Category: Latest Updates

I originally wrote a long post about the time at the orphanage late that night. When I hit “publish” it disappeared, never to be flung. It was late, wifi was sketchy, so I just went to sleep. So, here is the alternate version!

When we got into the airport in Kathmandu, it was as uncrowded as I have ever seen it. It was a breeze getting our entry visas, luggage, and we were soon on the way to the hotel. The streets were relatively free of any traffic, the air was clear. I thought, is this REALLY Kathmandu? From the hotel we went up to the orphanage. On the way the taxi driver told us that it was a national holiday, as the government was going to announce that evening whether the new constitution would have a Hindu government or a secular government. We were told that most people wanted a secular government, which would give more religious freedom to everyone. More on that later.

We were warmly greeted at the orphanage by the children, giving us garlands and flowers. When we gave the duffel bag to Maya to open it and give the stuffed animals to the kids, it was truly a joy to see. They each went for one they liked and hugged them and smiled. I have it on film but my iPad is in such bad shape I really can’t upload the video yet. We also presented Dev with money that people had donated for the orphanage. Anyway, it was a remarkable scene. We stayed for a while and went down the street to where the new facility is being built. It is on property given to the orphanage by a Christian man who is a builder. He is doing a lot of the construction himself. He then invited us to sit in his patio for some delicious tea served by his wife. It was such a pleasant evening. It was then time to go. The government was going to announce the decision. If it was to be a Hindu government, there would be some rioting. We did see lines of military and police personnel at the ready. But soon we saw the joy and celebrating in the streets all the way back to the hotel. I will never forget all I saw.

Then on Monday morning we had breakfast at the hotel with 2 Nepalese pastors and a couple who direct the CC Bible College in Kathmandu. I was able to present several thousand dollars that people had donated to Pastor Baburam, who distributes food and supplies to village churches who in turn distribute it to their villages. It makes a huge difference in those mountain villages where help has still been very sparse.

Then we headed for the airport for the flight to Mumbai, followed by a 6-hour drive to Pune. So, here I am about to be picked up for the Pastor’s Conference.

Love to you all.

David

Today I met up with my travel partners for the next week, Pastors Jeff Gipe and John Knapp, from Orange County and Las Vegas respectively. But we all got to meet for the first time a 35 year-old Indian man named Jose. That’s right, an Indian man named Jose!! It is actually pronounced Joss, but he says everyone calls him Jose. Anyway, he is a brilliant, articulate young man who wants to start a Calvary Chapel church in Mumbai. Many years ago he attended a Calvary Chapel Bible College in Hungary. Since that time he has been a successful businessman. But it is now time for him to head in that direction. He was really wanting to meet someone from a Calvary Chapel. He was told by a friend of Jeff that we just happened to be in Mumbai, so he made plans to stop by the hotel. We just spent 4 hours talking with him, having dinner together, and getting to know him. It was a very nice time of hearing his remarkable story and encouraging him. He is hoping to accompany us to the conference on Tuesday.

Well, tomorrow we fly to Kathmandu for a visit to the orphanage and meetings with the CC Bible College Director, whom I met last week in Thailand, and Pastor Baburam, who will meet us on Monday morning. We’ll return to Mumbai Monday evening, then go to the city of Pune. Looking forward to this next week’s activities.

 

Thanks for praying!

David

Well the conference has ended. It is a very rainy night here in Bangkok! Here are a few glimpses of some of the people I met:

 

I had dinner one evening with a man who had been a police officer in Houston for many years, and a young American woman. They both help run a place in Cambodia where they help rescue women from prostitution. They operate 3 homes where the girls are protected, educated, and set on a good path. Right now there are 30 girls they are caring for. Their stories are truly unbelievable, and reveal the ugliest side of humanity. They and the others running the houses are bringing light and salvation and love and new beginnings to the girls, while teaching them skills and trades.

I spoke with an elderly lady who has lived in a remote area of Thailand for decades, running a small Bible school in a village. She showed me photos of the thatched-roof home she lives in. She said, “Would you think about coming and teaching the students?”.  I said, “we’ll talk”!

Met a pastor from Fallbrook, California who was there with a young couple from his church who run a school in the south of Cambodia. They began a few years ago with a handful of students but now have grades k-11 with about 500 students. They not only educate but are very clear that they also teach the Gospel to all the students. They have the favor of the government. They have Muslim parents begging them to enroll their kids in the school, but they have no space right now. They have some remarkable stories.

I met several people from Nepal who have invited me to go to the eastern area of the country to help train pastors.

There is so much more. There are some very dedicated people all over Asia doing wonderful things.

I received a great deal of good feedback from my teaching session, which is very nice! I also taught a workshop on how to extract the true meaning of Bible texts. It was well-attended and there was some good discussion.

So, now on to Mumbai tomorrow morning. Again, thanks for all the prayers.

 

David