Jaymasi!
So I'm currently drawing a blank as to what week I'm on. I've gotten used to life without luxuries like calendars and computers.
Ahhhhh, where to begin? So much has happened the past few weeks it's hard to arrange my thoughts. I'll try my best.
So the banda finally ended and Uttar and I were able to catch a bus to Far West Nepal. We stayed with a CP team in Atteryia. We traveled around the area praying and meeting with local believers.
We took a day "off" to go fishing Nepal style. (I say "off" because I ended up cycling double [someone sitting on the rack] uphill for a good 30Km. needless to say I passed out as soon as I laid horizontal) Nepal style fishing uses a net to catch little three inch fish. Once these suckers our caught to a sufficient quantity, you go home and gut them. since they are small, all it takes is a good squeeze for the innards to come out. You then proceed to cook the fish, whole. After cooked to a desired golden brown, you then eat them, whole. I've never in my life ate a whole fish. I usually cut the head and toss the tail. I stand before you a new man. A changed man. One who has eaten fish heads. And liked it!
That Friday night we cycled to the village where the CP team is doing most of their work. We went to a home fellowship that night led by one of the local church leaders. If anything has changed my perspective on church and christian living, it has been my time with these fellwoships. I have never seen the amount of joy and faith exhibited by these small bands of saints anywhere in the west. The simplicity of worship and prayer puts to shame any praise and worship band (Sorry Jody). We stayed that night with one of the families there in the village. The church was constructed quite literally in their backyard.
Church Saturday was a sweet time as well. I'm starting to get used to the eyes that start to follow me as soon as I give my introduction. "Jaymasi! Mero nahm Andreas ho. Ma Amerika vata iygo." translation: Jaymasi! My name is Andrew. I'm from America. This is usually followed by many smiling faces and constant staring for most of the service.
To give you a general idea of a Nepali church service, here is a very basic schedule:
Worship (usually only accompanied by a modal [nepali drum]) - usually lasts for an hour
Testimony and introduction (jaymasi! mero nahm...) - 5 to 30 mins. depends on what's going on
Worship - another 15 to 30 mins
Announcements or a word from the church leader/pastor - 5 to 15 mins
Preaching - 30 mins to an hour. this depends on the speaker. i've kept it at just around 30mins, but some have gone well over an hour
Prayer is interjected whenever the Spirit leads and can often times last for 10 mins at a time. Here, everyone prays at once and it gets pretty intense. My church background has been quite conservative when it comes to prayer, so this has taken some getting used to.
I've learned enough of the language to pray over dinner, describe the weather, introduce myself, order food, and to get from place to place. And with each church service I'm starting to catch on to more and more of the songs. Some of them are traditional songs translated into nepali.(eg. Raja haruka raja, stuti , hallelujah, provo haruka provo, stuti, hallelujah : King of kings and Lord of lords, glory, hallelujah) Most are original Nepali choruses. I'm also starting to understand most of the preaching without an interpreter.
From Atteryia we headed north to Dadeldurha and onto Anakohli. Anakohli is a small town up in the mountains. The climate reminded me of home as it was quite chilly in comparison to the very warm Terai region. There we stayed with the CP team that is working in that area. This is about as remote as one can get in regards to safe traveling and ministry. I looked out on vast forests and jungle whose inhabitants have never even heard the name Jesus, let alone anything about Christianity. There is quite a bit of work to be done in this region. The CP team is just one married couple. They are diligently working with local church leaders and believers to expand the kingdom in to this remote area.
A side note: One of the villagers in Anakohli was excited when he heard I was from America. He kept smiling at me with this big goofy grin than was kind of creepy. I could tell he wanted something from me. The next day he saw me walking down the street and called out to me. "Oy babu, oy!" (Hey boy, hey) So Uttar went to talk to him. He had somehow received two American dollars and wanted me to give him rupees in exchange for them. "They are no good to me here" he told us, "and your the first American I've seen since I got these." Let me tell you, I have never been so happy to get $2 in my life. It's the little things that make the difference.
I have made my way back to Pokhara and will be here for a few days before I head out again. The current plan is in shambles at the moment as I'm trying to figure out how properly reach certain areas and honor the requests of new friends. Please pray for guidance as I work through this. The original plan was to head back to Koholpur on Monday and stay there for another 2 weeks, but that doesn't seem like it will work out as Mohan has other ideas in mind.
grace and peace
andreas
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Week Four: Stayin' Alive
Jaymasi!
Wow, it's hard to believe I've been here from a month now. So much has happened in such a short time. I look foward to the next two and a half months.
So an update on the current threat level is order. I would not have you be ignorant, I'm not in exacatly the safest locale at the moment. I just got an e-mail from the Embassy telling all Americans to avoid this particular a region (Terai).
The night of my last entry two people were beheaded in a town further down the road. In the next district over, shooting between police and demonstrators left one officer and two civilians dead. In Koholpur, where I am currently located, a bus was stopped, vacated, and then smashed and burned.
Last night I watched as police and Terahus (the natives of the Terai region) fought in the streets. The protestors would throw stones and bricks at the police. When the barrage would cease, the police would chase down the men (and boys) and attempt to beat them down with large bamboo sticks.
Since the overthrow of the monarchy 10 years ago, rule of law has been tossed out the window. In Nepal, the masses rule and there is not much the gov't or police can do to quell rebellions or protests.
All vehicular travel in and out of the Terai region has been haulted indefintetly. In order for me to get back to Pokhara, I would need to cycle or walk 12km to Nepal Gunj, hop on a plane to Kathmandu, and the bus back to Pokhara.
Please pray for the current situation. For the safety of not just myself, but also of the people who live here. That Uttar and I would still be able to minister and reach people despite travel restrictions. And that I would be able to make it safely back to Pokhara at the end of the month.
grace and peace
Wow, it's hard to believe I've been here from a month now. So much has happened in such a short time. I look foward to the next two and a half months.
So an update on the current threat level is order. I would not have you be ignorant, I'm not in exacatly the safest locale at the moment. I just got an e-mail from the Embassy telling all Americans to avoid this particular a region (Terai).
The night of my last entry two people were beheaded in a town further down the road. In the next district over, shooting between police and demonstrators left one officer and two civilians dead. In Koholpur, where I am currently located, a bus was stopped, vacated, and then smashed and burned.
Last night I watched as police and Terahus (the natives of the Terai region) fought in the streets. The protestors would throw stones and bricks at the police. When the barrage would cease, the police would chase down the men (and boys) and attempt to beat them down with large bamboo sticks.
Since the overthrow of the monarchy 10 years ago, rule of law has been tossed out the window. In Nepal, the masses rule and there is not much the gov't or police can do to quell rebellions or protests.
All vehicular travel in and out of the Terai region has been haulted indefintetly. In order for me to get back to Pokhara, I would need to cycle or walk 12km to Nepal Gunj, hop on a plane to Kathmandu, and the bus back to Pokhara.
Please pray for the current situation. For the safety of not just myself, but also of the people who live here. That Uttar and I would still be able to minister and reach people despite travel restrictions. And that I would be able to make it safely back to Pokhara at the end of the month.
grace and peace
Friday, March 6, 2009
Week Three: Bandha bandha bandha!
Jaymasi! (Long Live the Messiah! or Praise Jesus!)
So I'm now in West Nepal. Kohalpur to be exact. After a 13 hour bus ride I made it. 3 of those blissful hours was on top of the bus, with the luggage, in the dead of night, with no speed limits, and a narrow road, with buses going both ways, and a driver who looks no more than 15. But hey, if Paul can be shipwrecked and beaten a time or two, whats a ride on the top of a Nepali bus.
The plans for my stay have changed. Instead of a week in the west, I will be out here a month. I've spent the last week visiting various home fellowships and teaching/preaching when an interpreter is available. It has been quite the busy week. Uttar Kamal and his family have been more than loving, welcoming me into their home and tutoring me in Nepali. Next week Uttar and I will be going down to Nepal Gonj and visiting surrounding church plant teams.
I am currently 20km away from India and will be even closer next week. It is extremely hot. And there has been a "bandha", or protest, all week, so everything has been shut down. We've been getting around by rickshaw and bicycle. It has been quite the adventure.
Grace and peace
Prayer points:
1) I met a few folks at the Nehemiah Institute, a bible school here in town. I taught a night session and a morning devotion there. Please pray for the students, that they would continue to grow in God's love. For Gopal, the school director, that he would be able to go to bible college in India soon. And for Krishna, a travelling Bible survey teacher, that his new fellowship in Kathmandu would be blessed.
2) For the surrounding home fellowships, that there light would continue to shine
3) For the surrounding villages, that God would see fit to shine His light of love in their darkeness
4) For our travel to Nepal Gonj, getting to Kohalpur was killer on my body (especially the luggage rack bit), pray that next week travel would be smooth
5) For Uttar and his family, that God would continue to bless the work of their hands
6) and finally for me, my health is waning as the cold won't seem to leave and my body is starting strain under the lack of water and meager diet
So I'm now in West Nepal. Kohalpur to be exact. After a 13 hour bus ride I made it. 3 of those blissful hours was on top of the bus, with the luggage, in the dead of night, with no speed limits, and a narrow road, with buses going both ways, and a driver who looks no more than 15. But hey, if Paul can be shipwrecked and beaten a time or two, whats a ride on the top of a Nepali bus.
The plans for my stay have changed. Instead of a week in the west, I will be out here a month. I've spent the last week visiting various home fellowships and teaching/preaching when an interpreter is available. It has been quite the busy week. Uttar Kamal and his family have been more than loving, welcoming me into their home and tutoring me in Nepali. Next week Uttar and I will be going down to Nepal Gonj and visiting surrounding church plant teams.
I am currently 20km away from India and will be even closer next week. It is extremely hot. And there has been a "bandha", or protest, all week, so everything has been shut down. We've been getting around by rickshaw and bicycle. It has been quite the adventure.
Grace and peace
Prayer points:
1) I met a few folks at the Nehemiah Institute, a bible school here in town. I taught a night session and a morning devotion there. Please pray for the students, that they would continue to grow in God's love. For Gopal, the school director, that he would be able to go to bible college in India soon. And for Krishna, a travelling Bible survey teacher, that his new fellowship in Kathmandu would be blessed.
2) For the surrounding home fellowships, that there light would continue to shine
3) For the surrounding villages, that God would see fit to shine His light of love in their darkeness
4) For our travel to Nepal Gonj, getting to Kohalpur was killer on my body (especially the luggage rack bit), pray that next week travel would be smooth
5) For Uttar and his family, that God would continue to bless the work of their hands
6) and finally for me, my health is waning as the cold won't seem to leave and my body is starting strain under the lack of water and meager diet
Friday, February 27, 2009
Week Two: Go West Young Man
So things have slowed down a bit. Partly because I've stayed in Pokhara. Partly because that cold came back. But never fear, it was good to slow down.
With tons of time doing nothing but traveling and then being sick I was able to read all of the Gospels and Acts (the fifth Gospel). Let me tell you, what a blessing that was. It's always good to get a refresher course on why I do what I do and to be encouraged by those who came before me.
A kernel of exceptional encouragement was the fact the Dr. Luke never really wrote an ending to Acts. He leaves of with Paul in house arrest continuing with his outreach in Rome. He doesn't tack an "The End" or "Amen" at the end because the story is not finished. The story continues. The Spirit still moves. Oh what blessed hope!
So this past week has been more adjustment to both being in a new culture and being away from family. This is usually the time when the team is packing up and heading out. Alas, there is no team and the departure date is three months yet t0 come. Yesterday it hit me that I'm in Nepal. It hit me that I will be living the next few months of my life here. I'm still getting over the shock (I can be a little slow sometimes).
I had the unique pleasure of spending the better part of a day working along side a YWAM outreach team from Norway. That's right, you read right, Norway. It was a much needed time for me to be encouraged and I know the guys here were as well. They were passing through on there way to India. They had just spent a few days in Kathmandu after coming over from Tibet. The team was an international mix of Norwegians, Swedes, Greenlanders, Canadians and Californians. Please keep them in prayer as the finish out their trip.
Sunday I head out for West Nepal to visit and help out a church plant team in a Muslim community. I was told yesterday that tensions are rising as some fundamentalist Hindu groups are publishing anti-Christian propaganda. Because of this, the team leader said I might be spending the majority of the week in surrounding villages rather than the city. There maybe opportunity to teach at and work alongside the local CPTs and churches.
As for pictures, I'm can't guarantee anything at the moment. I've hit three different cafe's and only one of them had access to the actual computer so I could plug my cam in. With sketchy power and crazy net caf's, getting on here to update is an adventure all its own.
grace and peace
With tons of time doing nothing but traveling and then being sick I was able to read all of the Gospels and Acts (the fifth Gospel). Let me tell you, what a blessing that was. It's always good to get a refresher course on why I do what I do and to be encouraged by those who came before me.
A kernel of exceptional encouragement was the fact the Dr. Luke never really wrote an ending to Acts. He leaves of with Paul in house arrest continuing with his outreach in Rome. He doesn't tack an "The End" or "Amen" at the end because the story is not finished. The story continues. The Spirit still moves. Oh what blessed hope!
So this past week has been more adjustment to both being in a new culture and being away from family. This is usually the time when the team is packing up and heading out. Alas, there is no team and the departure date is three months yet t0 come. Yesterday it hit me that I'm in Nepal. It hit me that I will be living the next few months of my life here. I'm still getting over the shock (I can be a little slow sometimes).
I had the unique pleasure of spending the better part of a day working along side a YWAM outreach team from Norway. That's right, you read right, Norway. It was a much needed time for me to be encouraged and I know the guys here were as well. They were passing through on there way to India. They had just spent a few days in Kathmandu after coming over from Tibet. The team was an international mix of Norwegians, Swedes, Greenlanders, Canadians and Californians. Please keep them in prayer as the finish out their trip.
Sunday I head out for West Nepal to visit and help out a church plant team in a Muslim community. I was told yesterday that tensions are rising as some fundamentalist Hindu groups are publishing anti-Christian propaganda. Because of this, the team leader said I might be spending the majority of the week in surrounding villages rather than the city. There maybe opportunity to teach at and work alongside the local CPTs and churches.
As for pictures, I'm can't guarantee anything at the moment. I've hit three different cafe's and only one of them had access to the actual computer so I could plug my cam in. With sketchy power and crazy net caf's, getting on here to update is an adventure all its own.
grace and peace
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Week One: Everybody Tamang!
So I've been here a week and sooo much has been going on. More than I can fit in a post. But never you worry, I've been keeping a daily journal so I can type it all up when I'm sure the connection will hold. The power has been kind of sketchy of late.
A brief recap of the past week:
Landed in Kathmandu and waited for a few hours for my contact to pick me up. Somehow I was whisked away to hotel in the middle of town along some backstreet. I'm still trying to figure out when I ever said anything besides "NO!" I finally got a hold of Mohan, who got a hold of Ishak (Issac), my Kathmandu contact. So when Ishak showed up at the hotel, he looks at me and says, "I saw you, I saw you but I thought you were a Nepali! They said Andrew from America is comign and he is a young man. So I thought skinny, white, brown hair, maybe blue eyes. I saw you!" So I spent a few days in Kathmandu at the Frontier Missions Center and then headed of to Pokhara...
So I was put on a micro-van full of Nepalese with my only instruction being that it would cost me 350 rupees and that I should give it to them only when they asked. Then off I went. The total ride was about 6 hours in what amounts to be a very speedy minivan. We stopped at a small "restaurant" half way through the trip, so I got out and looked around. Again, everyone just assumed I was Nepali...
I got to Pokhara and was just let off at the beginning of town. No words, no instructions. So I found a phone and called Mohan. He sent one of his staff, Nar, down to get me. I waited a few hours and I noticed this guy walking past me for the 5th time. He finally approached me. "Where are you from?" "America" "What is your name?" "Andrew" "Umm, I come for you." And away we went...
So I settled into the Tamangs quite nicely. They are a wonderful family. Sangeeta, Mohan's wife, is constently feeding me. They gave me my own room, which is in their storage room, but is still very nice. I've been able to meet alot of their friends and family. They even adopted me and gave me a Nepali name...
Bal Bahadur Tamang.
Which means "strong" or as I was told by my friend Singarag, "Push push!" I was able to stay a few days up a mountain which Mohan has dubbed "Mt. Olive." There I helped with one of the construction projects going on there. They are building a FMC training center which is where I helped at. They also have an orphanage and a missionary rest home being built further up the hill. Due to some conflicts with the local villagers, which I will write about at another time, Mohan has stopped the construction of the rest home in an attempt to appease a few men who are stirring trouble.
I went to Lamachoour Church on Saturday and met a few people there. It was Mohan's turn to preach so he talked about what God has been showing him through the situation with the villagers. Afterward, Sangeeta took me to see a Tibetan refugee camp.
And today started off quite well until I was hit by a motorcycle. I was on a bicycle, of course, and he clipped my rear tire. When the police came they let me go on my way. The guy was trying to blame me. But they weren't buying it. Now I am checking e-mail and chatting with family on facebook.
grace and peace,
Bal Bahadur
A few random thoughts:
1) Everyone I have met is a Tamang. Either a cousin, brother, or brother cousin. And now I am one too.
2) There is nothing more humbling than knowing that a 3 year old can communicate with more people than you.
3) On the same note, using a Nepali toilet is also very humbling.
4) There are many many many many different ways to cook rice, either that or it's just my imagination.
5) No traffic laws means anything goes, including being hit by a motorbike while cruising on a bicycle, and then being blamed for the accident.
6) Cows are very spoiled here. Very very spoiled.
Prayer points:
1) That the villagers on Mt. Olive won't be blinded by a few bad men.
2) That the continuing projects would run smoothly without injury
3) That it would rain. There a huge water shortage, which is contributing to a lot of problems with the villagers.
4) That God would continue to guide my steps as I seek to serve Him and the people of Nepal
A brief recap of the past week:
Landed in Kathmandu and waited for a few hours for my contact to pick me up. Somehow I was whisked away to hotel in the middle of town along some backstreet. I'm still trying to figure out when I ever said anything besides "NO!" I finally got a hold of Mohan, who got a hold of Ishak (Issac), my Kathmandu contact. So when Ishak showed up at the hotel, he looks at me and says, "I saw you, I saw you but I thought you were a Nepali! They said Andrew from America is comign and he is a young man. So I thought skinny, white, brown hair, maybe blue eyes. I saw you!" So I spent a few days in Kathmandu at the Frontier Missions Center and then headed of to Pokhara...
So I was put on a micro-van full of Nepalese with my only instruction being that it would cost me 350 rupees and that I should give it to them only when they asked. Then off I went. The total ride was about 6 hours in what amounts to be a very speedy minivan. We stopped at a small "restaurant" half way through the trip, so I got out and looked around. Again, everyone just assumed I was Nepali...
I got to Pokhara and was just let off at the beginning of town. No words, no instructions. So I found a phone and called Mohan. He sent one of his staff, Nar, down to get me. I waited a few hours and I noticed this guy walking past me for the 5th time. He finally approached me. "Where are you from?" "America" "What is your name?" "Andrew" "Umm, I come for you." And away we went...
So I settled into the Tamangs quite nicely. They are a wonderful family. Sangeeta, Mohan's wife, is constently feeding me. They gave me my own room, which is in their storage room, but is still very nice. I've been able to meet alot of their friends and family. They even adopted me and gave me a Nepali name...
Bal Bahadur Tamang.
Which means "strong" or as I was told by my friend Singarag, "Push push!" I was able to stay a few days up a mountain which Mohan has dubbed "Mt. Olive." There I helped with one of the construction projects going on there. They are building a FMC training center which is where I helped at. They also have an orphanage and a missionary rest home being built further up the hill. Due to some conflicts with the local villagers, which I will write about at another time, Mohan has stopped the construction of the rest home in an attempt to appease a few men who are stirring trouble.
I went to Lamachoour Church on Saturday and met a few people there. It was Mohan's turn to preach so he talked about what God has been showing him through the situation with the villagers. Afterward, Sangeeta took me to see a Tibetan refugee camp.
And today started off quite well until I was hit by a motorcycle. I was on a bicycle, of course, and he clipped my rear tire. When the police came they let me go on my way. The guy was trying to blame me. But they weren't buying it. Now I am checking e-mail and chatting with family on facebook.
grace and peace,
Bal Bahadur
A few random thoughts:
1) Everyone I have met is a Tamang. Either a cousin, brother, or brother cousin. And now I am one too.
2) There is nothing more humbling than knowing that a 3 year old can communicate with more people than you.
3) On the same note, using a Nepali toilet is also very humbling.
4) There are many many many many different ways to cook rice, either that or it's just my imagination.
5) No traffic laws means anything goes, including being hit by a motorbike while cruising on a bicycle, and then being blamed for the accident.
6) Cows are very spoiled here. Very very spoiled.
Prayer points:
1) That the villagers on Mt. Olive won't be blinded by a few bad men.
2) That the continuing projects would run smoothly without injury
3) That it would rain. There a huge water shortage, which is contributing to a lot of problems with the villagers.
4) That God would continue to guide my steps as I seek to serve Him and the people of Nepal
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Live From Bangkok
So after an amazingly loooong flight I am finally in Thailand. The fact that I am on the otherside of the globe is starting to set in. English is being overtaken by Thai and Hindi as I cruise the terminal. It is indeed an eye opening experience.
My flight wasn't too bad. I had an aisle seat on the side. My own video screen. Three square meals. It wasn't too shabby at all. The total flight time was 17 hours and 50 mins. We flew north through Alaska, then across to Russia, down over Japan and then over Vietnam into Thailand. I have an hour before I can even go wait at my gate for my flight to Kathmandu, so I'm going to browse around and find something to snack on.
I finished my first book on the flight, Becoming the Answer to Our Prayers, it was such a good book I'm sure I will read it again before the trip is through. I have started The New Friairs and it looks to be a truly challenging book.
until next time
grace and peace
My flight wasn't too bad. I had an aisle seat on the side. My own video screen. Three square meals. It wasn't too shabby at all. The total flight time was 17 hours and 50 mins. We flew north through Alaska, then across to Russia, down over Japan and then over Vietnam into Thailand. I have an hour before I can even go wait at my gate for my flight to Kathmandu, so I'm going to browse around and find something to snack on.
I finished my first book on the flight, Becoming the Answer to Our Prayers, it was such a good book I'm sure I will read it again before the trip is through. I have started The New Friairs and it looks to be a truly challenging book.
until next time
grace and peace
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Reunion & Rest
It has been a good time in California. Scratch that, blessed time in California. I've been reuniting with church family that I haven't seen in yeaaaaaars. Praying and fellowship has been a good time to exchange mutual adventures and happenings. It has been encouraging to see the work God has been doing in this place and in these people in the past few years. I look forward to seeing what God will continue to do here, as well as Colorado, while I am away.
I leave from LAX Tuesday, prayer for traveling mercies is much appreciated. I have also come down with a cold, I should have listened to Carissa, so prayers for health would be equally appreciated.
I leave from LAX Tuesday, prayer for traveling mercies is much appreciated. I have also come down with a cold, I should have listened to Carissa, so prayers for health would be equally appreciated.
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