Join me, Church family, in prayer for Nepal. It seems to be the last country on my trip, so it is the furthest out of reach. If I do not have the entire 16,000 raised, I will not make it to Nepal. So the way I see it, prayer for this country is very important.
Pray with me in expectation that the Lord will provide financially for my trip to Nepal. If I am lacking in funds, I will not see Nepal, so ask Him to provide in the crazy way that only He can. Ask Him to get me to Nepal. I know His timing is perfect, but unto this point, fundraising has been exceptionally slow. If it continues at the current rate, Nepal is beyond my reach by far. That is why this is the perfect place for God to show up and show off. He is the only means by which I will make it to this beautiful place. And it is in need of people to come show God's love.
The birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, aka The Buddha, is located in Nepal, and that particular city is considered one of the most sacred places in the Buddhist religion. However, only 9% of Nepalis practice Buddhism, making it the second most popular religion. First is Hinduism, with an acclaimed 81% of Nepalis practitioners. This makes it the most Hindu country in the world, if you will. Islam is practiced by about 5% while Christianity claims less than 1.5%.
Politically speaking, Nepal is rather unstable, as their current political system of a democratic representative republic has only been in place since late May of 2008. Due to the political uncertainty, the economy is stifled, and over half of the country falls under the international poverty line of 1.25 USD per day. This poverty causes mass illiteracy, though literacy rates are the highest they have ever been, with 65.9% of Nepalis possessing the abilities to read and write.
The average life expectancy in Nepal is 66 years. However many of these statistics are not accurate. The lack of Middle Class means that their are clusters of people present at opposite ends of the spectrum. There are numerous people that are extremely poor, and do not live long at all. And there are portions of people that are much more affluent. Those are mostly the ones who can read, have access to health care, and make more than the the international poverty numbers.
The Nepalis devotion to Hinduism has seen many Hindu monks doing radical things such as setting themselves on fire while still alive. Though their devotion is moving, they are practicing a false religion, and devoted to a lie. In fact, upon some deeper thought, one may realize that monks like this are trying to prove their devotion. Their lives could be radically changed by the freedom that comes with Christ. In Him there is no need to prove oneself. There is no need to earn salvation. It is given freely to anyone who will choose it. This could revolutionize the lives of many devoted monks and hindus.
Be praying for revolution in this country. Ask the father to bless my Squad and my specific team. Ask Him to use use to bless these Nepalis. Thank Him in advance for the freedom from oppressive false religions and bondage to sin. Thank Him for the way he will change the Squad and the Team. Ask that we be filled with and led by the Father's spirit. Ask that he leads us into God appointments to be lights in dark places. Pray against exhaustion and distraction for the squad, as this will be our very last month. Ask the Father to provide safety to my Squad members as they share the Gospel with the people of Nepal. And Ask for the Spirit to be at work even now in the hearts of the Nepalis, that they would be ready and willing to accept Christ as their Lord. The Hindu pantheon is so vast, and the religion is such that it often incorporates other ideas and belief systems into itself. Pray against the people accepting Jesus into their Hindu pantheon. Ask that they be ready and willing to accept Him as Lord of their Life, and that they understand he shares his throne with none.
Thank you, Church family, for your continued support. Prayer support especially. In your time of prayer, if the Lord is moving you to give and support His work in the nations financially, you can do so on the tab to the the left of this blog (your left). Please include in your prayers that I need Christian Brothers and Sisters who will be faithful to give monthly. Continued support like that is way I will set foot in Nepal. If you are feeling led to make a monthly donation, you can set that up to the left of this blog, in the very same place you give a one time donation. Just be sure to check the box to indicate it is a monthly act of support. Ask the Lord to remind His people that their support of His work in the nations IS them joining in on that work, and it is an act of worship. Prayer and financial support is absolutely crucial for the Lord's people to fulfill their calling among the nations.
Thanks so much Church Fam. I look forward to basking in the prayers of you, your family, and your church.
