As Beverly and I have continued to develop the work in Nepal I have been amazed at both the need and the opportunity here. I recently spent over two weeks in the isolated mountains of the north-west and can honestly say that it is one of the most unreached areas in the world. I have visited nearly 40 countries and I have never seen an area of such neglect.
In one ten day period I traveled with two Nepali men for well over 200 miles. We hiked over 75 miles into areas that are only accessible by foot and traveled by Jeep for over 100 miles on newly opened roads that were beyond treacherous. In one section of road over 40 vehicles have gone of the edge of the mountain in the past 6 months since the road was opened.
In one 75 mile stretch of mountainous region there are only four churches, all of them congregations we started within the past 2 years. Time and again we would ask people if they knew about Jesus only to hear the response, What is that? Outside of these four fledgling churches, there are no known believers in this entire region. Countless 100's of villages, some over two days walk from the main trail, have never heard the Gospel.
I was deeply moved as I sat with one of our pastors on a high ridge overlooking his village. We were near a Hindu temple that had stood for over 200 years in that spot. His father and grandfather had served that temple in a tradition that involved the passing along of 3,000 year old Hindu rituals from father to son. Our pastor broke that 200 year tradition two years ago when he accepted Christ. He is now the only leader we have in an entire valley that is totally unreached, but for our four churches.
He's 61 years old and struggles with asthma but it is still amazing to see how much ground he can cover in a day. I saw, though, a great need in helping to extend his life and Beverly and I bought him a horse this month. It was bred for the mountains, sure footed, durable and dependable. We will be providing a little funding each month to help him care for the animal. I believe it will literally add 10 years to his ministry and it will more than triple the territory he is now able to cover.
Rick
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