Reaching Nepal

Nathan and I are sitting in the Chicago airport waiting to fly to Nepal with a group of 8 college students. We are planning to take them backpacking in the mountains to encourage some believers there and distribute Bibles to people we come in contact with during our journey. Please pray for us as we lead and invest in these students for the next 3 weeks. God has given us a good group of students and we are excited to see them serve and grow through this trip. We are also really excited about going home. God has been so gracious in allowing Nepal to be our home the past few years and we miss it dearly. We are looking forward to seeing friends and just being in our country that we love so much. We would cherish your prayers while we are there.

On the way home, Nathan and I will be making an additional stop apart from the team and will be spending two weeks in Europe staying with some friends and sightseeing. Please ask God to use us to glorify Him wherever we are and whatever we are doing. We want to shine His light in Nepal, in Europe and wherever else we may be.

Sarah and I left on Saturday for what will turn out to be an exciting summer. We were in a supporting church in Virgina on Sunday morning. On Sunday night and Monday morning we took time to relax and tour the beautiful town of Harper’s Ferry, WV. This evening Sarah and I will be meeting a group of college student to prepare for a summer trip to Nepal. On Thursday, we will leave with 8 college students to do ministry in the mountains. It’s an exciting time for us. We have missed our home so much and look forward to being there soon.

Please pray for our trip. We have planned well and I trust it will be a wonderful time but if I have learned anything from Nepali culture it’s that everyday brings new surprises. I will try my best to put new updates on here when ever possible.

Sarah and I have now been married over one month. We are loving married life and the chance to walk through life together. As we have started this new journey, there have been many unanswered questions about what comes next: where shall we live, where will the money come from to go back to Nepal, what is our next step, and many more. For most of my life I have had the chance to walk in faith and trust Jesus for all things but now that I am married the challenge of walking by faith has gotten bigger and much more intimidating. Not only am I dependant on God for my own self but for my wife and one day a family.

Lately we have had many people question our way of life. They will say, “Why do things this way when you could go back to Nepal through a different avenue and everything would be provided.” I admit I have wondered this myself but what I have realized is that as Sarah and I have walk by faith, dependent on Him, He has always provided our needs. It’s true we don’t always know where we will stay, where provisions will come from, or what is around the next corner but it makes for a great adventure. I would not trade our life for anyone else’s.

Just in the last month God has poured out His blessings like never before. We didn’t know where we would live and then a church we had no connection with offered a free home for two months and a van to drive. We had ministry trips to make in Seattle and Montana and God provided places to stay, food to eat and even chances to see the sights. God has been burdening my heart to go to seminary and get my masters degree but with little money and a busy schedule it did not seem likely. Then my mission board said it would be okay to attend seminary for a year and still raise support. A seminary in Louisville, Kentucky offered a discount rate for Sarah and I to attend. And finally a group in Chattanooga have me a full tuition scholarship to cover the rest of my school expenses.? These are just a few of the ways God has blessed us during this season of our lives.

More than the physical blessing that He has given, I am amazed at the blessing that comes in stepping out and walking in faith. I often don’t do this well, but when I do, He never fails. He does not always provide in abundance as he has lately but He promises to never let His children go in want- “never begging for bread”.

“Thank you Lord for being You, for always providing when I trust that You will, and for allowing me to struggle and hurt so that my dependence on You can grow. ”

PS…I promise to soon post pictures from the wedding!

Sarah and I have been enjoying ourselves in Seattle for the last 5 days. On Sunday we visited Life Church and had the opportunity to share our ministry. They were so excited to hear what God was doing around the world. The last several days Sarah and I have taken some time alone to enjoy the downtown Seattle and surrounding areas.

Please pray for us as we will be sharing with seminary students tomorrow about coming to serve in our Bible college in Nepal. We have a need of solid Bible teachers and hope to find some here. On Friday we will fly back to Nashville in time to run a half-marathon on Saturday. Don’t be impressed- we are just hoping we can finish. Then on Sunday we will be sharing with a church just outside of Knoxville.

Things are busy but we have nothing but praises to give for all we have to do.

This evening Sarah and I sat down and watched the movie “Kite Runner”. It’s a movie about a young boy growing up in Afghanistan and the guilt that follows him his whole life. It is a story filled with many horrible yet actuate things. It gives people a glimpse into a world they don’t know and would never wish to know. I find myself reeling from the shock of the truth it portrays.

As I lay in bed tonight I want to put these horrible things out of my mind: the , , injustice, and great sin that cover our world. I think of it and it breaks me- turns my guts inside out. If I could just put it out of my mind and fall soundly asleep I know it would bring me comfort but comfort is not what I need. I need to be awaken to the world around me. I need to be reminded everyday that the world we live in does not look like America- it looks like Afghanistan, and Iraq, and Nepal. Our world is haunted by sin so great we dare not speak of it but we must. Open your eyes and see that our world is suffering…truly suffering. And the answer does no lie within the UN or any other institution. The hope of the world lies in Jesus.

As I laid in bed burning with these truths I was broken with the fact that I could do very little. I prayed, “God, I have given my life to Nepal- to a nation who greatly needs you, what more can I do to bring the nations to you. God I am burning to see not just my people come to you but all people. What can I do?” As I cried and prayed He softly reminded me that if I will pray, He would move. And it hit me. If I will pray in faith with great passion then God would bring revival. It is He that calls men to Himself and He that is sovereign over all things.
Going is a great thing to do but praying is greater. The greatest thing I can ever do is pray.
Watch this movie and as you watch remember that the people you see are just a glimpse of the world ravaged by sin and in need of a Savior. After you watch it don’t let these images pass away but allow them to drive you to your knees.

Can you believe that I got married yesterday? I am still amazed that Sarah married me and even more amazed at God’s amazing grace on our lives. Sarah and I are packing up to head to the mountains on our honeymoon and we want to write a quick note to say thank you to all those who came to the wedding yesterday. It was a huge blessing to see so many people come and express their love for us. Our hope is that our wedding ceremony did more than just show our love for each other; we hope it revealed God’s great glory and love.
Thank you all again and please continue to pray for us as we start this journey together.

Sorry that it has been a while since I have written anything but as you can imagine things have been crazy between planning a wedding and speaking in churches. Sarah and I have really enjoyed our time here in America with our family but we are ready to be back home in Nepal. We are just 11 days away from the Big Day- our wedding. We are overflowing with excitement and hope that many of you will be able to come.

Sarah and I also want ask you to please pray for our people, the Tibetans.

There is an extreme amount of tension in Tibet right now. Every March Tibetans hold an annual protest against China’s tion in Tibet. Typically this protest has only been held by refugees living outside the boundaries of Tibet. However, this year when monks in Tibet decided to participate in the protest, the Chinese police reacted very harshly. Many of the monks participating in the protest were detained. When news of this spread many of the Tibetans in the city began rioting against the arrest of the monks.

From that point, the tension has continued to rise. Tibetans have been vandalizing Chinese property setting vehicles and shops on fire. The Chinese have intensified their security and a number of s have been reported. Foreigners are being pushed out of the city. Tourists have reported being forced to move to several different hotels and being without electricity while neighboring buildings seem to have power. Most of the foreigners have been forced to leave and there is little accountability remaining for the Chinese authorities.

Tibetans in other parts of the world, including Nepal are joining in the protests and are being beaten. We are concerned for the safety of our friends and the people God has called us to serve. Please ask for restraint by the Chinese authorities and protection for the Tibetan people. Also, please pray for Tibetan believers in Tibet and the neighboring countries that God will protect them and enable them to shine His light in the midst of the chaos.

I have attached two different links on this story for those who are interested.

YouTube Video

Tibetan News Report

It’s been a whirlwind of activity the last 10 days. Last Saturday morning Sarah and I hopped in the car and drove down to Pensacola Florida for a 5 day missions conference at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church. It was a great blessing to be in that church. They understand missions well and have a great heart for missionaries. Everyday they went above and beyond the norm to provide their church and us with an environment to praise God and see His heart for the nations. Also the church used the conference to refresh us. They took us out on the town, gave us many gifts and treated us like family. It was only the second conference Sarah has been a part of and she was more than impressed by it. We hope that more church are willing to put such an emphasis on the nations of the world.?

The wedding is just around the corner; 18 days to be exact! With each passing day we are getting more excited and are looking forward to being Mr. and Mrs. Sloan. Our hearts desire is that all our friends and supporters would come to our wedding. If you would like to come then you are invited! Send me an email and I will give you all the details.?

Also, our teammates and close friends, Daniel and Crissy Winslow, just received bad news. Daniel’s father had surgery and has made a turn for the worse. We are not sure what will happen but it does not look good. Please pray for them and pray that God uses this situation to make His name known.?

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To update all who have been praying for Sarah’s brother….Sarah’s brother Kevin is doing well. He spent one night in the hospital with a compression injury on his leg but is now recovering nicely. Two of the students who were trapped with Kevin are still in ICU and although they will recover it will be a long and difficult process. Union University was all but destroyed by the tornado. Most of the buildings were damaged and many beyond repair. Pray as they plan to start classes this week. I have no idea how they will be able to do this but from what I hear they will.?

To update all those who regularly pray for Sarah and I….We have been busy beyond belief these last few months. Between planning a wedding, spending time with family and speaking in churches we have little spare time. In the last two weeks we have spoken in a women’s rehab center, a skateboard church, and four normal church services. Along with our normal speaking engagements we have been completing our wedding invitations (a huge endeavor) and made a trip to Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY. As crazy as life is I am still so thankful for all the opportunities we are given and pray that more come our way.?

This afternoon I plan to write a new prayer letter. If you do not receive my prayer letter and would like to please send me your email address and I would be happy to add you to my list.?

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As many of you know, several states in the south were hit by the worst series of tornadoes the country has seen in ten years. Out of the southern states, Tennessee was hit the worst with a told of 27 ities. The storm even made its way to my home where my family along with Sarah and I were. We were blessed and nothing tragic happened around us but others were not so blessed.

Last night Sarah received a call from her mom who told her that Union University had been hit by the storm, the school Sarah graduated from and the place her younger brother Kevin is attending. It had hit several hours earlier and they still had not heard from Kevin. Later we found out Kevin had taken shelter with some friends in a bathroom on campus. The building received a direct hit and Kevin along with several of his friends were trapped under many feet of rubble. We looked online and saw video of what was once the building and is now nothing more than a pile of lumber. Kevin was trapped for more than four hours before rescue workers pulled he and his friends out. All are safe and doing well. Kevin has been in the hospital and apart from a minor leg injury he is doing well. Please pray for Him and his family. I can only image the trauma that would go along with an event like that. Also pray for Union University. It is an amazing Christian school that now lies in ruin. Pray that God rebuilds the school and blesses them in even greater ways.