(Besides my sister saying she’s having a little girl…this Uncle is happy-it’s my first Niece)
Background:
It was last year, February of 2011, that I met a man in the mountains of Nepal.
He treks the hillsides for many miles each day, for one purpose – to share the good news.
Nepal has 1.4% Christians. To grasp that number, think about their population: 27,000,000.
98.6% believe in clay, invisible, euphoria god’s – impersonal and leading to no hope.
Pastor Tara, he believes, in the Good news.
You get persecuted if you believe, in the Christian God. Him and his family have been persecuted.
The very land he lives in, the Himalayas, is the land created by the gods according to the Hindu religion.
Almost 2 years ago, I had the privilege to spend 2 weeks with this man and his small family.
We walked the mountainsides together, praying in small homes, and supporting his ministry.
Here is a picture of us during our time. Read the past blog:
(Pastor Tara’s family: Niece, Sister (mute), Adopted Daughter, and Mom)
Update:
I keep in touch with Pastor Tara through one of his fellow Pastors living in the more accessible Kathmandu. Pastor Tara lives in the hillsides. There is no internet in his home. It is very primitive living.
But when I got this email from him, through his Pastor friend, I was elated.
This is what our Pastor friend of Tara said, and here is a recent picture he took for me:
“I had great time yesterday with Pastor Tara! He is doing great in ministries!
he said this year in 2012 he could started 2 branch churches and about 10 people came to Christ. Praise God! He is so much thankful to The World Racers as they planted the seed and the Lord made it to grow!
He wants to grow more leaders to expand more ministries. He also asked me to share with you that he is so much thankful for your support and love
-b”
(You’ll notice, in his pocket he has a “Nepal Bible”
I’m sure it’s for his own growth, and to share with others.)
So why is this my favorite story of 2012?
Amidst all the craziness of my life this past year, it was refreshing to hear personally from a man in 2011. Sometimes the best story isn’t a new one, but a reminder of an old one.
Pastor Tara looks a little more weathered. But it is an inspiration. He lives for the Kingdom of God. New souls in 2012 were saved, given hope, given freedom through his witness.
Living and walking on the mountainsides of Nepal, is a man dedicated to the daily love of the Father, and on a mission to share, one by one, the good news that has come. He is the reason why the 1.4% will grow. He is the reason why little girls, being trafficked, why young men dedicating themselves to witchdoctors, why old people dying with hope in clay statues, are being saved.
I end this year with a fresh reminder of a man who has given another year of his life to the saving power and love of Jesus to his neighbors in Nepal.
God bless you Pastor Tara. Your fellow saints across the world are with you in Prayer. Keep on going! Bless you in 2013.
