:: Reaching Nepal ::

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.

I am a horrible blogger. Since I have been back, I have only written once. In by defense, I have been bombarded with meetings, weddings plans, family time, and church meetings but I realize that is no excuse. In reality there have been plenty of times when I could have written and didn’t. Sorry for that.

Life is good here in America. Apart from the occasional reverse culture shock, I love being back with my family and sharing with churches. God has opened several doors to do ministry lately. Sarah and I have gone to a few churches this month and this week I am back at Tennessee Temple University. It’s amazing how much my old school has changed but for the most part I really like the changes. Those who want to focus on Jesus and worship Him seem to have the opportunity to really grow and be trained for ministry. I have met so many student who have a heart for God and the missions program at Temple is on the rise. The three days I have been here have been such a blessing. To be able to teach the classes I once took and to preach in the chapel I once attended is amazing to me. It has also been great to have Sarah by my side as we minister.

Continue to pray for Sarah and I as we seek additional support to return to Nepal and as we plan the wedding. As a guy I had no idea just how big a deal a wedding was. I thought I did but planning a wedding can be overwhelming and I’m not even doing that much in the planning process. I feel for my cute little bride-to-be as she runs around and tries to plan a wedding in two and a half months. We constantly try to stop and remind ourselves to have fun in this whole process. It really is fun, we just have to remember to take it a step at a time.

Since we are on the topic of my wedding, I needed address for all my friends. if you are reading this and want to come to my wedding PLEASE email me your address to reachingnepal@gmail.com or post a comment with your address on it. I some of you will feel shy to send me your address but I really want all my friends to come and for that to happen I need your address. Anyway, I hope to be post more often now that I have been told by several of you that you actually read my website. Thanks.

This last week two big things happened. First of all I came back to America on furlough. Most of you knew I was coming back soon but I kept the date a secret. The reason for the secret has to do with the second big news…I’m getting married! Oh yeah, you heard it right. I came back early to suprise Sarah and after a night on the town I asked her to be my bride. It was an amazing night and everything thing worked according to plan. We are still working on all the details so as soon as we descide I will let you know.

The most amazing thing of the night was the fact that she said yes. Once you meet Sarah you will understand. She is way out of my league but I don’t think she has realized it yet so let’s not tell her…haha. I’ve posted a picture of the? engagemnet ring. Enjoy!?

I’m reading a book by Bill Hull called the Complete Book of Discipleship. It’s a great book and it has reminded me why I love discipling others. Hulls says in his book “Discipleship isn’t a program or even an event; it’s a way of life.” He goes on to say that “discipleship ranks as God’s top priority.”

Since coming to Nepal I have had the opportunity to disciple two different groups of great men. Each of them have been both a challenge and a joy to walk along side in their journey. Out of all the other ministries I’ve been involved with both as a youth pastor and as a missionary, I find the greatest joy in discipling others.

My Wednesday night discipleship group.

I thought you should all see the most beautiful woman in the world. To my dismay Sarah left for America on Tuesday but no worries, I will see her soon!

Here are the pictures I promised. I can’t begin to say how beautiful this place and its people are. I hope you enjoy.

The Himalayas

Flowers, the river, and the mountains

If you look close, there are about 20 people in that pick-up and the water is pushing it over the edge. Don’t worry, they made it across safely. My team and I were in the next truck that drove through. Fun times!

Yak crossing

A traditional Tibetan door

Tib*tan Buddhists doing prostrations to earn merit. As Sarah and I sat behind these ladies praying we were heart broken to know that all their effort was in vain. They need the hope only Jesus can give.

Can you guess which one is real?

Monks in a debate at the Sera Monastery.

The people of Tib*t

The climbing wall in Lh*sa. To most of you this doesn’t mean anything, but to those climbers out there, be amazed with me at the awesomeness of this wall.

The Potala. The former home of the Dali Lama and the most famous site in Tib*t.

Sarah and I looking at the Potala at night. Pray for us as we seek God’s will in how to help these people.

I’m back from Tib*t and it was an amazing trip. God did great things and I am excited to see what he has for me and the Tib*tan people. My team and I spent two weeks in the area and during that time we only met one national believer. From what we discovered the people are still very unreached and the Christians that are there are suffering under persecution. I will keep this short but please pray for this area and its people.

I will post more stories and pictures soon.

All is well in Tib*t. My team and I have had an exciting trip and I look forward to sharing many stories with you but for now a brief update will have to do. We crossed the border last week with no problems and were able to bring many things needed by our brothers and sisters here. Once we hit the border we were stuck for four days is a small town due to a land slide. Afterward, we were able to make it to the capital and have had a great time here.
Dad is revealing many things to Sarah and I and we ask that you continue to lift us up. This area is in desperate need of HOPE and we are looking for oppurtunities to do that. This trip has been refreshing for me and helped me gather my thoughts on many things.

We will be heading back on Thursday and plan to be back in Kathmandu on Saturday.