:: Reaching Nepal ::

The first two years or so of a new missionary’s life are supposed to be filled with language, conflict with the culture, and handful of frustration. Now I am experiencing all of these, but in the mist of the normal I am seeing the extraordinary. Just when I start to feel down or think I can’t new really get this language, God moves in and around me in ways I never expected. Here are a few things God has done just this week.

On Monday I started going to language school in Kathmandu. Most of you are thinking, “I thought he was in language school.” I have been studying with a tutor for the last five months, but just this week did I start going to a real school. I have really enjoyed meeting new people and being able to share with some of my new classmates the goodness of God in my life. I have also been encouraged to find out just how much language I really do know!

The second thing happened on Monday afternoon. As most of you know my desire is to work in the unreached parts of Nepal. I am using my time here in Kathmandu to learn language and to look for open doors with unreached people groups. As I was teaching class on Monday, I noticed a new student. Later that afternoon I meet him and found out that he speaks Tibetan and that he is from the most unreached district in Nepal: Upper Mustang. My heart was full of joy! God has already gone before me and He knows exactly what my journey will be. Not only did He give me hope that I will soon be working with the unreached, but He even brought one to me!

The next blessing is a direct answer to your prayers. I asked you last week to be praying for a sport that I could be involved in. I have been trying to find a wrestling team here in Nepal to work with, but with no luck. I had almost given up and decided to move on to a new sport and then God stepped in. On Tuesday afternoon I had tea with Nepal’s national wrestling coach and starting Sunday I will be training with the national wrestling team. For the next month I will be working out with this men two times a day as they prepare for the South Asian Games in Sri Lanka. God didn’t just answer my prayer; He went above and beyond what I ever expected. Isn’t that just like our God? This is just one more proof that God listens to the prayers of His people- keep on praying!

It’s happen to all of us. We get a certain song stuck in our head and can’t get it out. The last 3 or 4 weeks I have had one song running around in my head, but I haven’t tried to get rid of it. I really feel like God brought to to me to remind me of somethings. I needed to be reminded that God is SOOOOOO good to me. His kindness never ends. Thank you Jesus!

Open up the skies of mercy
And rain down the cleansing flood
Healing waters rise around us
Hear our cries lord let ‘em rise

It’s your kindness Lord
That leads us to repentance
Your favor lord, is our desire
It’s your beauty Lord
That makes us stand in silence
Your love
Your love
Is better than life

We can feel
Your mercy falling
You are turnin our hearts back again
Hear our praises rise to heaven
Draw us near Lord
Meet us here

It’s your kindness Lord
That leads us to repentance
Your favor Lord, is our desire
It’s your beauty Lord
That makes us stand in silence
Your love
Your love
Is better than life
Is better than life

The last month or so? have been reading through the book of Isaiah with my discipleship group. Today in Isaiah 49, God gave me a word of strength.

“…the Lord called Me from the womb; from the body of My mother He named Me…who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant” (v.1-5)

” He says, ?It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant
To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel;
I will also make You a light of the nations
So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.? (v.6)

” They will not hunger or thirst,
Nor will the scorching heat or sun strike them down;
For He who has compassion on them will lead them
And will guide them to springs of water.” (v.10)

?Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands” (v.16)

“And all flesh will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior
And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.? (v.26)

We’ll it’s been several weeks since I shared my adventures with my peeps (that?s ?friends? for you older folks…haha). The most exciting news of the last month is that the young man I brought back to Kathmandu from his village accepted Christ. Praise God! Last week he enrolled at our Bible college and our prayer is that he will go back and plant a church among his people. His village has no church and the area is in desperate need.

I am almost fully recovered from my illness. Tomorrow I am going to the gym to see if I can start getting back into shape. Sitting around for 3 weeks really makes you feel weak. I?m still not 100% sure what the illness was. One doctor felt it was typhoid and another thought it was hepatitis. Either way it was no fun, but now I am back to life as normal. Thanks so much for your prayers.

This last week has been crazy busy. I have taught four classes, a discipleship group, I preached in our church service, and I taught at a Bible study for foreigners (a.k.a. Americans)- not to mention the six days of language study. God is blessing here is so many different ways. This weekend I found out that my roommate from college is coming out here for a semester to see if this is where God wants him full-time. Pray hard, I really believe Josh could do great things here.

This is on a more personal note.? I have been looking hard for a sport to get involved in, but with little luck. For the last 12 years I have been involved in sports at different levels and I really feel like I need to be involved again. It may sound silly, but I believe when people are involved in a sport or activity they enjoy then it helps take the edge off. I have called tons of phone numbers and emailed several people, but no response. Just pray for an open door somewhere- if He wills.

Last thing. I need to get a new visa by Friday. The difficult thing is that everyone is applying for their visas at the same time. Pray that God will work it all out.? I miss you all very much (write me?hint, hint.) and think of you everyday.