Nepal
Let me tell you a bit about Nepal. It is an amazing country! Nepal is often called the “Roof of the World” for its Himalayan dominance. Its blend of natural beauty, spiritual heritage, and cultural depth makes it one of the most unique countries globally.
Nepal is a Himalayan country located in South Asia. It is home to Mount Everest (29,032 feet), the world’s highest peak of the Himalayan range and other towering ranges. It is known for its dramatic landscapes, diverse cultures, and political transformation into a federal democratic republic. It sits landlocked between India(east, south, west) andChina’s Tibet Region (north) with Kathmandu as its capital. It stretches 497miles east–west and 56–93 miles north–south. Approaching Kathmandu, our plane flew right along the edge of the Himalayan mountain range making a spectacular view.
The population is about 30–31 million with Nepali being the official language plus many regional languages. The population is Hindu, with significant Buddhist communities. The city of Kathmandu is full of ancient Hindu temples and Buddhist stupas (shrines). As people do their daily worship, they mark their foreheads with red markings, and some animals can even be seen with these marks on their foreheads.
In 2008 the Monarchy was abolished and Nepal becomes a federal democratic multiparty republic. Recently, a youth-led protests against a social media ban topple the controlling government, marking a major generational political shift. The population is hopeful about this shift.
Forest (jungle) covers approximately 41.6% of land area. They are very protective of their forest area requiring permits to enter. I was blessed to go on a safari and see many native animals including a tiger, elephant, monkeys, and rhinos. Nepal is highly vulnerable to earthquakes.There was a 4.0 quake while I was there. It is the birthplace of Buddha and a global center for trekking, mountaineering, and spiritual tourism.
The people are friendly and hard working. I really enjoyed getting to know some of them, especially the women who live in the Discovery Development Center and the Empowerment Center that I visited. These women come out of extremely difficult situations, but they have chosen to move forward with their lives and many have surrendered to Jesus Christ. They remind me of sponges that want to soak up new ways, further education, and develop new skills. They are so happy to be living in a supportive community and have opportunities to gain experience in new areas, receive counseling, and eventually become independent.
Thankfully, many Nepalese are hearing about Jesus and His power to set them free from oppression both spiritual and natural. There is a dramatic change in their appearance as the light of God begins to shine out from them and the joy of Jesus is seen in their faces. I was extremely impressed with the work of the Kingdom I witnessed and the partnership among those committed to live there and help to spread the gospel to these precious people. Please pray for grace, wisdom, and support for those who labor in this nation that is now awakening to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” Isaiah 52:7
