Trekking Back to Indonesia For a Moment

For almost a year now, I have been asking you to pray for a very special friend of mine from Indonesia. This past spring and summer while we were in the States I shared with just about everyone about my friend and many of us prayed for her salvation together. In my letters I referred to her as "Mary" because I wanted her to be safe from friends or family members who may find out about her seeking. Shortly after we arrived here in Nepal, "Mary" wrote to me and told me that she had finally made the decision to accept Christ and she was so full of joy. Now, she would like the whole world to know that she is a believer and she would like for her real name to be publicly known now. Let me introduce you to our new sister in Christ, Maylan! The picture above is Christmas 2007 at my house. That is me with my volleyball team. Maylan is the lady sitting on the far left in the maroon colored outfit. Her mother is sitting on the floor, wearing the red jilbab. Please continue to pray for Maylan and include her mother in those prayers too.

After I left Indonesia several of our staff ladies who are still there have taken Maylan under their wings and have been providing wonderful support and encouragement for her. One of the ladies asked that all of her blog followers write a note of encouragement to Maylan. There was a HUGE response to that and when Maylan saw all the letters written to her from all over the world, she was floored. Here is Maylan's letter in response (in her own words):

"Dear Friends,

I weep as I read all the warm welcome from everybody. I can't remember all your names, but for sure I remember some of your faces. My deepest thanks for all of my new sisters and brother in Christ. My special thank you to Ronda (now in Nepal) who had encouraged me and suggested me to keep on asking question to God (I wish you were here the day I made my decision), to Rebecca who had recently gotten closer to me after Ronda left (thanks for the great books and the nice conversation with Brad that afternoon).

I remember when the first day I accepted Christ, I felt like a little girl running along the road and telling the world that I follow Him. I jumped in happiness and everything around me looked so new. In every green leaf, I saw Christ. The most joyous I have ever felt. I guess now I know that it really spread all over the world and everybody gave me a warm welcome, special thank you to Joy who made me feel so special with this.

For all the choices I've made in my life, to be in Christ is my best of all. I haven't felt so right, so in peace, so honour, and as happy as I feel since I follow Christ. Part of it is because everything I read right now, when it tells about how to live in the Christian way, I feel like opening a wonder box containing gifts that I like. I become my real self. When I pray, I treasue the freedom of talking to my God anytime and the feeling that He accepts me the way I am. The main thing of all is that I grew up in an environment where there are many unpleasant news and story about Christianity, they were all discouraging. But God Himself, came and showed me that it is all right. I didn't believe Him, but He was so patient at my stubbornness and my mingled heart, He presented around me all great friends, great examples of families who live in Christ, and showed me how good people they are and how in peace they are become in this life. If Christ also provides room for me, why wouldn't I stay there?

My parents and my other family haven't learned yet. Although, my brother and some friends already found out, I don't keep it a secret anymore, but I also keep it quiet and let Christ to work His hand on it.When someone asks, I say, "I am a follower of Christ."

Sincerely,Maylan

This week...

Faith, Family, Friends

This week has been an interesting week for me where nothing interesting has really happened but what has been stirring in my mind. We've all been worried about the world economy and how it is affecting our families and friends. I've been a bit stressed about "the waiting game" that we are in right now with the Nepali government. And many of us have been a bit concerned about what our new President will bring to our country. These are big things that are shaping our world today and one of the biggest thoughts I have is, "how will all of this affect my children today and tomorrow?"

Faith is what I have to hold onto. Faith in a God that never changes. Faith in a God that loves me and my children. Faith in a God who has continually paved the way for my family and has rained down blessings upon blessings. Faith in a God who never leaves me nor forsakes me. Faith in a God who has brought many a pharoah and king to their knees.

I have been so blessed having all my children home this year. Ben is maturing and growing so much now and I'm glad we aren't missing it. Nathan is developing into quite a clown and he brings many smiles to our dinner table. David is quite the little character who can give his brothers quite a run around...it's fun to see all this interaction between the boys.

We have also been blessed by so many wonderful friends. Friends who encourage us, pray for us, and support us in so many different ways. This week...I have missed each and every one of you. My prayer for you is that you can also fully and completely trust in God and have faith that in whatever trial you may be facing this week, that God is faithfully working behind the scenes to work through each of the details in your life and that His name will be glorified in the end. We'd love to hear how God is working in your life...this week.

God's Power

For the past few days a wonderful (and brisk) breeze has blown into the Kathmandu Valley helping to clear out all the smog and dirt that has been covering the city for the past few weeks. It was getting pretty depressing and I was seriously wondering how it was going to affect our lungs and health. Today, I took these pictures from on top of our roof. The first picture is of the Ganesh Himal Mountains to the northwest of the city.

I'm not sure of the name of these mountains but they lie northeast of the city and you can see how the wind is just whipping up there!

These pictures remind me of how awesome and powerful our God is. Just today the electric company had to increase our load-shedding (cutting our electricity) to 16 hours a day. We have 8 hours off, 4 hours on, 8 hours off, and then 4 hours on. So in church today this was the big topic of discussion for everyone. Even during "Children's Church" the topic was "load-shedding". The speaker put up on the screen the load-shedding schedule and talked about the different sections of town and who had electricity when. Then he put up another schedule, "God's load-shedding" schedule. It was completely blank! He then asked the children when God's power was out for the different parts of town and then for the rest of the world. "NEVER!" was the unanimous answer each child answered. God never needs a break! He is always working and all you have to do is just look around and you can see His awesomeness being displayed continuously; just like these mountains that tower over the Kathmandu Valley and the wind that is blowing the snow off of the tops.

A New Year Prayer

A Street Scene in Kathmandu

Lord, I come to you in this new year, 2009, with much gratitude and thankfulness for all that You've provided for me and my family this past year. You've paved the way and opened up all the right doors for us in order to make this move to Nepal a successful one. You allowed my sons to all be home this year and to attend a wonderful, little Christian International school together here in Kathmandu. You have kept us safe while we maneuver through these often times congested streets and narrow corridors throughout this city. You have provided us with cooking fuel when needed, you've provided for us a back-up power supply system for us during these long days without electricity. You have blessed us with some fun adventures while we wait for our licenses and permissions to begin a flight program here in Nepal. And you've even stepped in when times get frustrating during language learning.

Lord, this year, as we continue to be in a "holding pattern" waiting for all the correct permissions and such, we ask for patience and renewed strength. This is not an easy city to live in now that winter has hit and conditions are deteriorating even more for the people here. I pray for clean air, a reprieve from the thick smog and dirt that is hovering over and throughout this city. I pray for those who are without a backup system and must sit in darkness during these long spells of no electricity. I pray for those without sufficient shelter during these cold days, please provide them with warmth. I also pray for all the people here who are being gripped by spiritual darkness. I pray that Your Name will become great here in Nepal and that Satan's grip will be released.

Father, I pray for my family as we wait. Some days are quite discouraging and we must ask for forgiveness for those times when we doubt Your plan. All things will work together for good as we wait on Your timing. I pray for health for our family during these winter months. You have blessed us so far with good health and now when the air quality and dust/dirt levels are terribly high, I pray that you protect our bodies from harm. I ask You for knowledge, understanding, and patience as we continue to tackle this seemingly difficult language. Please help me to remain steadfast and focused during those days when I just want "to throw in the towel".

Thank You again for calling my family here to Nepal. Thank you for all You've done for us and for everything that You are planning for us this year. I pray that You go before us and secure our footing. In Your Holy Name, Amen.