Jamase!
Large hiking backpacks, daypacks, packing cubes, clothes, sleeping pads, and other gear occupy most of the space of the house we are living in here in Kathmandu. Every other Sunday, this house is transformed into a Bible distribution center. Our items are neatly stored away. Multiple tables are set up with Bibles that are arranged by price, and there is a large selection of free Bibles.
Rueben Raye minstiries hosts the ONLY Bible distribution program in Nepal. People can purchase Bibles elsewhere, but they are very expensive. The free Bibles that are available through Ruben’s ministry would normally cost 700 Rupees[1] at another location.
So far, we have helped with one Bible distribution, and we will have the opportunity to help at least one more time before we depart from Nepal. There are multiple things about this distribution that amaze me.
All the Bibles are in English.
People are so eager to have their own Bible.
They amount of time people travel to get a Bible is incredible. I met a man named Amos who had traveled three days to get a backpack full of Bibles. He rode a bus one day, and walked two days to arrive at Rueben’s doorstep.
The hospitality displayed by Rita, Rueben’s wife, is faithful to everyone she comes in contact with. She makes sure there is food and juice available for all who come.
Rueben explained that a lot of the Bibles are donated from people in the States. However, the cost of receiving the Bibles through the postal service here is rather costly. Last time he paid an equivalent of $500 American dollars to retrieve the Bibles. The purpose in charging people for some of the Bibles is to offset the postal costs.
Please pray for Rueben, his family, and that the Bible distribution ministry would continue to flourish and grow.
