It's a Date!

Man am I exhausted. Since getting a second job at the local bike shop, I haven't had a day off in several weeks, with no sign of one in the horizon. It's cold. My body is sore from biking. My sleep pattern is eschew. Man is it good to feel alive!

Just heard from Mohan in Nepal, the dates have been set! I will be in Nepal from February 9th through May 18th. It's all starting to come together. Now that the dates are known, I now have deadlines to set. It's all so overwhelming and exciting all at the same time.

How Goes Nepal?

Planning is still underway for the trip. So far my activities while I am there are for sure going to include bicycle repair and tune-ups. Which is cool because I just got a second job at the local bike shop.

As far as dates go, I'm looking at the second week of February to the third week of May.

I've been doing a lot of studying up on Hindu culture, cross-cultural mission and bicycle mechanics. I have a stack of 10 or so books I'm trying to get through at the moment. I am praying that all of this head knowledge will be easily applied in the field.

Quick Update

Heard back from Mohan and it's a go for February through May-ish. The specifics now depend on visas and flight plans. Also was able to get a little more information on whats going on in Nepal. Mohan is starting a Frontiers Mission Center in Pokhara to help facilitate the training of church planters closer to the villages. This will help with efficiency and allow training to take place without the distraction of culture shock that occurs when coming from a rural village into a city.

Scheming

I am currently in the process of plotting and planning. I have just e-mailed Mohan, my contact in Nepal, to set a specific time frame and to start working out what this trip is going to look like.

mission:nepal

Hey all! Thought I'd give you an update on my Nepal trip.

The time frame has been set at February through June. This gives me time to prepare, file paperwork, and raise funds.

The city I will be based in is Pokhara, which is 123 mi west of the capital, Kathmandu. From Pokhara, I will be joining various church plant teams in rural Nepal. We will be planting churches in Hindu and Muslim communities, places that can only be reached on foot or by bicycle. The government has been in transition since Maoist rebels overthrew the monarchy in 2006 with hopes of creating a communists state. However, the people of Nepal have been able to form a democracy instead, but with Maoists leadership. Persecution in heavy in the rural areas among the different communities, but open governmental persecution is rare.

Look for a facebook group and blog in the coming week. I'll be posting more information on those as preparations are made and I will be able to update through those from Nepal.

Mr. Smith Goes to Pokhara

So we finally heard back from out contact in Pokhara, Nepal.

"Regarding Andrew, we are ready to have him in one of our CP [Church Plant] place. We are going get a room with our CP family and he will eat with our guys. Please let me know when he wants to come."

There it is ladies and gents. Looks like I've got me a destination.

I'll let you know when the dates are set.

Some Thoughts on the Trip

I am waiting patiently to figure out where in the world I'll be going. We finally heard back from our contact in Nepal. He said there's a possibility that I can be used out there. He is waiting for one of his team members to return from a village. He hasn't heard from him in awhile. Apparently he's in a place where you have to walk to. No roads. Crazy.

Also, Nepal's government is currently going through a shift of power. Their monarchy was overthrown by Maoists in August. So they are currently going through a major process of settling and adjusting to whatever governmental changes may occur. With that in mind, the liberty to openly talk about Nepal might be more restricted in the coming months in relation to my going there.

Our other contact in Thailand is currently in transition. She is between homes at the moment. She felt the need to move on from where she was at, as the Thai leadership was sufficient to be on there own. She is now waiting to see were G-d would have her be, whether it be an outlying village, or if she should even stay in Thailand at all.

In response to all these haps, I've been looking into cultures and customs. It has been a real eye opener. Not just on the cultural aspects of the trip, but on the financial/material side as well. Considering I could live in Thailand for around $12 a day. This would include room & board, food, transportation, and a translator. It has caused me to sincerely take stock in how I live. I don't have much in comparison to my fellow Americans, but in comparison my brothers and sisters in other parts of the world, I'm wealthy.

This revelation has caused me to try to live simpler. Try to be more grateful. Less entitled. It has also cause me to seek the Creator in ways that transcend words. I haven't even left the country and I'm already starting to be effected by the prospect of serving overseas. It is no small honor to be called to be an Ambassador of the Kingdom, at home or abroad. However, I cannot think of anything more humbling than this as well.

I'll continue to keep you posted.

The Trip...

So, a little update on The Trip. After a talk today with the leader of my church's Missionary Care team, we have it narrowed to a region. Southeast Asia. The next step is to contact our missionaries to see where the area of greater need is. If you'd like to pray, pray for direction. We want the Father's will to be done in the selection of my destination.

My Mission if I Choose to Accept...

Was playin some b-ball today with some of the home school kids. Rolled my ankle during a game of rim ball. no bueno.

today i was presented with a very big ministry opportunity. there is the possibility of an overseas long term trip. while it is something i've been earnestly praying for [more vaguely for a chance to be used] i don't want to be too hasty.

i've been on a few mission trips and love the chance to experience different cultures and the fellowships of other disciples. this trip would be like no other. aside from a hugely different culture, i'd be goin alone. No 10-20 person teams. No set schedules. No known contacts. it will most definitely be the trip of a life time.

i don't want to give details just cause it's not a definite. i'm not into building up and then tearing things down when things fall through.

so i ask you for your advice and your prayers.