Indian-Nepal Mission Summer 2013

Greetings friends and family!

I pray the Lord’s blessing upon you.

Missions begins and ends with worship. By God’s great mercy let us practice our spiritual act of WORSHIP by offering our bodies as a LIVING SACRIFICE, holy and pleasing to God…Let us DIE to our own wants, needs, desires…let us lay down our lives so every nation, tribe and tongue will see how GREAT our God is! In Genesis 22 Abraham sacrifices his beloved son, Isaac. In verse 5 he tells his young men, Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and WORSHIP...in other words, Abraham is saying, stay here while I go sacrifice my son, whom I love. WORSHIP in all its fullness is sacrifice! Let us follow Abraham's example and lay down our Isaac. Let us follow Jesus who said, "If anyone would follow me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and come after me." MISSIONS begins with SACRIFICE...Missions ends with SACRIFICE. Are you willing to worship? Are you willing to sacrifice?

As many of you know, I have been to Nepal twice in the past year to further the Kingdom work. We have since been able to financially support a few children homes through selling Nepali gloves, hats and purses at local coffee shops (For more information about the children’s homes see our website: http://lighthouses4children.wix.com/light ). It is our mission to be directly involved in reaching the most un-evangelized people groups through prayer support, financial support and short-term missions.

As I still have one year left of seminary, I believe the Lord is leading me to spend another summer (2 ½ months) among the least reached peoples of India and Nepal.

My roommate, Spencer and I will spend a few weeks working among the poor in Varanasi and Kolkata, India. Varanasi is the spiritual capitol of India, often referred to as the “city of temples”. We pray the Lord will use us to SHINE the LIGHT of Christ in this very dark place. We will bus up to Kathmandu and connect with a few children homes. We will trek with a small team of Nepali pastors through the Himalayas sharing the Gospel in many villages.

 
God is doing a mighty work among the people of India and Nepal. I ask for your prayer for Spencer and I as we share the Gospel. Pray for open eyes and open hearts.  Romans 10:10 says it is with the HEART that one believes.

Pray for all the HEARTS we will encounter.

I will be sending out more informational updates and prayer requests.

If you would like to sew financially in God’s Kingdom by supporting my trip or the children homes send a check to:

1008 Biltmore Ave.

Lynchburg, VA 24502

·      Make the check out to: Gospel Community Church

·      In the Memo, put “Nepal trip” to sponsor me, or “Children Nepal” to support the children homes.

In Christ,

Holly Renee

Nepal Update Part 1

GREETINGS!


Monday, November 12th:

We arrived in Nepal's capitol, Kathmandu, on a cold overcast afternoon after 40 hours of travel from Washington DC. We crammed into the small taxi and were driven through the impoverished, bumpy streets to Mercy Children's Home. We quickly dropped off our luggage and walked to a nearby church where we met eight pastors and some of their wives.  We prayed with them for the youth camp that we were putting on over the next two days. Sher Lama, the pastor and founder of two children's homes, told me that he and most of these pastors from around Kathmandu had all been raised in the same children home many years ago. It was awesome to see how influential a children's home can be and that so many men and women of God came out of it. Sher Lama's raises the orphans as his own, they all call him, Buwa (father). He cares for the children and raises them up as disciples who love Jesus.

The next day we went to another children's home just outside of Kathmandu (the capitol) where we met another  amazing pastor, Lila Tamang, who also runs an orphan home. He and his wife care for 10 children plus two of their own. He is one of the strongest prayer warriors I have EVER met! When we arrived there was an old lady sitting on the floor. She told us (through translation) that her left hand had been paralyzed for many years and when Lila Tamang prayed over it in the name and blood of Jesus it was healed (this was a few years ago when she became a Christian). We prayed for this lady and her husband who was not a believer. Lila told us many more amazing stories about how people had been healed! My friend Spencer had torn all her tendons in both her ankles. She had been in constant pain for two years and the doctor told her she would need surgery. I had told Spencer that she could not come on the second half of our trip where we were going to hike to remote villages to share the gospel. After hearing all these stories about God's healing power, we asked if he would pray over Spencer's ankles. After an intense time of prayer and to my disbelief, Spencer said her ankle's were completely healed! On our 5 day trek she was in front of everyone the whole time.

Lila said there are around 300 Christians in a city of a 100,000! As we walked through the city idol worship was EVERYwhere! We even saw a lady bowing down and worshiping a "holy" cow!

We also met three adorable new orphan girls who Lila had just brought from the mountains. One of them had arrived the morning we got there! We stayed the night and this video is of the 5 orphan girls waking up the next morning: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10100633474529318


November 14th:
Yesterday we helped put on a youth camp where nearly 175 youth came from around Kathmandu. We were able to share our testimonies, teach from God's word, worship and pray over those who were sick.

November 15th:
This morning we are going with Iris Ministry and YWAM to feed to poor and share the gospel. Then we will be going to a Tibetan Children's home this afternoon.

November 16th
Tomorrow we take a long bus ride up to Pokarah and will stay at another children's home. Saturday we start our hike!

Until the whole WORLD hears,

Holly

Nepal Update! Part 2

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

I am just leaving Nepal after two wonderfully amazing weeks.

Yesterday we arrived in Kathmandu after our five day mission trek through the beautiful Anaparuna mountains. The day before we started our trek we visited a Tibetan’s children home called First Love Home. We spent the evening with 13 amazing children between the ages of 4 and 10. We had a time of worship and it was truly the most AMAZING worship I have EVER experienced. I have never seen children crying out to God, weeping, waling, and shouting out with joy and such zeal…it was intense to say the least. After worship the children described the way they felt while they were worshiping. One child said he felt Jesus hugging him and felt so much love, another said he felt like he was in heaven singing with the angels. Another one said he felt that God was much more powerful than a doctor (earlier that night that boy had told me he wanted to be a doctor when he grows up). Another quiet girl said she felt as if she was singing in God’s presence. I asked the children if they had ever seen Jesus and one girl said she had seen Jesus! Another boy said he had seen angels. Seeing their intense worship, I truly believe them. Three boys told me they want to be pastors and take the gospel to those who have never heard. I cannot tell you how intensely touched I was. God is so real to these children as they rely on Him for their every need. (See attached pic)

The next day we took a seven-hour bus ride to Pokarah through the windy green foothills with the white peaked Himalayas in the distance. We spent the night at another children’s home there. We hiked with two of the most amazing men I have ever met! Lila Tamang and Sher Lama are pastors in two different cities and they both care for 10 children in their homes along with their own children (right).

On our trek, we stopped in five different villages where we encouraged believers (if there were any). In one village we met three teenage sisters who hiked four hours to come meet us because they heard that (we) Christians were visiting! They are the only Christians in their village and wanted prayer and encouragement. One of the girl’s who was 14 years old had been suffering from headaches and depression for a few years. We had an intense time of prayer and afterwards she said that her headache was gone.

We also showed the Jesus Film in one village, handed out hundreds of gospel tracks, went to schools to make gospel bracelets for children, went door-to-door sharing the gospel and praying for the sick.  We saw many people healed and a few people gave their lives to the Lord.  One young man, Karma, was a Tibetan Buddhist. After hearing the Gospel and asking questions for nearly an hour he was ready to accept Christ. After he prayed he told Julie (my sister) to cut his Dali Lama necklace off because now he worshiped Jesus! Praise the LORD for His grace.

God is mightily working in Nepal and I want to be part of His work here! This is just a small glimpse of all the wonderful things that happened on our trip.

Thanks for your prayers and support!

Until the whole world HEARS,

Holly <><

Pray for Nepal

Day 1
Psalm. 98:2 The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. 

Father God, I pray that the Nepali people would turn to You from their idols and serve the living and true God and wait for Jesus, Your Son from heaven, whom You raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. I pray that the LIGHT of the gospel breaks through the satanic veil that blinds their eyes. Reveal yourself to them. Bring them to salvation so that the Word of the Lord would sound forth from the people of Nepal into all the world and that their faith in God would go everywhere! 

Day 2

James 3:17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 

 Lord, You are the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega, and there is nothing hidden from Your sight. You are the wisest counselor of all. I thank You for your promise, that You give wisdom to those who ask. 

Father God, I pray that you would give my team the wisdom we need to minister to the Nepali people. Fill us with heavenly wisdom that is pure, peace-loving, and considerate. Reveal to us the divine strategies we need to navigate the cultural issues we will face with the people of Nepal. Inspire us with creative solutions to the challenges that hold back the Gospel among the Nepalis. Lord, release your wisdom and light the path before us to penetrate this people group with the truth of Your love.

Day 3

Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 

Father, I thank You for the Holy Spirit that You have sent to lead us into all truth, I lift up the people of Nepal to You, and I pray for the children among them. Holy Spirit, I ask that today you would visit one of these children and spark in their heart the revelation of who You are. Over-shadow them with Your presence Lord, and touch them with the truth of Your love. Draw them near to You Lord, give them eyes to see beyond what they have been taught. Open their hearts to receive Your love and Your truth. Comfort them with Your peace and set them on a new course for the rest of their life.  

Day 4 

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. 

You, Oh God are Lord forever and there is no one who can challenge Your authority and power. You rule for ever and ever, and there is no end to Your Kingdom.

Lord, anoint my team as we work with wisdom and insight to reach out to the poor and needy. Enable us to put Your truth in a form that can be easily understood. Anoint our words with power to penetrate hearts. Open the ears of those who hear, and make the Good news of Your son Jesus, real to them.  Lord, Your heart is near to the poor and oppressed, anoint us, to represent you as Lord and Savior.

Day 5 

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.-Ephesians 3:14-21 

Father God, may your Kingdom come to Nepal. Shine your LIGHT and your truth into the hearts of the people. Awaken them! Give them ears to hear, eyes to see and hearts to receive your Word, your Spirit. May we be grounded in love so that we can have the strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and the depth and to know the love of Christ so we may be filled with all the fullness of Christ Jesus. 

Day 6

Father God,  may we be holy and have compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as You have forgiven us, so we also must forgive. And above all these we put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And may Your peace rule in our hearts, to which indeed we were called in one body. And may we be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in us richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in our hearts to God. And whatever we do, in word or deed, may we do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to you, God the Father... (Col. 3)

Day 7

Father God, I pray you would be in the midst of the Nepali people, a mighty one who will save. I thank you that you will rejoice over them with gladness, and quiet them by your love and exult over them with loud singing (Zeph 3:17) I pray you would pour your Spirit on the Nepali people, that their sons and daughters would prophesy and their old men would dream dreams and that their young men would see visions. (Joel 2:28-29)

a call to step UP

Believers must actively pursue being a part of fulfilling the Great Commission. Jesus said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations...” (Matthew 28:19) He said, “this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14) The church has had nearly 2000 years to share "this gospel of the kingdom" YET there are still nearly 9,000 people groups who have not heard the gospel (Joshua Project).

I urge you, dear brother's and sister's in Christ, to step up and get directly involved in fulfilling the Great Commission…especially among the UNREACHED.

I believe it all begins with PRAYER!!! 

Father God, we come to you in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ asking that you give the church a renewed and urgent passion to fulfill the Great Commission. Awaken the church, awaken our hearts to seek first YOUR Kingdom. May your Kingdom come to the unreached, to every nation, tribe and tongue. Show us how to empty ourselves so the Holy Spirit might well up in us a spring of LOVE that will overflow and spread to the ends of the earth. Send us, Oh God…send the church to the darkest places so it might shine with the brightest LIGHT as the fullness of Christ transforms our lowly sinful bodies. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear.  Unite the church and make us one just as your Son is one with you. Fill us with zeal for your house…zeal for spreading Your Kingdom. Come Lord Jesus...the Spirit and the Bride say, Come!

 

First Love Home

Zechi and Lola Lhomi were raised in a small Buddhist, Lhomi village near the Nepali Tibetan border. There are no roads that reach their village. To get there, one would have to walk miles through incredibly steep hills and valleys. Their village has no electricity and limited access to facilities such as schools and medical care. Zechi lived most of his life as cow shepherd and had to work hard for his livelihood farming wheat and potatoes.  

His village and culture are deeply rooted in Buddhism and the Lhomi people have strong spiritual pride. His life forever changed when he became a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. One day his younger brother became deathly ill. The Buddhist holy men tried to heal him but nothing worked. After many days a Christian man from a nearby village prayed for healing and slowly he was healed. Zechi and his family accepted Jesus as they saw the power of God displayed in their life. A church was founded in his village and Zechi became one of the leaders. A small revival sparked the surrounding villages and many people came to Christ. After some time a severe persecution rose from a Maoist Rebel group. They came with their machetes and threatened Zechi and the other church leaders and told them to leave. They tried to burn down the church and beat some of the Christians. They had to flee for their lives. After a while another village killed the Maoist rebel leader. His body was cut up into pieces and thrown into a river. He left a small boy behind named Thudok.

 

Three years ago Zechi and Lola felt God impress on their hearts to start First Love Home for Tibetan children. Their vision is to disciple children and train them up to be responsible Christ-filled adults who will return to their villages to share the Gospel. Currently they have 14 children and 4 of their own. Thudok (right pic), the son of Maoist rebel leader who severely persecuted them, now lives at First Love Home and he loves Jesus.

*Names have been changed

Psalm. 98:2 The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.

Seeking God's INSTRUCTION

There is, perhaps, nothing a Christian needs to more closely examine than his or her own presumed views and habits, for we are so prone to take God’s divine approval of them for granted, rather than seeking out his counsel and instruction in the Word! Let us examine ourselves, our habits, our ways and see if there is anything that is hindering us from fully following God. 

1 Chronicles 13 tells the account of King Davids endeavor to bring the ark of God back to Jerusalem. David just became King of Israel and is living in Jerusalem. He has good intentions of bringing the ark of God to Jerusalem. All Israel goes to get the ark. They put it on a new cart to bring to Jerusalem. "And when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put out his hand to take hold of the ark, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark, and he died there before God. And David was angry because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah."-1 Chronicles 13:9-11 

Even though David and all of Israel have good and right intentions to please the Lord, they did not seek His instruction. Uzzah perishes because of his lack of knowledge in understanding of how to correctly carry the ark of God. David learns a harsh lesson and seeks the Lord for instructions of how to correctly carry the ark of God.

Two chapters later, David realizes God is blessing the house of Obed-Edom because of the ark. He goes to bring it to Jerusalem, however he does it differently this time. He does not put the ark on a CART like he did the first time. David seeks the Lord's instruction. He realizes that no one but a Levite can carry the ark of God. In 1 Chronicles 15:13-15, David says, "Because you (Levites) did not carry the ark the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not seek him according to the rule."

The priests and the Levites consecrate themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord. This time, the Levites carry the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the LORD.

"So all Israel brought up the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD with shouting, to the sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and made loud music on harps and lyres" (vs28). 

So often we are like David and Uzzah, we have good intentions to follow God and seek him but we are not going about it in the right way. Hosea said the people perish because they lack knowledge. We must examine our own presumed views and habits, rather than taking God’s divine approval of them for granted. Let us examine ourselves, our habits, our ways and see if there is anything that is hindering us from fully following God. 

Lord, search us this day. Search our hearts and minds and bring to our attention any hbait or presumed view that might hinder us from following You!