Today's Journal Entry

This was a foward I got today from Uncle Bill

Hey Family,

Here are my observations from today.

To not surrender to the despair of “can it really change”, and to embrace hope and ambition that says, “I can make a difference. The Kingdom can advance.” This is our friend Baburam Hingmang, national leader of the Wesleyan Church in Nepal.

Yesterday and today he took us to visit four churches from Kathmandu to Pokhara. At each stop I preach and share greetings and words of encouragement.

At our first stop there was a young lady to be baptized. Since I am a dignitary from a far land, I have a higher level of honor. This honor causes the people to want me to baptize them, dedicate their babies and pray for their healing. So after a time of worship and questioning the candidate, we wound down the mountain path to the river below. The water was especially cold so we both were in quickly and I baptized her quickly. But what a glorious occasion. There was also a young man who wanted to be baptized, but Pastor Babu did not think he was ready. This step of confession is highly valued.

At the next city and church, we had service by flashlight since the electricity was out. We drove as close as we could to the house, then walked down the alley and up the stairs to an upper room, where the believers were waiting for us. In addition to the preaching, I was to dedicate a baby. We had the parents come forward with the baby girl.

I asked, “What is the baby’s name?” Babu responded, “That’s up to you. Any Bible name will do.” I was taken back by this bit of last minute news and wished I could have given it some thought. Several names raced through my head; Rachel, Sarah, Abigail. I chose Bethel and told the parents that it meant “house of God”.

At the close of the service, Babu asked me to pray for Santos, my translator, and his wife, Lilly. She is pregnant with their first child and was told that day that the baby was dead. Donna and I both immediately identified with this tragedy. Santos said they were believing for God to restore life to the little one inside Lilly. Again Donna and I both identified with this desire. I prayed earnestly for this couple and their child.After the service Santos walked us back through the dark to our car, sharing his heart for ministry in Nepal. I note that there are many young people here who are sold out to God. Oh how I love the next generation of believers.

It is now late and we have not had supper, but Donna and I opt for bed. We are very tired. There is no heat in our room, but they offer us an extra blanket.In the morning there is no electricity, so we began our day by candlelight.We travel on to another town and another church. This is a remote town where the people depend on divine healing. I prayed for an asthmatic man, a week old baby who is seeping in her eye, and an arthritic man. Again, as a dignitary from a far land, my prayers are highly valued. I realize that I have become a means of grace, so I step boldly into that role for the sake of their faith. Babu tells us that divine healing is a major part of conversions from Hindu to Christianity.