Deborah Project
Khandbari, Nepal 30 January – 1 February 2018
On January 30, after waiting for hours at the Kathmandu airport, our flight to Khandbari was cancelled due to bad weather and they could not confirm a flight the following day. Thinking of the women who were waiting for us at the training center, we prayed fervently for the fog to clear.
Helen suddenly remembered seeing helicopters parked when we landed in Katmandu: “Let’s hire a helicopter.”
After an hour over mountains and narrow valleys we landed at a hill top police station in Khandbari, the district HQ of Sankhuwasabha District in N.E. Nepal nestled on a mountain slope.
The co-ordinator Pastor Lakpa and 45 women from various Tibetan tribes welcomed with great relief and joy. Twelve had walked down from their mountain villages for 2, some 3 days with their babies and toddlers strapped to their backs.
We taught on the Father heart of God and the intimate relationship we can have with Him. Tenzin, our interpreter, led the women to hold hands in a circle and cry out, “Abba, Father.” A ripple of tears, weeping and laughter broke out. Some were flat on their backs as we prayed for each one.
Our joy was to see Tenzin, daughter of Phurpu, our partner and head of Reaching the Himalayas, rise up to be a
good interpreter and coordinator for us. She has a heart for and good rapport with the women.
At their request we taught also on the topic “A Godly Wife and Mother.” We highlighted the message that our Helper, the Holy Spirit, empowers and enables us with wisdom, counsel, revelation, understanding, boldness and authority in all our roles and responsibilities so our family and home will be a lighthouse set on a hill. We laid hands and prayed for each one to be filled and full of the Spirit of God.
At our return to Kathmandu, again our flight was cancelled, so we hired a jeep and rode 17 hours around and over the mountains back to the capital city. It was a cold and bumpy ride on dirt and rocks for four hours then (thankfully) paved road over mountain ranges. We arrived in Kathmandu at 6 a.m.
Praise God for a hot shower at the Tibetan guesthouse. That afternoon we flew to Kolkata, India. After a few hours of rest in a hotel near the airport, we returned to the airport to meet May, who landed at midnight from Malaysia.
We flew to Dimapur the next day.
Ethnic Tibetans (Nepal) Update
We hope that you are doing well. By His grace and because of your prayers, we are doing well. Words are not enough to appreciate how much you have done for us. Because of your prayers and support, the Gospel has been reaching the Tibetan communities in the Himalayas. Our Father in Heaven will continue to use you and bless you for His glory and honor.
Tibetan Pastors’ and Youth Empowerment Conference, 7-10 Feb 2017
Attended by 53 leaders and 75 youth. It was held at the Mission Center in Khandbari. It was the first time in that district to have youth and leaders’ empowerment conference. Our youth were restored spiritually, and returned to their churches to be a blessing. Leaders were guided to evaluate their ministries and received holistic equipping. Our speakers were Rev. Sonny from Ethnos Asia Ministries (addressing the pastors) and Moses Largado from Singapore (addressing the youth).
Seed Project: City Clean, 12 Feb 2017
Pastor Lakpa in Khandbari was able to mobilize the Khandbari Christian businesses and churches to clean the municipality. The Chief District Officer, the District Development Officer, and the public were amazed to see the Christian businesses cleaning the city. It was a good testimony and good impact of Christian community. We donated to this seed project.
Discipleship training in Dhading, 5-7 March 2017
We conducted discipleship training for 87 leaders. Most leaders do not know how to disciple their new converts. It was the first formal training for most leaders and they assured us that they will disciple their new believers properly. They each received a training manual and after follow up, we know that most have applied the lessons learned. This is a big encouragement for us.
Holistic Training for Ethnic Tibetan Christian Women, Sunday School and Youth, 16-18 March 2017
a. Women Empowerment Program, 16 March
In our churches, most women are unaware of their role in the church and lack understanding of the importance of personal hygiene. This training addressed these two problems and was very eye-opening for our women. Teachers were from Ao Baptist Church, Nagaland.
b. Sunday School Program, 17 March
Our first Sunday School training was led by special teachers from Nagaland. The trainers were very active and creative in teaching our children and coaching the teachers. Over 60 children have learned much, and Sunday school teachers as well.
c. Youth Consultation Meeting, 18 March
Fifty-five youths gathered in a hotel in Khandbari for this consultation. It was a really good time for them to discuss their future plans so that together we can have greater impact. These youths were also empowered and encouraged to move ahead in their walk with the Lord.
Help for Resurrected Widows, 12 April 2017
Sometimes very elderly people die and are taken to their funerals, but during the funeral they become alive. According to their culture, they cannot go back home. They are neglected and have no support. Our pastors and Khandbari business people gave mosquito nets, food, fruits and water filters for 36 such resurrected widows. This demonstrated our great love for them, and news of this act appeared in a famous daily newspaper.
Eye Clinic Camp at the Tibetan Border, 18-25 April 2017
By God’s grace, we were able to hold an eye clinic in Lingam village. It was a three day trek up from the main district. We hired nine donkeys and a man to carry all the equipment and medicines. Our team had a specialist eye surgeon, nurse, and general doctors. My pastor and I accompanied the eight doctors, all from Nepal, who are working in different eye hospitals. None of them are Christians. We were able to share the Gospel with those doctors en route to the village. In Lingam, we saw 121 eye patients. Eleven received cataract surgery. Due to bad weather, many aging people missed this opportunity. All patients were given free treatment—operations, medicine, and eyeglasses. All patients were very blessed and our Christian testimony was presented well. Praise God!
Pastoral Empowerment Program, Dhading, 8-11 May 2017
One of our ministry focuses is to equip our leaders to play active and creative roles in their own churches and communities. Phurpu and Pemba introduced 145 pastors to pastoral care and counseling tools that are very helpful for them. They are very excited to implement the teachings in their lives and ministries. We also taught them how to be self-sustaining. It was a big blessing for them.
Himalayas Fellowship Church
Himalayas Fellowship has been growing in quality and quantity. We aim to make it a model for our network of churches. Whatever we learn, we first implement in Himalayas Fellowship. This fellowship has been a spiritual practice center for us.
Himalayas Children’s Home and Khandbari Church
This home to 12 children is now supplied with food and proper clothes. We arranged with a local shop for the daily basic items needed, and we pay them every three months. We continue to trust the Lord for provision for the Tibetan children’s home. These children are growing in the Lord and we hope they will be a great witness for the Lord in their own villages.
