The G Family

***Names have been changed.***

Approximately 25 years ago, there were no Christians in the villages of Palung or Kunchal (probably all of Nepal). There are still many villages that are completely unreaches. The majority of people in Nepal are Hindu or Buddhist, there are even some who still practice black magic that is associated with tribal witch doctors. 

So before the G family knew the name of Jesus, there was one man, named Bono (because he looks like U2's Bono), who was a Christian. He met Jesus while living in Bhutan. He didn't meet them until later. 

In the early 90's there were 3 young men from Kunchal: Sam, Harry and Bob. Harry and Bob went to Kathmandu and heard the gospel and gave their life to Christ. They came back and shared the gospel with Sam and he accepted Christ too. The three young men were kicked out of their homes and had no income and very little education. They all lived together and began using their home as a church. They invited people every Saturday. The first week, there were 5 new believers. Harry became the pastor of that church and continues to be their lead pastor. After a few years, Sam went to YWAM. He eventually became staff and taught in the School of Biblical Studies for 11 years. During his first few years there, he heard that a family in Palung with his same last name had become Christians. Turns out that Bono had prayed for the dad to be healed and he was, so the whole family got saved. Sam came to meet them and eventually Sam married the oldest daughter Rhonda. They have the same last name but are generations apart. For several years, the G family would walk from Palung on Saturdays for 2 hours to go to church in Kunchal. Several people from Kunchal would walk 2 hours to Palung on Tuesday mornings to worship and pray before the girls went to school. There was another village about 7 hours walking distance that had Christians and they would take turns walking there each week to have fellowship with those Christians too. 7 hours, up and down mountains, crossing the same river 24 times (because it's curvy)!! 

Rhonda's dad, Bua, eventually became the preacher in Palung. Today, Sandy, Rhonda's little sister, lives in Kunchal in Sam's old house taking care of 5 orphans. Sam and Rhonda live in Kathmandu with their kids and train pastors and leaders in the church all over Nepal. Sam still teaches YWAM schools occasionally in Pokhara. Rhonda is passionate about women's ministry. 

In the 2008 earthquake many of their homes were destroyed. Rhonda's parents now live above the church. 

I met the G family through my friend Amanda. She lives in Kathmandu and works with a House of Prayer missions base that hosts ex-pats who want to do missions while centered in 24/7 prayer. The HOP is ran by Charlie and Jasmine, a newly married couple. They have two sons Richard and Oscar, both under 3 years. When Amanda first came to Nepal a few months after the earthquake, she worked with a ministry that Charlie and Jasmine were affiliated with. Eventually, Amanda met the G family and lived with them for the first year of her life. She is now connecting the G family to the HOP so that they can partner together since they both love Jesus, train pastors, and run Children's homes. I will share more about the HOP later.

I will be traveling to Pokhara on the 19th with Sam and Rhonda. 

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I came back to the city earlier than expected because of tooth pain again. I have a dentist appointment today. We will go back to the villages on Friday. I will preach on Saturday and then we are hosting a conference fire new believers on Sunday and Monday. I will share there too. Please keep these in your prayers. I will be preaching on being an overcomer, the character of God and intercession over those 3 days. Then we come back and quickly turn around and head to Pokhara. A couple of physical prayer requests: I am super dizzy I think because of blood pressure meds. I have tried to stop taking them but that complicates things. I am going to see if I can get a lower dose of pills or something. Obviously, the tooth issue too. My hip has started hurting again as well. I am also breaking out in a rash on my hands. I think it's from eating so much rice. These are all tolerable/survivable but when Jesus can heal, why not ask for that! Will you join me? 

I am really enjoying myself here despite all of the hardships, but I am looking forward to being home too. I miss you all very much. I know I will miss Nepal like crazy! Maybe God will allow me to return one day! See most of you in 2.5 weeks!!