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Well, I’ve now been home for 24 hours. I want to tell you all about the last couple of days of this great adventure.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, I participated in the conference of pastors in Nepal. There were 52 pastors in attendance from all over the country. I recognized many of the faces, and there were some new guys there as well. The location was where it had been the past couple of years, in the hills outside of Kathmandu. It is about a 45-minute to an hour’s drive, depending on traffic. Our driver on Tuesday got a bit lost as we got closer to the venue, so he pulled over to ask directions from 2 men standing behind a gate. I then realized it was the gate to the hotel/resort I stayed at the past 2 years, where the building that held both my room and the restaurant was completely destroyed during the earthquake, killing the occupants. The gate was locked and I asked if I could get inside in order to take a picture. But they said, no, it is destroyed and closed. I could see single-story lobby building was still standing, but couldn’t see beyond it. Neither of the 2 men, nor the driver could understand English while I tried to tell them that I had stayed there. Anyway, it was a bittersweet moment for me, a reminder of how uncertain life can be.
Anyway, we shortly arrived at the destination and enjoyed 2 days of being with the pastors. By the second day, I was running on fumes and my voice was kind of shot. By my last session on Wednesday I was ready to go home!
One of the great things about being there and working with HMU is that the HMU leaders, as well as the pastors, want to establish a Pastor’s Training Center in or near Kathmandu. It would be different than a Bible College, focusing on training pastors how to study and teach the Bible, how to lead, and much more. I tried to think of someone who might have the time and ministry to do that! Actually, they are very interested in me being an integral part of it. Also on this trip, when I was in Mumbai, a pastor expressed to me how that what I do is definitely needed in Mumbai and would I consider having a training center in or near Mumbai. The young man who I worked with there for the men’s conference, Jose, told me the same thing. Something to definitely pray about.
So, I left Nepal on Thuesday morning, flying direct to Mumbai. I checked in to the hotel by the airport and shortly thereafter was met by Jose and his wife Sarah. We spent an hour kind of debriefing about the men’s conference. He also asked if I would be willing to invest time in helping him learn to teach the Bible. Good thing we can Skype!
So, my plane lifted off at 4:30 the next morning. I am now safely home.
I will write one more blog tomorrow with some final thoughts. It was a wonderful trip and I am thankful every day that I get to do what I do.
I have included a pic of the pastors in Nepal, as well as a pic of Pastor Baburam and his wife. He is the man who received our relief donation money last year and traveled to many villages, coordinating relief efforts.
David

OK, I am going to do some catching up now. It is Thursday afternoon in Nepal, and I am at the airport awaiting my flight.

On Monday, we were met at the hotel by Pankaj and Tonielle, the couple who are the directors of the CC Bible College in Kathmandu. With them was their absolutely adorable 4-month old son, Levi. After breakfast, they took us (with me this week was Pastor Ed Hickey from London, Ontario, Canada) to the campus. It is a very nice multi-building facility. School was in session and we got to look in on a couple of classes and meet the school staff. They have a very good thing going on there, with mostly Nepalese students, and some from India as well. God has given them favor in the area, so they campus is a testament to just how wonderfully God provides. After spending time there, we were taken to the main shopping area of Kathmandu, called Thamel. We had lunch and looked around for a bit. My big souvenir was 2 bags of Nepal-grown coffee!

A couple of hours later, we were picked up at the hotel by Dev, the orphanage director. I was looking forward to seeing the progress with their new building.It was raining and there was some lightning and thunder as well. When we got there, of course, as is the custom, we were greeted by the children, handing us leis and flowers. The building is so nice, a multi-
story facility that is very sturdily built. It has lots of rooms and a beautiful, large kitchen. I couldn’t take very many pictures because it was near dark and the building has no electricity yet (However, they are supposed to have it today). But I have included a pic of the exterior. The next door neighbor of the orphanage, a Christian builder, has been an immense help in getting it all done. He is also well-connected with many professionals, as he has constructed many of their homes. So, for example, if any of the kids are sick, he makes a call and they are immediately seen by a doctor, whose home he built. He is a “ good uncle”, as Dev says.
It is great to see the children now in a safe, permanent home. Thanks to so many of you who so generously contributed to the orphanage toward their earthquake relief, and now to the construction of the new home. There was lots of laughter and joy as I watched the kids play. And, Dev and Maya are loving parents to the kids.
We then went back to the hotel to get ready for the pastor’s conference scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. I will write more on that later.

Thanks for the prayers!

David

Today is Monday, but I’ve got to tell you about our wild Sunday. I was picked up at the hotel at about noon for the nearly 2-hour drive to the other side of Delhi. We finally arrived at the destination, where a couple of things were planned. As we were waiting in the car for someone, I was intrigued by a group of boys playing a game of cricket in an empty lot. I was about to get out of the car to get a closer look when I realized there was a group of about 75-80 women of all ages standing next to the car, ready to begin a peaceful demonstration/march through the neighborhood. They were chanting something in Hindi, banging some drums and smiling as they passed us. Well, then it was time for us to go. We drove a few blocks and got out of the car. There was a line of about 40 lepers from a leper colony, waiting to be given food. We were there to assist with the food distribution. After a prayer, I was asked to be the first to scoop some rice into the bowls of the first few in line. It was a privilege to serve them. Then the next person was asked to help. As I moved out into the street, I saw the women’s demonstration heading toward me. As they passed in front of us, waving and, in some cases, shaking and even kissing our hands and shouting “America”, three police vehicles pulled up, the officers getting out of the cars. It was kind of bizarre with the food distribution to the lepers, the march, and the police presence all converging in the same place at the same time, while a crowd of curious onlookers continued to grow. We were then whisked away to a nearby church, where we participated in a worship service of 3 churches. We were very warmly welcomed and each offered a word of encouragement. Then it was off for the hour drive to the airport for our 10 PM flight to Kathmandu. As we were leaving the church, a young girl ran out of the church and up to me and said one word, something that is universally understood as she pointed to her cell phone: “Selfie”. (Notice the pastor who photobombed us!)
We safely landed, retrieved our bags and got to the hotel at about 11:15 PM. In the taxi on the way from the airport to the hotel, I watched on my iPad via Periscope as Josh Lott preached at CCS!

It was an action-packed day and it all ended too quickly.

Today was really great, but it is late and I’ll write about it in the morning.

Thanks for reading and keeping in touch.

David