I’ve learned that these performance-based religions make the meritorious actions of a person very much a self-serving way of life. The good they do, if any, is done in order to improve their karma in the next life. It is not at all related to love. In fact the gods they worship are incapable of love or anything else a Christian would call “good”. [Although the idols themselves are nothing more than pieces of wood, stone or metal, any spiritual entities behind them are NOT of God. They are therefore Satanic, demonic, and have only those characteristics and powers.]
Some of these gods are overtly evil, such as Kali and the goddess Majhyazima we encountered at the Bouddhanath stupa. The believers are forced (by their belief) to worship and appease these gods as well as those with a more benign reputation. They must do so out of fear – fear for both the wrath of the god in this life and the damage to their karma.
This leaves the Hindu or Buddhist believer in a terrible state! Their karma is fixed for this life and there is no escape. There are rules and requirements of many gods whom they must keep appeased. They are slaves in their own skin and there is no escape. When they pray, there is no actual god to hear them and answer their prayer. There is no hope.
All I can do is agree with Paul in shouting, “Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (I Cor. 15:57)
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Miscellaneous Photos
Here's some I couldn't decide where to put! There's the team (along with Steve and Becky Thorson), views from the plane ride between Kathmandu and Biratnagar, etc. If you click on the photo itself it will take you to the photo-sharing website where you can read the captions better.
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Nagarkot
There are some photos of the view on the ride to Nagarkot, the area there and the sunrise. It was still much too hazy to see the mountains although we kept thinking we were seeing some! (I think it was just clouds giving the illusion of the mountains!). If you click on the photo itself it will take you to the photo-sharing website where you can read the captions better.
We stayed at the Country Villa Inn. One building housed the lobby and dining room and the other had the rooms. Some had private balconies and some shared one for the whole floor. The rooms were nice but the beds were HARD! Food was good - it was a buffet for both dinner and breakfast the next day. Coming here was a nice break and gave us an opportunity to relax between the two events and tours.
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We stayed at the Country Villa Inn. One building housed the lobby and dining room and the other had the rooms. Some had private balconies and some shared one for the whole floor. The rooms were nice but the beds were HARD! Food was good - it was a buffet for both dinner and breakfast the next day. Coming here was a nice break and gave us an opportunity to relax between the two events and tours.
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Kathmandu Temple Tour
Steve took us on a walking tour of temples in Kathmandu. This is a collection of photos from that tour. If you click on the photo itself it will take you to the photo-sharing website where you can read the captions better.
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Dakshinkali
The temple of Dakshinkali is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali and is one of the most popular places of worship in Kathmandu. Located 22 km from the city center on the southern rim of the valley past Pharping village, the shrine is especially crowded on Tuesdays and Saturdays when animal sacrifices are offered to the deity. According to a mythology the Goddess Durga has killed the demon and drank the blood of animals. This is the reason blood is scarified to her. The temple was built by Pratap Malla during 17th century. Hindus bring (or buy) their scacrifices here. They kill and let out the blood at the site then many take the animal to the picnic site and have a family picnic. I prefer our potlucks! We visited on a Tuesday so saw sacrifices although I didn't seem to capture them well with my camera. I may've been too busy watching others and trying to figure out the best angle since it was very crowded. There was a goat sacrifice and I caught a part of a chicken sacrifice. It was not a pleasant place (smelled horrible too) and just emphasized the darkness surrounding this religion. It also made me think of Old Testament sacrifices and wondered if the Temple then would've looked similar?? Praise God we're covered by the final sacrifice of the blood of Jesus, the Lamb who was slain!
If you click on the photo itself it will take you to the photo-sharing website where you can read the captions better.
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If you click on the photo itself it will take you to the photo-sharing website where you can read the captions better.
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Hindu Temple Tour - Pashupatinath
This is a sacred Hindu temple site that is closed to ALL non-Hindus. The Bhagmati River runs through the site and is the location of many cremations. There was one just beginning when we arrived. There are also "holy men" all around the site. They do not work, do not cut their hair and live on the streets existing on hand-outs from others. If you click on the photo itself it will take you to the photo-sharing website where you can read the captions better.
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Boudhanath Temple Tour
This is the second large Buddhist temple we visited while in Kathmandu. There was a funeral procession while we were on the terrace of a restaurant that I was able to get some photos of. The stupa was surrounded by stores selling all kinds of items - souvenirs, cloths, food, etc. If you click on the photo itself it will take you to the photo-sharing website where you can read the captions better.
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Swayambhunath Temple Tour
The following are pictures from the tour of the Buddhist temple, Swayambhunath. There are 365 steps up to the site where the temple is located. We drove to another entrance point and then walked DOWN the steps. There are also Hindu shrines located on this site. Buddhists climb the steps, feeling they earn merit for doing so. If you click on the photo itself it will take you to the photo-sharing website where you can read the captions better.
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Thursday, March 26, 2009
Biratnagar Scenes
We flew on Buddha Air to Biratnagar for the Lord, Teach Us to Pray seminar. There are some scenes from Biratnagar. The more rural photos are from Sunsari, where the event was actually held. Some were taken as our van quickly navigated the rough road to Sunsari. If you click on the photo itself it will take you to the photo-sharing website where you can read the captions better.
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Kathmandu Scenes
Here are photos of assorted scenes in and around Kathmandu. There are some of the people, bazaars, scenery, etc here. If you click on the photo itself it will take you to the photo-sharing website where you can read the captions better.
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Faces from LTUTP
Here are the faces of those attending the LTUTP. These are the Nepalis you were lifting in prayer! Praise God!! If you click on the photo itself it will take you to the photo-sharing website where you can read the captions better.
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Faces of Kathmandu LISS
Here are some shots of the people at the LISS in Kathmandu - there are children and adults. I thought you'd like to see who you were praying for! If you click on the photo itself it will take you to the photo-sharing website where you can read the captions better.
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Worship & Children's Class at LTUTP Saturday, March 21st (If you click on the photo itself it will take you to the photo-sharing website where you can read the captions better):
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LTUTP Photos
Here are some photos from the Lord, Teach Us To Pray at the Tanmuna UMC, Sunsari, Nepal: (If you click on the photo itself it will take you to the photo-sharing website where you can read the captions better.)
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Saturday Worship in Kathmandu
Below are some photos of the Nepali worship service on Saturday, March 14th. If you click on the photo itself it will take you to the photo-sharing website where you can read the captions better.
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LISS Photos
Here's a slide show of photos from the Life in the Spirit Seminar in Kathmandu, Nepal. If you click on the photo itself it will take you to the photo-sharing website where you can read the captions better.
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Tuesday, March 24, 2009
On our Way HOME!
We're at Singapore Airport now. Since Singapore changed our return flight they put us up in a hotel for the night here. So we checked into our rooms and went to find supper. We ate at SUBWAY!! Woo Hoo!! LOL!!
In the morning we may go to Starbucks for muffins and drinks OR there is a Burger King somewhere here too.
Since I had so much trouble trying to upload photos in Nepal, I will be uploading a LOT of them once I'm back in the States so check back for a photo journal of the trip!
We can't wait to see our family and friends and sleep in our own beds BUT God was so good on this trip. The testimonies of the Nepalis were truly a blessing and inspiration to us all!
Continue to pray for Pam as it seems she is not feeling well again. Thank you for all your prayers for the whole team!
In the morning we may go to Starbucks for muffins and drinks OR there is a Burger King somewhere here too.
Since I had so much trouble trying to upload photos in Nepal, I will be uploading a LOT of them once I'm back in the States so check back for a photo journal of the trip!
We can't wait to see our family and friends and sleep in our own beds BUT God was so good on this trip. The testimonies of the Nepalis were truly a blessing and inspiration to us all!
Continue to pray for Pam as it seems she is not feeling well again. Thank you for all your prayers for the whole team!
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Back From LTUTP
I'm leaving out a lot of details due to time constraints but wanted you to know we are all safe and healthy today!
Sorry we were out of communication but we had no Internet connection during the LTUTP. Wednesday we flew to Biratnagar and expected to drive 2 1/2 hours to East Nepal but drove only about 20 minutes to the "Hotel Eastern Star". Pastor Devi informed us that the road strike was on again and that two had been killed during them. So he arranged (at the last minute) for us to do the LTUTP in the Tanmunna UMC in Sunsari, the First UMC in Nepal. This was about 30-40 minutes outside Biratnagar (the second largest city in Nepal). We passed through a few smaller towns then turned on a dirt road - then another dirt road and another and maybe another (I don't recall!). This church was really rural! The homes were thatch roofed with bamboo siding mostly.
We began the LTUTP at 1pm with worship led by the local guitarist, 3 connected drums (link congas?) and a traditional Nepali drum along with numerous tambourine-type instruments. In the middle of worship Pam and Peggi passed out the streamers for them to use and they used them enthusiastically - from the little children to an elderly woman. A highlight of the first day was when Frank gave the talk "Christian Prayer Is . . ." and asked someone who was formerly Hindu to share what prayer was in that religion. A man stood and shared his testimony of how praying in the Hindu religion was one-sided - no one heard him and when he came to the Lord he was heard and healed. He was full of joy. So Frank asked if any former Buddhists were there and could share. A beautiful young woman shared her experience of coming to the Lord and being filled with joy.
I'd say there were about 70-80 here the first day. Some rode cycles for 6-7 hours to get there. Our translator rode on a bus for 13 hours to come and translate for us again. He felt it was that important and missed his daughter's birthday to come.
The second day of the event I (Peggi) was not feeling well all day but by the grace of God I was able to function through the day and had a terrific team to carry on with all their talks! We covered "When Did Jesus Pray" and the tools. The Nepalis really got into any small group activities and just circled up in the church and out on the veranda or "yard". Pastor Devi asked that a pastor be in each group. We think that was for their own experience and as accountability. The young woman who was Buddhist stood as a pastor or church leader when he asked for them to stand. The only woman who responded to that question. The day proceeded well with enthusiastic participation. The seminar was interspersed with worship times by the local Nepalis. We had breakfast and lunch with them that day and headed back to the hotel for dinner there.
The following day (their Sabbath which is Saturday) we began with their worship service and Peg brought the message on "Persevering in Prayer". We also had communion with the Nepalis with Frank and Pastor Devi serving. Following a lunch which was more locally traditional (with steamed rice balls) grilled zucchini and other vegetables.
The afternoon progressed with sharing on Growing in Intimacy with God. We had numerous special music numbers. Today the attendance increased to over 100 as those from the original area traveled all night, arriving at 3 am. They even re-did the sign they had prepared for that church to read the current church. We ended the day with a commissioning service for all who attended. Instead of having them come up as there was no room we went to the center aisle and had them just walk out to us there. We had ministry time that was powerful - I asked for some Nepali teams to also pray with people.
My time is up for now on the computer but I will try to post more detail later. Pastor Devi did say that both seminars exceeded his expectations! For that we are extremely grateful to the Lord and His provision!!!
Sorry we were out of communication but we had no Internet connection during the LTUTP. Wednesday we flew to Biratnagar and expected to drive 2 1/2 hours to East Nepal but drove only about 20 minutes to the "Hotel Eastern Star". Pastor Devi informed us that the road strike was on again and that two had been killed during them. So he arranged (at the last minute) for us to do the LTUTP in the Tanmunna UMC in Sunsari, the First UMC in Nepal. This was about 30-40 minutes outside Biratnagar (the second largest city in Nepal). We passed through a few smaller towns then turned on a dirt road - then another dirt road and another and maybe another (I don't recall!). This church was really rural! The homes were thatch roofed with bamboo siding mostly.
We began the LTUTP at 1pm with worship led by the local guitarist, 3 connected drums (link congas?) and a traditional Nepali drum along with numerous tambourine-type instruments. In the middle of worship Pam and Peggi passed out the streamers for them to use and they used them enthusiastically - from the little children to an elderly woman. A highlight of the first day was when Frank gave the talk "Christian Prayer Is . . ." and asked someone who was formerly Hindu to share what prayer was in that religion. A man stood and shared his testimony of how praying in the Hindu religion was one-sided - no one heard him and when he came to the Lord he was heard and healed. He was full of joy. So Frank asked if any former Buddhists were there and could share. A beautiful young woman shared her experience of coming to the Lord and being filled with joy.
I'd say there were about 70-80 here the first day. Some rode cycles for 6-7 hours to get there. Our translator rode on a bus for 13 hours to come and translate for us again. He felt it was that important and missed his daughter's birthday to come.
The second day of the event I (Peggi) was not feeling well all day but by the grace of God I was able to function through the day and had a terrific team to carry on with all their talks! We covered "When Did Jesus Pray" and the tools. The Nepalis really got into any small group activities and just circled up in the church and out on the veranda or "yard". Pastor Devi asked that a pastor be in each group. We think that was for their own experience and as accountability. The young woman who was Buddhist stood as a pastor or church leader when he asked for them to stand. The only woman who responded to that question. The day proceeded well with enthusiastic participation. The seminar was interspersed with worship times by the local Nepalis. We had breakfast and lunch with them that day and headed back to the hotel for dinner there.
The following day (their Sabbath which is Saturday) we began with their worship service and Peg brought the message on "Persevering in Prayer". We also had communion with the Nepalis with Frank and Pastor Devi serving. Following a lunch which was more locally traditional (with steamed rice balls) grilled zucchini and other vegetables.
The afternoon progressed with sharing on Growing in Intimacy with God. We had numerous special music numbers. Today the attendance increased to over 100 as those from the original area traveled all night, arriving at 3 am. They even re-did the sign they had prepared for that church to read the current church. We ended the day with a commissioning service for all who attended. Instead of having them come up as there was no room we went to the center aisle and had them just walk out to us there. We had ministry time that was powerful - I asked for some Nepali teams to also pray with people.
My time is up for now on the computer but I will try to post more detail later. Pastor Devi did say that both seminars exceeded his expectations! For that we are extremely grateful to the Lord and His provision!!!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Prayer Needs
I thought I'd be posting a prayer need for Kim who was not well yesterday but she is better and thinks it may've been food poisoning. Today Pam is not feeling well. She says she can walk in a straight line now. Steve feels she shouldn't go to East Nepal. She's still waiting to hear from Father. We leave in just under two hours! We pray she can go. Her main concern was dizzyness but that seems to have subsided.
Pray for health protection for the rest of the team and for energy to present the LTUTP with flexibility! I'm uncertain what the situation we'll go into - how much space for any breakouts, etc. But I have a peace knowing the Lord is the One in control - NOT ME!!
Blessings, dear friends! We covet your prayer covering for our trip and want you to know that as we hear of your needs, we are praying here!
Pray for health protection for the rest of the team and for energy to present the LTUTP with flexibility! I'm uncertain what the situation we'll go into - how much space for any breakouts, etc. But I have a peace knowing the Lord is the One in control - NOT ME!!
Blessings, dear friends! We covet your prayer covering for our trip and want you to know that as we hear of your needs, we are praying here!
Videos
Here are some links to videos I posted on YouTube of worship in Nepal.
Nepalis singing at the LISS in Kathmandu:
Saturday Worship in Kathmandu (their worship service):
Worship at the LTUTP at the Tanmunna UMC in Sunsari, Nepal:
More Worship at the LTUTP:
Nepalis singing at the LISS in Kathmandu:
Saturday Worship in Kathmandu (their worship service):
Worship at the LTUTP at the Tanmunna UMC in Sunsari, Nepal:
More Worship at the LTUTP:
Monday, March 16, 2009
Tours - Sunday through Tuesday
By the way, air quality is very poor. Kathmandu is located in a valley that's like a big bowl. There's very little air movement and they're in a time of drought - even more so than normal dry season. So everything is very dusty - dust in the air combined with exhaust fumes. And there are several MAJOR forest fires that are spreading smoke over the country and by 3pm there's 15% less sun due to the haze. We wear breathing masks most of the time we go out but the air burns our eyes.
Just a brief synopsis of what we've done since time is limited: On Sunday we toured 2 Buddhist temples and one Hindu temple. The first temple had 365 steps leading up to it. The followers walk up to earn merit for their travel up to the temple. At the top was a large Buddhist temple and some smaller Hindu temples on the same site. We did not walk up the steps but we walked down (easier). Pam slipped down a few - very gracefully and without injury to herself, praise God! We then visited a larger Buddhist temple. There was a funeral procession carrying what looked like a small child on a platform (funeral pyre) going around the stupa (Buddhist temple Bouddhanath Stupa). The third temple was Pashupatinath and is located on the Bagmati River where one cremation was beginning and two others were in process. Numerous "holy men" were at this location and would let you take their photo for a price. Holy men don't work, don't bathe, don't cut their hair and do smoke hash hish or marijuana.
Later that day we loaded up the van and went to Nagarkot to hopefully see the mountains! It was a WILD ride over crazy switchbacks and turns up the mountain. It dook 2 hours to get to the Hotel Country Villa. Our driver stopped several times for directions and we passed the Hotel End of the Universe and Hotel Space Mountain (among others!) before arriving at ours. They immediately served us tea or coffee in the lobby area then led us to the rooms which were very nice (minimal but nice). Although the beds felt like you were sleeping on the floor - HARD. We (Frank & Peggi) had a balcony outside our door to stand and look over the valley and wait for the mountains in the morning! Dinner was a smorgasbord with fried fish, chicken curry, rice, garlic noodles. Dessert was battered papaya dipped in honey and pudding with fruit. Excellent tea!
We woke up at 5:30 to prepare for the sunrise. Waiting expectantly to see the mountains we saw a beautiful sunrise but mountains? I don't think so - only clouds! It was even too hazy out in Nagarkot! We then had a breakfast buffet on the veranda where we could choose our omelet ingredients and have it made. There were also pancakes (no syrup, but honey), sausage - tasted like kielbasa, fried potatoes, mango juice and toast. Very good!
Now, the 2 hour ride back down the mountain to Kathmandu!! We had lunch with Steve at Higher Grounds, a Christian run coffee shop with sandwiches and dessert (and wireless!!) After lunch we had another temple tour in Kathmandu with Steve - VERY crowded especially as we walked through the bazaar in town - and cars, motorcycles and people everywhere!! We stopped for mo mos near the ex-King's palace (now a museum) and then went to Thorsons for dessert and to hear more about their work here in Nepal.
Tuesday morning we drove up into the hills to visit a very dark temple where animal sacrifices still occur. It reminded me of what the temple may've been like with people selling all kinds of things (including chickens for sacrifice) along the path to the temple. That's where the similarities end. These people come and sacrifice so that Kali won't get them - not to a God of love. There was no love for Kali or sense of being loved by Kali. There's no repentance for sin or sense of forgiveness from sin - it's strictly self-protection. People were in a long line to sacrifice to Kali. They would burn incense and would cut the chicken (and there had just been a goat) and pour the blood on the altar area. Then many would take the animal and cook it. They even made a picnic of it!! A Hindu pot luck??? The whole scene made me so grateful for my own salvation - once and for all!! And, gave me more of a desire for people here to understand God's love for them!!
Following that we went to view a gorge from a high swinging bridge (Tyborg Gorge, I think??) We thought there was a body laying on a rock far below but when zoomed in with a camera you could see it was an effigy someone had made and put there.
Eating lunch at Higher Grounds again (they have wireless!) so hoping to post some photos in a moment! Later today we go to a Christian bead shop and pack for our flight to East Nepal tomorrow. Our flight leaves kathmandu at 12:30 and is only 1/2 hour - maybe we'll see mountains?? Then we drive 2 1/2 hours to the area of the seminar. We start Thursday at 1pm and conclude Saturday at 5pm (more or less),flying back to Kathmandu on Sunday at 4:30. Pray for our time there! We will not have the Thorsons with us so we won't have English speaking help. Pastor Devi does speak Engligh but not as fluent much as Steve, of course!
Just a brief synopsis of what we've done since time is limited: On Sunday we toured 2 Buddhist temples and one Hindu temple. The first temple had 365 steps leading up to it. The followers walk up to earn merit for their travel up to the temple. At the top was a large Buddhist temple and some smaller Hindu temples on the same site. We did not walk up the steps but we walked down (easier). Pam slipped down a few - very gracefully and without injury to herself, praise God! We then visited a larger Buddhist temple. There was a funeral procession carrying what looked like a small child on a platform (funeral pyre) going around the stupa (Buddhist temple Bouddhanath Stupa). The third temple was Pashupatinath and is located on the Bagmati River where one cremation was beginning and two others were in process. Numerous "holy men" were at this location and would let you take their photo for a price. Holy men don't work, don't bathe, don't cut their hair and do smoke hash hish or marijuana.
Later that day we loaded up the van and went to Nagarkot to hopefully see the mountains! It was a WILD ride over crazy switchbacks and turns up the mountain. It dook 2 hours to get to the Hotel Country Villa. Our driver stopped several times for directions and we passed the Hotel End of the Universe and Hotel Space Mountain (among others!) before arriving at ours. They immediately served us tea or coffee in the lobby area then led us to the rooms which were very nice (minimal but nice). Although the beds felt like you were sleeping on the floor - HARD. We (Frank & Peggi) had a balcony outside our door to stand and look over the valley and wait for the mountains in the morning! Dinner was a smorgasbord with fried fish, chicken curry, rice, garlic noodles. Dessert was battered papaya dipped in honey and pudding with fruit. Excellent tea!
We woke up at 5:30 to prepare for the sunrise. Waiting expectantly to see the mountains we saw a beautiful sunrise but mountains? I don't think so - only clouds! It was even too hazy out in Nagarkot! We then had a breakfast buffet on the veranda where we could choose our omelet ingredients and have it made. There were also pancakes (no syrup, but honey), sausage - tasted like kielbasa, fried potatoes, mango juice and toast. Very good!
Now, the 2 hour ride back down the mountain to Kathmandu!! We had lunch with Steve at Higher Grounds, a Christian run coffee shop with sandwiches and dessert (and wireless!!) After lunch we had another temple tour in Kathmandu with Steve - VERY crowded especially as we walked through the bazaar in town - and cars, motorcycles and people everywhere!! We stopped for mo mos near the ex-King's palace (now a museum) and then went to Thorsons for dessert and to hear more about their work here in Nepal.
Tuesday morning we drove up into the hills to visit a very dark temple where animal sacrifices still occur. It reminded me of what the temple may've been like with people selling all kinds of things (including chickens for sacrifice) along the path to the temple. That's where the similarities end. These people come and sacrifice so that Kali won't get them - not to a God of love. There was no love for Kali or sense of being loved by Kali. There's no repentance for sin or sense of forgiveness from sin - it's strictly self-protection. People were in a long line to sacrifice to Kali. They would burn incense and would cut the chicken (and there had just been a goat) and pour the blood on the altar area. Then many would take the animal and cook it. They even made a picnic of it!! A Hindu pot luck??? The whole scene made me so grateful for my own salvation - once and for all!! And, gave me more of a desire for people here to understand God's love for them!!
Following that we went to view a gorge from a high swinging bridge (Tyborg Gorge, I think??) We thought there was a body laying on a rock far below but when zoomed in with a camera you could see it was an effigy someone had made and put there.
Eating lunch at Higher Grounds again (they have wireless!) so hoping to post some photos in a moment! Later today we go to a Christian bead shop and pack for our flight to East Nepal tomorrow. Our flight leaves kathmandu at 12:30 and is only 1/2 hour - maybe we'll see mountains?? Then we drive 2 1/2 hours to the area of the seminar. We start Thursday at 1pm and conclude Saturday at 5pm (more or less),flying back to Kathmandu on Sunday at 4:30. Pray for our time there! We will not have the Thorsons with us so we won't have English speaking help. Pastor Devi does speak Engligh but not as fluent much as Steve, of course!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Saturday March 14th
Before I post what happened on Saturday there are a few things I forgot to mention! When they welcomed us on Thursday they presented us with fresh marigold necklaces (kind of like Hawaiian leis). They were a vibrant orange, smelled good and some came with free worms! I think I forgot to mention that you take your shoes off before entering the sanctuary and they sit on the floor. They had chairs for us but the women sat on the left facing front and the men on the right.
There are 40 UM churches in Nepal now and the church is very evangelistic. Many come to Christ due to a healing. Also, most UM churches are in East Nepal with the largest of them being 400 members. We cannot fly into the closest airport to the location due to runway repairs going on so we will fly into another and drive 2 ½ hours to the hotel then another 12 or so kilometers to the church.
When we visited the shopping area of Thamel Frank was offered marijuana twice – and turned it down both times! You could definitely smell it in the air!!
Saturday is their worship day. At 7am there were 5 baptisms of new believers. Worship began at 10am and Frank began preaching at 11:45. We worshiped for an hour, there was offering, prayer and several young men shared testimonies (not related to the LISS). Pastor Devi shared testimony regarding a prophetic word Kim had for him the day before and was very enthusiastic about it being not just for him but for all the pastors.
There were about 25 children in Sunday School with Pam and Sue (Becky translated) and they were very well behaved. They listened to stories, made paper chains to show we’re all different (different colors) and were given ARM t-shirts. Sue was impressed with how well they worked together in small groups without any pushing or complaining!
Frank’s sermon was on the Life of a Lump of Clay. At the end of his sermon he asked them to offer up their lives as bowls, forming a bowl shape with their hands as they held them out. He then prayed over them that God would fill their bowls with gifts of the Spirit.
The service ended at 1:00 pm and we broke for lunch. Each day they fed us dahl (lentil sauce) bat (rice), fried potatoes and maybe green beans along with bottled water. Following lunch on Friday and Saturday we walked down the street for some soda (warm!) and snacks.
We continued the LISS in the afternoon with Frank sharing on Kingdom Encounters. He asked people who were sick or in pain to stand then asked those who were around them to lay hands on them (and for team members to circulate among also laying hands on people) commanding sickness and pain to leave. After a time of loud prayer he asked people to try doing something that they couldn’t do before because of pain and then asked how many were pain free. Several raised their hands. So then we prayed some more for people who weren’t all the way there yet. Kim had another word about repenting and turning away from old ways and old beliefs. Many came forward to the altar and knelt weeping so we extended hands, laid hands on and prayed more. Then we had prayer team ministry with two teams of women and two of men asking people to come up for any need. Most came up for physical healing – many headache and stomach problems. We had to add another team so Frank and Peggi formed a team. Each team had a translator. There were also some deliverances.
We then had a “blessing tunnel” with team members forming a tunnel and participants going through while we spoke words of blessing over them. The participants came through with their hands out in a receiving manner. Men on the team were careful to touch only men and women only women to respect local cultural practices. We also had a gift for each person there and presented those to them at the end of the tunnel. We gave each one a remembrance band from ARM that had one of the words of our purpose on them – filled, gifted, empowered or led.
We thought the seminar was over but Pastor Devi had some of the women present us with beautiful Nepali scarves. Frank then asked us to kneel while the Nepalis prayed for us. It took us another 15-20 minutes to leave as everyone wanted to say “Ji mace” (spelling??) pronounced “Jime-a-see” which means literally “King Messiah” or “Jesus is Victory”!!
When Frank asked Pastor Devi (the district superintendent over all UM churches in Nepal) how he felt it went, he responded “excellent”! He invited us back to teach more on the Holy Spirit!
We went back to the guest house and then walked over ½ mile to the “La Soon” restaurant for dinner. There was no electricity so we ate by candlelight. Food was cooked on a gas stove and was wonderful – most of us had beef stroganoff with mashed potatoes. We walked back to the guest house in the dark - another experience!
There are 40 UM churches in Nepal now and the church is very evangelistic. Many come to Christ due to a healing. Also, most UM churches are in East Nepal with the largest of them being 400 members. We cannot fly into the closest airport to the location due to runway repairs going on so we will fly into another and drive 2 ½ hours to the hotel then another 12 or so kilometers to the church.
When we visited the shopping area of Thamel Frank was offered marijuana twice – and turned it down both times! You could definitely smell it in the air!!
Saturday is their worship day. At 7am there were 5 baptisms of new believers. Worship began at 10am and Frank began preaching at 11:45. We worshiped for an hour, there was offering, prayer and several young men shared testimonies (not related to the LISS). Pastor Devi shared testimony regarding a prophetic word Kim had for him the day before and was very enthusiastic about it being not just for him but for all the pastors.
There were about 25 children in Sunday School with Pam and Sue (Becky translated) and they were very well behaved. They listened to stories, made paper chains to show we’re all different (different colors) and were given ARM t-shirts. Sue was impressed with how well they worked together in small groups without any pushing or complaining!
Frank’s sermon was on the Life of a Lump of Clay. At the end of his sermon he asked them to offer up their lives as bowls, forming a bowl shape with their hands as they held them out. He then prayed over them that God would fill their bowls with gifts of the Spirit.
The service ended at 1:00 pm and we broke for lunch. Each day they fed us dahl (lentil sauce) bat (rice), fried potatoes and maybe green beans along with bottled water. Following lunch on Friday and Saturday we walked down the street for some soda (warm!) and snacks.
We continued the LISS in the afternoon with Frank sharing on Kingdom Encounters. He asked people who were sick or in pain to stand then asked those who were around them to lay hands on them (and for team members to circulate among also laying hands on people) commanding sickness and pain to leave. After a time of loud prayer he asked people to try doing something that they couldn’t do before because of pain and then asked how many were pain free. Several raised their hands. So then we prayed some more for people who weren’t all the way there yet. Kim had another word about repenting and turning away from old ways and old beliefs. Many came forward to the altar and knelt weeping so we extended hands, laid hands on and prayed more. Then we had prayer team ministry with two teams of women and two of men asking people to come up for any need. Most came up for physical healing – many headache and stomach problems. We had to add another team so Frank and Peggi formed a team. Each team had a translator. There were also some deliverances.
We then had a “blessing tunnel” with team members forming a tunnel and participants going through while we spoke words of blessing over them. The participants came through with their hands out in a receiving manner. Men on the team were careful to touch only men and women only women to respect local cultural practices. We also had a gift for each person there and presented those to them at the end of the tunnel. We gave each one a remembrance band from ARM that had one of the words of our purpose on them – filled, gifted, empowered or led.
We thought the seminar was over but Pastor Devi had some of the women present us with beautiful Nepali scarves. Frank then asked us to kneel while the Nepalis prayed for us. It took us another 15-20 minutes to leave as everyone wanted to say “Ji mace” (spelling??) pronounced “Jime-a-see” which means literally “King Messiah” or “Jesus is Victory”!!
When Frank asked Pastor Devi (the district superintendent over all UM churches in Nepal) how he felt it went, he responded “excellent”! He invited us back to teach more on the Holy Spirit!
We went back to the guest house and then walked over ½ mile to the “La Soon” restaurant for dinner. There was no electricity so we ate by candlelight. Food was cooked on a gas stove and was wonderful – most of us had beef stroganoff with mashed potatoes. We walked back to the guest house in the dark - another experience!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
NEWS!
We're going to East Nepal!! Praise God! Steve just called (8:30am Sunday here) to say the strikes have been called off. Pray that no new strikes begin while we are there and that God continues to open the way!!
Friday, March 13th
Blog for Friday, March 13th
I forgot to mention that there are only 50 participants in the LISS. The other 50 were coming from the Terai where the road blocks are so they never made it to the seminar. Pastor Devi and Steve Thorson are waiting until Tuesday to make a decision about East Nepal as there are differing stories in the news regarding the strike settlement. With a road strike here you CANNOT get through the roads. There is talk it may settle soon but then there is also talk of a Central Nepal road strike which would mean we couldn’t make it BACK to Kathmandu for our flight home.
The alternative to East Nepal is doing the Lord Teach Us to Pray in Bhaktapur, just east of Kathmandu. It is an ancient city with ancient temples (I’ll try to find a photo) but there is a United Methodist church there, too. Apparently, people here will come even if it’s scheduled at the last minute! It makes me cry for hunger like that at home – for us in the US to be DESPARATE for more of him and not just comfortable with where we are – not just content to “schedule it in” when it’s convenient to us but so DESPARATE we would drop EVERYTHING to sit and learn more, be touched by Him more and just to worship Him together. Oh, Lord – give us that deep a hunger for you!
Also, to clarify the church set-up; we take off our shoes upon entering the building and women sit on one side while men are on the other. Our lunch was served on the fourth floor (no elevator) which is where the Western toilets were, too (so it was worth the walk for some of us!) The bathroom was labeled “For Guest Use Only”
We continued the seminar today with two additional translators. Pastor Devi translated some, our guitarist translated and a young man we had yesterday. He had studied at seminary in India and was an excellent translator!! He even gave extra “teaching” where needed for the Nepalis to understand what we were trying to communicate.
Peg started off with Spirit of Adoption (yes, she got her talks printed!). It was to be followed with a playing of The Father’s Love Letter in Hindi but no battery operated CD player and no electricity. Fortunately, before we left the US, the Lord told me (Peg) to take some printed copies in Hindi and the translator read it to them. Becky said that was probably better because he was able to read the Hindi with a Nepali accent and emphasis.
Sue followed with Spirit of Love and had Pam hand out stones following her talk to remind them they are living stones for the Lord. Then Sue had the translator translate “Oh How He Loves You and Me” and she and Pam sang while Pam signed it for them.
Parker led them in a prayer of deliverance following his talk on the Spirit of Power and all participated in that. There was a powerful time of praying for the pastors and anointing them with oil. Our men went up and Pam led them in anointing the pastors heads, ears, eyes, mouth and hands. The Nepali men stood behind with their hands extended. They didn’t touch the pastors but we’re not sure if they didn’t understand the direction or if that’s not acceptable in church.
Kim followed on Spirit of Prayer. She had a meaningful time when trying to explain her prayer language to them (which of course can’t be translated!). She asked a young woman to come up and she prayed for her in her prayer language. The young woman was very touched and drawn to tears from the experience.
Rich gave the Spirit of Unity, emphasizing how important that is in the church and emphasized the importance of reconciliation.
Pam followed with Spirit of Guidance using a compass and walking stick as object lessons – it was very effective for them. She even demonstrated how she would fall if she didn’t have a walking stick or staff to guide her.
Frank followed with Spirit of Authority. He included an illustration from a former trip to Nepal involving a water buffalo and the authority a little old lady took in moving it out of our way! Following his presentation we prayed for God to come and take control of out of control situations in their lives.
Following Parker’s talk on The Promise of the Father an opportunity was offered for those who wanted to receive the Holy Spirit to stand. Immediately 3 women stood in the back and within a few seconds all were standing. A powerful time of prayer followed with much weeping, shaking and touches from the Lord. It is hard to describe in words the power felt in those moments.
Pastor Devi missed that opportunity but later in the day, Kim had some words of prophecy for him. We arranged a time during worship for her to give them to him personally. He appeared to receive them very well and that was confirmed today in worship (Saturday) when he shared them with the congregation and thanked her publically for sharing that with him.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Photos 1
I will try to post photos to this blog post when time allows without any journal entries (to save time).
Where we ate dinner Wednesday night.
Assorted Kathmandu photos:
Bagmati (sp??) River Electrical SystemThursday, March 12th
This is the Goshen Guest House where we are staying
First day of LISS completed! All went well except I (Peggi) forgot (or can't find) my talks so my Spirit of Adoption sharing was put off until tomorrow. Electricity will go off in 28 minutes so must rush!! The participants in the seminar are great worshipers with hands raised, amens, hallelujahs, clapping, etc! Very responsive. They fed us a typical Nepali dinner with potatoes and cabbage, eggplant and something else (a little spicey), rice and lentil sauce and one red very spicy dish!!
Pam Lipka handmade worship streamers to give away so following Ted's sharing of the seven Hebrew praise words she gave several to 7 of the pastors attending. They ENTHUSIASTICALLY waved them following her brief instruction. It was marvelous!
I forgot to mention yesterday that Frank opened a bag of animal crackers, ate a few and took a nap. When he woke up he decided to finish the bag, took some bites then dumped out the crumbs to eat and saw ants!! So, a little protein with his cookies!!
It is taking extremely long to upload photos or videos here so we will hopefully post more of that following the seminars when we have time to go to a coffee shop with wireless!!!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
WEDNESDAY March 11th - FIRST FULL DAY!
We've had difficulty uploading photos so hopefully we can post LOTS (and video) tomorrow!
Wednesday we began with breakfast, worship, prayer and devotions - fed physically and spiritually! We only have 8 hours of electricity with 4 hours from 4am to 8 am and 4pm to 8pm. At least that's the schedule today!
Then we sent the men to the bank to exchange money while the women went to shop! We, of course, had to wait for the men to bring us money! Well, the bank took MUCH longer than expected so the women got to shop longer for Nepali clothing.
Steve and Becky took us to Patan Hospital for a tour of the facility including a wonderful new wing for maternity and nursery areas.
(PLEASE NOTE: If any of this is not making sense it's because I am VERY TIRED at the time of typing but you take the electricity when you get it!!)
Following the hospital tour we met up with Pastor Devi Bhujel (the equivalent to a District Superintendent) for lunch at a Christian run restaurant named Sing Ma. Most of us ordered several dishes to share and had a wonderful time of fellowship and sharing over table.
Then - more shopping! We took taxis (an adventure since most of us had no idea where we were going!!) to Thamel, a popular tourist shopping district. Thamel makes you feel like you've gone back to the 1960's or early 70's with many Hippy-types and certain smells wafting in the air! We shopped for souvenirs, were followed by various vendors to whom we said "Chyne Dye Nah" (not sure of spelling) which means "I don't want it!". We visited a new coffee shop - very yuppy like with good coffee then headed off to do more shopping! We ended the day in Thamel at "Fire and Ice", a pizzeria and ice cream shop that we (Frank & Peggi) visited in 1996 and 1999.
Following dinner we loaded up in 4 taxis for the ride back to the guest house. Rich & Sue Fetzer (and myself) were in one taxi together. Our driver was very pleasant and pointed out various sites on the way. When he pointed out a Hindu temple I asked him what religion he was. He said "You guess - Hindu, Buddhist or Christian". To which I replied I believe you are Christian. He said "Yes, how you know?" My reply "It's obvious - I see Jesus on your face". He had gone to Malaysia for four years and just one year ago became a Christian there. He said "I'm young and need to learn a lot" He had been Buddhist and changed his name from a Buddhist (Dephendra, I think??) to Jack. Pray for Jack - he definitely has the joy of the Lord. He said "Christians are joyful, never angry!" I pray so!!
Our Life in the Spirit begins tomorrow. Please pray for this event. We begin at 1pm and go to 5pm. Then Friday 9-5 and Saturday 9-5. Pray for flexibility on our part and that we would all die to ourselves (and our agenda) and how only His love, grace and mercy to these brothers and sisters in the Lord. May our words be His, our arms His, our words His - ALL for Him!
Wednesday we began with breakfast, worship, prayer and devotions - fed physically and spiritually! We only have 8 hours of electricity with 4 hours from 4am to 8 am and 4pm to 8pm. At least that's the schedule today!
Then we sent the men to the bank to exchange money while the women went to shop! We, of course, had to wait for the men to bring us money! Well, the bank took MUCH longer than expected so the women got to shop longer for Nepali clothing.
Steve and Becky took us to Patan Hospital for a tour of the facility including a wonderful new wing for maternity and nursery areas.
(PLEASE NOTE: If any of this is not making sense it's because I am VERY TIRED at the time of typing but you take the electricity when you get it!!)
Following the hospital tour we met up with Pastor Devi Bhujel (the equivalent to a District Superintendent) for lunch at a Christian run restaurant named Sing Ma. Most of us ordered several dishes to share and had a wonderful time of fellowship and sharing over table.
Then - more shopping! We took taxis (an adventure since most of us had no idea where we were going!!) to Thamel, a popular tourist shopping district. Thamel makes you feel like you've gone back to the 1960's or early 70's with many Hippy-types and certain smells wafting in the air! We shopped for souvenirs, were followed by various vendors to whom we said "Chyne Dye Nah" (not sure of spelling) which means "I don't want it!". We visited a new coffee shop - very yuppy like with good coffee then headed off to do more shopping! We ended the day in Thamel at "Fire and Ice", a pizzeria and ice cream shop that we (Frank & Peggi) visited in 1996 and 1999.
Following dinner we loaded up in 4 taxis for the ride back to the guest house. Rich & Sue Fetzer (and myself) were in one taxi together. Our driver was very pleasant and pointed out various sites on the way. When he pointed out a Hindu temple I asked him what religion he was. He said "You guess - Hindu, Buddhist or Christian". To which I replied I believe you are Christian. He said "Yes, how you know?" My reply "It's obvious - I see Jesus on your face". He had gone to Malaysia for four years and just one year ago became a Christian there. He said "I'm young and need to learn a lot" He had been Buddhist and changed his name from a Buddhist (Dephendra, I think??) to Jack. Pray for Jack - he definitely has the joy of the Lord. He said "Christians are joyful, never angry!" I pray so!!
Our Life in the Spirit begins tomorrow. Please pray for this event. We begin at 1pm and go to 5pm. Then Friday 9-5 and Saturday 9-5. Pray for flexibility on our part and that we would all die to ourselves (and our agenda) and how only His love, grace and mercy to these brothers and sisters in the Lord. May our words be His, our arms His, our words His - ALL for Him!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
We've arrived!! TUESDAY MARCH 10th
Photos (& hopefully video will follow later this week-having technical difficulty today!!)
We had a jaunt (11 hours) from LA to Tokyo in a 747 with 10 seats across (3 - 4 - 3). In Tokyo we saw only the airport (and bathrooms!!) as we had to disembark from the plane while they cleaned and moved it to another gate. We re-boarded and flew from Tokyo to Singapore (7 hours). We arrived in Singapore at approximately 1:30 am and got "day use" rooms where we were able to sleep for a few hours and shower. Then we walked through the Singapore airport which is really a HUGE shopping mall and boarded our plane (Airbus 330) with the typical 4 seats across (2 - 2) to Kathmandu (4 1/2 hours).
We had a jaunt (11 hours) from LA to Tokyo in a 747 with 10 seats across (3 - 4 - 3). In Tokyo we saw only the airport (and bathrooms!!) as we had to disembark from the plane while they cleaned and moved it to another gate. We re-boarded and flew from Tokyo to Singapore (7 hours). We arrived in Singapore at approximately 1:30 am and got "day use" rooms where we were able to sleep for a few hours and shower. Then we walked through the Singapore airport which is really a HUGE shopping mall and boarded our plane (Airbus 330) with the typical 4 seats across (2 - 2) to Kathmandu (4 1/2 hours).
Sailed through customs (actually didn't even go through it and no one told us to!!). Outside there were numerous people covered with red dye (and other assorted colors) but no one was throwing it there, praise God! At first we didn't see Steve and Becky as we had landed early but they found us and we loaded 10 people (in addition to the two of them and a driver) AND our luggage (LOTS of luggage) onto a 12 passenger van. It was a site!!
Arrived (with ALL luggage) at the Goshen House where there are 14 guests with two bathrooms - should be fun! We relaxed, got settled and then went out to dinner with Steve and Becky Thorson (missionaries to Nepal) and all ate mo mos. We have steamed buff mo mos and fried chicken mo mos between all of us and then ice cream!!
Back to the guest house to crash!
Arrived (with ALL luggage) at the Goshen House where there are 14 guests with two bathrooms - should be fun! We relaxed, got settled and then went out to dinner with Steve and Becky Thorson (missionaries to Nepal) and all ate mo mos. We have steamed buff mo mos and fried chicken mo mos between all of us and then ice cream!!
Back to the guest house to crash!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Prayer Needs:
Just a quick note today to ask for your prayers for us as we quickly approach the departure date! The first prayer request is for travel. The flights are LONG and we'll be crossing numerous time zones. Prayer for comfort and wisdom during the flights - keeping hydrated, walking, sleeping (instead of watching the trillion movies and shows available!!). Also, prayer for opportunities to share just why we're doing this trip. Would it be so cool to lead someone to the Lord over the Pacific Ocean? Or, to share our own stories of the Holy Spirit's activity in our lives or prayers answered! Pray that we would surrender our agenda to the Lord - this is His trip may His will be done!
Thank you!!
Just a quick note today to ask for your prayers for us as we quickly approach the departure date! The first prayer request is for travel. The flights are LONG and we'll be crossing numerous time zones. Prayer for comfort and wisdom during the flights - keeping hydrated, walking, sleeping (instead of watching the trillion movies and shows available!!). Also, prayer for opportunities to share just why we're doing this trip. Would it be so cool to lead someone to the Lord over the Pacific Ocean? Or, to share our own stories of the Holy Spirit's activity in our lives or prayers answered! Pray that we would surrender our agenda to the Lord - this is His trip may His will be done!
Thank you!!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Nepal '09 Blog
Our team of 10 leaves March 8th for Nepal. After a 36 hour flight (with stops) we'll arrive in Kathmandu March 10th at noon. We travel from Los Angelos, CA to Tokyo (brief layover) to Singapore (7 hour layover) then to Kathmandu.
Our first seminar is the Life in the Spirit Seminar and begins March 12th in the afternoon, stopping at supper time because there most likely would not be electricity after supper. The seminar concludes on Saturday, March 14th in the afternoon.
The second event we'll conduct will be the Lord, Teach Us to Pray and that will be held in East Nepal (near Bhadrapur) Thursday, March 19th in the afternnon through Saturday, March 21st through the afternoon (again concluding at supper time due to load shedding schedules to conserve electricity). We will fly from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur and should get a good view of the moutains on that flight. We fly back to Kathmandu on March 22nd and depart for LA on March 24, arriving after noon on March 25th.
Please pray for our team:
- Frank & Peggi Billman (coordinators)
- Ted & Audrey Newton
- Rich & Sue Fetzer
- Jim Ball
- Kim Bright
- Pam Lipka
- Parker Wayland, Jr.
Check back to this blog during our trip as I will post news about our days and the events and hopefully pictures. In between the seminars we will be touring the temples, shopping and traveling to Nagarkot for an evening (about 19 mi. east of Kathmandu). Nagarkot is one of the most scenic spots in the Bhaktapur district and is renowned for its spectacular sunrise view of the Himalaya when the weather is clear. Visitors often travel to Nagarkot from Kathmandu to spend the night so that they can be there for the breathtaking sunrise. Nagarkot has become famous as one of the best spots to view Mount Everest as well as other snow-topped peaks of the Himalayan range of eastern Nepal. It also offers an excellent view of the Indrawati river valley to the east. With an elevation of 2,195 meters, Nagarkot also offers a panoramic view of the Valley and is described by visitors as a place whose beauty endures year round. PRAY FOR CLEAR WEATHER!
So from LA: 
To Tokyo (only seeing it from the window of the plane!): 
To Singapore (in the middle of the night): 
To Kathmandu: 
To Bhadrapur: 
And back again!
Check back for additional postings as I'll try to post every other day when I have a connection!
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