Our group of four left the hostel and ventured out onto the busy streets of Thamel in Kathmandu. As we rounded the corner by the bakery, the fragrance of fresh baked goods filled our senses. Just ahead, Maya and her husband Ram warmly greeted us. We had each individually encountered them many times before, and they inquired about our day.
We held out the paper about Sarangi Restaurant. As they viewed it, we shared about our mission to find new organizations to partner with in the future. Ram informed us the manager was a friend and promptly led us to the dining establishment.
As we entered, Kedar rose to greet us. He was glad to share about his grass roots endeavor to make a better life for his people, the low caste Gandarva people who are socially and economically exploited. Their way of life playing the sarangi instrument and singing folk and narrative songs village to village has become obsolete. He painted a picture of improved education, health, and water standards, partly supported by the Sarangi restaurant he manages. He himself studied music therapy in India and uses the sarangi music to offer therapy to mentally challenged clients in Kathmandu. This was all good, but we wanted to see the Kingdom being built.
Once it was our turn to share, we told Kedar how we found him that day. Describing our goal as a Christian organization to partner with local efforts to advance the gospel sparked something new in him: he was a Christ-follower, too!
We celebrated what Jesus was doing and learned of a friend Kedar knew could use people like us. Within moments, we were in a taxi winding our way across town to New Jerusalem Church to meet its founder, Pastor Padham. He was of the same caste as Kedar and not only played the sarangi beautifully, but he hand-made the instruments as well.
As we piled out of the taxi, Kedar led us through a tiny door in the high wall, behind which was an old house to the right and a meager church building to the left. Nestled between the two was a small rolling hill dotted with vegetable gardens, flowers, and fruit trees. The breeze was cool, the day gorgeous. Down the hill, a student and master sat in the sun with tools and a partially made sarangi instrument in hand.
We followed Kedar down the narrow path and settled in the church building to await Pastor Padham. His hospitality and love for the Lord brought us joy as he played, we sang, and we shared our hearts about building Father’s Kingdom.
Despite Padham’s broken home and lack of education as a young boy, he taught himself music and worked as a child laborer to survive. He received Jesus at the age of 20 in 1990, and within a few years, God gave him the vision and name of “New Jerusalem”. There was no church in his area, so he prayed for the elderly and sick and preached the gospel.
After many years, New Jerusalem Church was born in 2005. There were many Christ followers at that time. He baptized about 20 believers himself. About 150 people were living in Kathmandu at that time, but returned to the different parts of Nepal they were from, taking Jesus with them to their villages.
Now, New Jerusalem Church has about 32 people and no partners to support them. They preach in the countryside where the gospel is not known and provide support for orphans and poor. In town, a church service, prayer team, home and youth fellowships all meet weekly. Their main objective is to visit the remote areas, preach, and prevail the masses to reach those who haven’t heard the gospel of Jesus.
Pastor Padham and his family rent their home and church, surviving on offerings and through teaching music and making Sarangi instruments. He and his wife have 3 daughters, 2 sons, and so much joy and love of the Lord in them. Kedar speaks English, and desires to help however he can to partner future teams with New Jerusalem Church. I can only imagine what God has in store for our futures together.
Please pray…
…for open hearts in non-believers they invite to hear the gospel this Christmas.
…for financial provision for their children in college.
…for the grace to stand in the face of persecution and discrimination as they live for Jesus.
…for success of the Sarangi Restaurant business endeavor to help this people group.
God is alive and he delights in His children. He builds His Kingdom and lavishes grace daily. In Him, I continue to stand amazed!
With love, and wishing you a Merry Christmas!!
Rebekah
(Check out other Unsung Hero blogs posted by Team Mosaic to see what else God has been doing this month in Nepal.)
