Soundings from Nepal

by James Tamang

Recently, we (Holly, Caleb, and I) had an opportunity to do what we have wanted to do which is to go outside of Kathmandu, the capital city, and not get threats by political opposition to share the gospel. God opened a door for us to visit Surya and Nirmala, our church members, while they were visiting their family in a village that was about an eight hours bus ride away. Our plan was to hand out tracts to the people in that village. And of course, we wanted to experience a village life style also.

The evening we got to the village we had a fellowship with this couple and two other ladies. The next morning we went to a home where the husband and the wife have been searching and wanting to understand this “new concept” of Christianity. Surya and I had an opportunity to explain the plan of salvation but they did not believe. We did make an appointment to meet his wife, Purnima, the next morning at 9:00. The tracts we brought we continued to hand to the people and asked them to read. This same afternoon we went to a city nearby where the community market (Bazaar) was being held. We rode on a rickshaw to that town and started to hand out tracts. During this time Surya was busy going across the road back and forth and back and forth, to hand out tracts. People were asking for tracts right and left. If someone did not get one, they would run to us and ask for it, “Can I have one?” We passed out all the tracts that we had brought within an hour. We only regret we did not take more tracts to the bazaar. The four of us, plus a few non-believers, passed out about 900 tracts in those 3 days.

That same evening we had a service in a non-believers home. Can you believe that? I was able to share through the Romans Road to more than thirty people around the camp fire. The seeds were planted. I was pleased by the many ears that were listening so intensely.

The next morning we went to visit Purnima. As we were there, she was waiting for us. This time Surya and Nirmala and my family went also. As I was explaining to her how Christ died for us and how she can accept by believing in Him, she kept on asking, “What do I need to do?” Here I was trying to make sure that she understood that we are sinners, the wages of sin is death, and there is a way to get out of this death by accepting the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Again she was saying, “Now, what do I need to do?” It dawned on me, oh! She is ready! Someone had already planted the seeds and God had given us to reap the harvest. I could not think of a scripture better than Luke 10:2: “…pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” That morning Purnima came into God’s family. As far as we know, she is the only believer in her village and Surya and Nirmala are the only believers in their village. When God permits, we would like to establish a church for these two villages. We were also able to share the gospel to Nirmala’s family that evening. Nirmala has already shared the gospel to the family and I am glad that she is doing her part. We are to be faithful in God’s field of harvest. We need to keep ourselves busy.

Kathmandu has some places better than some parts in the States. There is no doubt we are living in better condition than some Nepalese in Kathmandu valley. There is a comfort and protection in Kathmandu. But we had to realize that comfort is not the factor to share the gospel but obedience to our Master who has commanded us to go. There was discomfort leaving, discomfort in traveling, discomfort in sleeping in a hut-like house but we are glad looking past all these we were able to see a soul get saved whom we would not have if we had not left our comfortable place.