Back in America...a sinister work the Devil does

So here we are back in our little home in Michigan, and Nepal seems like a memory of the past now.  It's incredible how quickly these missionary experiences, or any other amazing spiritual event fades.  Thankfully people regularly ask us about our time there so we are forced to relive and retell our story.

Interestingly it was the Christmas season when we came back to America.  Ironically we landed in a touristville Honolulu, Hawaii, which is worlds different then third world Nepal.  For me, it didn't feel like Christmas...everything I saw felt like a sinister trick from the Devil.  People are going all over buying so many gifts to appease their false inner desires, entertainment (sports, techie toys, cars, and ect) galore to waste our time, materialism and fashion to suck our every thought, and rich foods to keep us salivating for more.  The thing is, in America we don't need idols with ten arms and fierce looking painting of a strange monkey God on our walls to be worried about.  No, we don't have that, yet, wishfully I "wish" we did.  It would be easier to spot what we need to run from.  We would not be tempted to bow down to a Buddha statue, or recant a puja (worship).  In the States, Satan works by different rules to catch these "unbelieving" people.

In C.S. Lewis's book, "The Screwtape Letters," the arch demon tells his novice nephew that it's best when they can get their patients (that would be you and I) to not believe in them, because those who don't believe in a Devil won't believe in a God either.  If we doubt the supernatural realm and its doings, it goes to the advantage of Satan.  We seem to forget so easily that at every waking moment we should be on guard.  Sin desires to engulf itself around us, and Satan finds a way to make it attractive.  Please let me be the first to say I love movies, sports, dressing well, and the finer things of life, but there has to be a point where we say ENOUGH!

Be on guard and watch out for the sinister ways.

God is creating a people by grace that are distinguished by their works.  Let's never forget that God desires for us to give up everything for Him, as He did for us, and tell the world of His love.  Let the Love of God compel you to change the world, and please don't get caught in the sinister ways.    

Giving it all...no food left.

You know its funny how someone in this part of the world could live on 1 to three dollars a day. It's unimaginable to do that in the US. I know that with inflation and our cost of products that would not be possible, but in what ways are we wasting our money? And how much better could we be spending it and saving for projects, missions, and making wonderful memories for those not as privileged. Kids have dreams out here to do amazing things, but where are they going to get the money to afford a decent education? Our neighbor is about 21 and would love to be an engineer, but his family can't afford the money for him. School here is almost the price of private University prices. Just today "I had a slap in the face awakening" when I went to a home and shared an encouraging message with a single mom with two children, whose father is working in Malaysia to send money home (I go with the Bible workers to preach because they know where to go and what house, and ect., so I don't go to just random houses, but I have haha). Well it's customary that people will prepare a meal for you afterwards. I heard that people will give the last of their food to you even if it means they have nothing, but I hadn't experienced it till today somewhat (most people have gardens so they can grow quite a bit). When she made sure we were stuffed to the brim, her son kept asking for some more food, but she kept motioning him away. Then I realized she had given us the last bit of what she had. I felt terrible. It really brings to perspective the story of how a women gave two mites for the work of the Lord, while others gave more, but not nearly the amount she sacrificed. The Love that these people share with us here is so amazing and it puts to shame the way we hoard, are selfish, unaffectionate, unfriendly, greedy, lack of concern for the poorest of these. Give it all, the Lord is coming soon, what do we honestly have to lose? Our lives, money, pride, our comfortable living...what is that in comparison to the glory of Christ and having Him say one day, "Good done, well and faithful servant."

Preach and the demons come out!

So this Saturday Elena and I were both in different cities preaching.  Elena was sharing with the youth Sabbath school class about purity and Godly relationships and I was preaching about the three Elijah's (email me and I'll tell you about the three Elijah's).  It was such a wonderful opportunity for me to encourage a Nepali congregation, so I was quite eager to preach there.  It is really quite an experience to preach to people who are hungry for the Word of God.  Well, I made an appeal for re-dedication of their faithfulness to Jesus, living the life Christ would want, and my second appeal was to make disciples, preparing the way for the second coming of Jesus.  While people stood up for the appeal, (there is no isle to walk to, they all sit on the floor), they also then sang the final hymn.  After the hymn I prayed and then a women to my left in the front just started crying all of a sudden when I finished.  Her crying turned to sobbing, as if she had suffered some great loss.  Then, she started shaking, and making some strange sound with her mouth.  "What is going on," I was thinking to myself?  I and many others, including the main elder from the microphone started praying "IN Jesus name..." Then she calmed down and plopped to the floor.  She was possessed.  We all circled her and prayed again for her.  Someone put their Bible on her head, and I laid my hands on her head and prayed over her.  I believe that whatever was tormenting her left, but the grace of Jesus.

Such occurrences are not abnormal here in Nepal, actually they are normal in many churches.  This was my first experience with this.  The elder, told me jokingly that the a third of the fallen angels live in Nepal.  I wouldn't be surprised.  There is open rebellion against Christ, with idol worship, sacrificing animals to gods, uncontrolled crimes, paganism and shamanism.

Interestingly though, I believe Satan does a more sinister work in the Western world, where maybe not so much of these experiences happen regularly.  Satan traps us with amusements, worldly waste, anything to keep us from a daily walk with the Lord, business in work, school and home care, and whatever else he can muster.  Be faithful friends the time is coming near to the second coming, and we have to preach the blessedness of Christ sacrifice for us, the love He has for sinners, and His soon return.  Preach...and live a life aware of what is going on around you.  Keep us in your prayers...

Why Go to Nepal?

Filip and I (Elena) first want to share a verse that we hope to be not only mission for our two and a half month stay in Nepal but, Lord willing, the very themes that flies as a banner over our lives. That is,

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing of the finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” (Isaiah 58:4)

As the verse (and entire chapter) speaks profoundly too, our lives here on earth are about mission. Of course, I do not want to advert the first and foremost purpose of our lives being worship of God, but I think that many of us, myself included, forget to get up out of my seat and allow mission to be the outflow of our worship to God.  As Theologian John Piper articulates well, “Worship is the fuel and goal of missions. It’s the goal of missions because we in missions simply aim to bring nations into the white hot enjoyment of God’s glory” (Let the Nations Be Glad).  As we are transformed more and more into Christ’s likeness the inclinations of our hearts conform to his and we too desire to see God’s kingdom here on earth. We desire to be at the very heart of God’s work, which as defined in James 1:27 includes helping the orphan and widow in their distress.

So with that foundation, Filip and I seek to serve in various capacities here in Nepal for both God’s glory and the furthering of His Kingdom! 

Rice Harvesting!

Yesterday was the most exhausting day I (Filip) have had here in Nepal.  At the end of the day I was so tired, I couldn't get up to go to prayer meeting, I feel asleep at 5 pm.  That morning, when I walked out of our apartment I saw a church family harvesting their rice.  I thought, "You know, this would be a good thing to try while I am here."  If you have never seen rice grown, it looks similar to that of wheat fields, except its growing in moist, wet ground.  So, I got a small sickle, and started cutting.  The Nepali people working at the hospital compound started watching this foreigner in the fields.  People laughed, stared, whispered, and thought, "How much are you paying him?"  After you cut the rice stalks, its stacked, then carried to a holding place to then actually take off the rice capsules from the stalks.  These people work sooooo hard.  To be honest there is no laziness allowed.  It's survival work, or starvation.  The average person makes less then 70 rupees, equal to one dollar.  The family I was helping had the father carrying the stacks, then the mother, and two daughters were cutting the stalks.  You wouldn't believe it, but even the 76 year old grandmother was cutting the stalks in the mud too!  Incredible!   Nepal is like Bible times.

Several Prayer Requests

If you don't know already, Nepal is 85% Hindu, with the other majority Buddhist, and a small percent are Christian.  It is quite a different form of evangelism that is needed with people who view the world with a totally different worldview.  Regardless, I (Filip) have begun to befriend one of the Hindu teachers who has taken a liking to me, and we have had several great discussions about Christianity and Hinduism.  Pray for a continued open heart to hear about the Lord that Jesus has for this young man.

Our relatives here, the Cardona family, (we are related by marriage through Alan, Mirta's husband, Filip's sister), are working in a remote village in the mountains for a few days with great need for Bible work.  Sonya and Madeline went with three others.  It took four days to get there, two days on bus, and two days walking into the mountains.  They are having issues with the pastor, who hasn't been fully transformed in his heart.  He doesn't seem to mind getting drunk and preaching at the same time.  All of them are exhausted from the journey, with blisters and fatigue.  Pray for a safe return and to reap a plentiful harvest.  

Elena's Birthday!

October 17th, which was yesterday was Elena's birthday.  So, to begin celebrating, on Saturday night we had a party with the missionaries here.  Two other couples had a birthday earlier this week, Ramon and Cathy, so we joined the fun.  It was a good time, with American food, which is nice sometimes, and we played "Gestures".   It was so funny because virtually all the missionaries are foreigners so everyone was making their best guess at these english definitions.  We had quite the laugh :)

The next day we took off to for a little romantic birthday getaway to Nagarkot, a village town with the best panoramic view of the Himalayan mountain range.  It was quite a nice adventure.  We didn't realize this would be a small village without ATM's or VISA acceptance in the hotel, and we didn't bring much cash, so we had to hold our breath, we were almost going to roll up our sleeves and start washing the dishes to pay for our say in the "Peaceful Cottage."  It was a remarkable view.  We awoke at 5.30 this morning and had a view that was almost 200 degrees of mountain ranges.  Everest was sadly covered by the fog, but still it was incredible.  After this we caught a ride back down the mountain with a delightful couple, Denise and Tim.  We met them the night before.  They are from England.  We had such a good time with them.  They were quite kind and even tried to pay for our dinner at the hotel (sadly I payed already, rats! :)  Although, Tim felt bad for not buying these young college students dinner, that instead he payed our entrance into the city of Baktapur's 14th century ancient region.  It's amazing the kindness that you find around the world.

Month Review AND Our First Week

For many, you have followed Elena's Facebook, but we've decided to keep a blog with comments on significant events.  Since, we just started, there is a lot to catch up on in the last month.  So far, we have: visited Hong Kong (while we waited for the flight to Nepal), taught several classes in the hospital school, preached many times, visited remote SDA Christian villages in the mountains, done site seeing through the Valley region where we live, encountered majestic views, shadowed medical missionaries, had flashbacks to Bible times during Hindu festivals where animal sacrifices were being done (issues of Romans 14-16 are significant here!).  We have had quite an adventure so far, and we plan on keeping you posted!

First Week Review:

As Filip and I discussed, it hasn’t felt like a mere week of being in Nepal but many weeks. Nothing here in Nepal provides any resemblance of our world.  This is a third world.  The nations of the world truly sustain Nepal with aid of all kinds.  The Japanese are building roads, the US send money for schools, the UN provides protection and humanitarian aid, along with many other countries. 

We first set foot in Katmandu, Nepal around 11:30 pm local time. Our first impressions were quite daunting as most of the city either does not have electricity or chooses to scarcely use it because of the its tremendous cost. Even the airport parking lot was completely unlit. Therefore, as we stepped from the baggage terminal to the parking lot we were immediately uncomfortable to find ourselves surrounded by men, all vying for their taxi surface, an in nearly pitch darkness. Just as we began to fear that our ride wasn’t aware of how delayed our plane was, a well dressed, gentle man, Dr. Cordona, the medical director, approached us and extended his welcome and quickly ushered us to a vehicle.  As we drove from Katmandu to Banipal, My first impression was quite daunting as we jolted around in the car we slowly made our way over large mud pot holes and mounds of dirt in the road.

However, as we woke the following morning, to the sound of a close Hindu temple playing their morning worship.  We also we awoke to find ourselves with an incredible view of the rice fields and mountains stretching out beyond. The view is truly beautiful.

We have been more warmly welcomed than I’ve ever imagined possible. Already we feel such a kindred spirit with many of the missionaries working on the base. Their hearts from sharing the gospel message of Jesus Christ is unlike anything I’ve every witnessed before in my life. Many are busy preaching, teaching in their homes as well as traveling to remote villages multiple times a day. Even many of the Nepali youth have caught the fire of sharing the good news. Some of the young men from the church that Filip is working with regularly attend high school from six to ten in the morning and then use the rest of their day to travel and preach and teach in various villages. Filip is so excited to partner with them in their work.

During our first weekend, we had the opportunity to travel with the Cardona family as well as several pastors and bible workers from local churches, to a small, isolated village located in the mountains about an hour away from the Chinese border in order to celebrate a communion and foot washing service with them. Though the church was about eight years old and had grow to about fifty members, this was something they had never done before. Therefore, much instruction was needed and demonstration of the communion significance.

The work in Nepal is great and already weighs so heavily on our hearts. Christianity is but a very small voice in culture so dominated by Hinduism. Many of those who claim to be followers of Christ have merely added Jesus as an addition to their collection of many deities. Also, so much teaching and training of the believers is needed. Most believers are the only ones from their families and therefore lack a foundation of knowledge often acquired from hearing scripture from a young age.

As one of the missionaries told us, “the people are hungry for theology. They do not merely want to hear stories, they want to study the bible.”

Filip and I spend several hours every day working in Esa Memorial Elementary School located on the compound. In spite of it being a Chrisitan school, there is only one part-time SDA Christian teacher on staff. The reason for this is that to date, the school simply has not had many Christians or SDA teachers both willing and qualified to fill such positions. This grieves our hearts tremendously. In past, the school has been and still is a primary outreach tool of the church that has brought many of the current members into the church. The same high school boys and girls that daily teach in the villages around Banepa were converted through their experience at the school. Now however, the Hindu teachers are anything but desirous or knowledgeable to teach bible classes or inspire children with the good news of the gospel of Christ.   Thank-fully Cathy, an educated teacher from the states and wife of one of the doctors is able to teach Bible classes and English on a daily basis.