Evangelism defined....

Friday morning, John and I were invited for a goodbye breakfast at Binod's house.  Our driver (the one who just got baptized) picked us up and drove us over there.  We basically visited for a couple of hours, playing with his children and talking about Binod's ministry efforts.  He gave us his prayer requests and explained his needs here in Nepal for partnership with some other churches.  You could tell that he was very, very proud of his home.  We felt honored to be there.  

Binod, John and our Driver

 We ate a meal together (his wife made me delicious bread), and then we left for here:

The Biritnagar Airport.  This burning metropolis is the most humble airport I have ever seen.  Second would be in Hartford, Connecticut, I guess.

Security

Ticket Counter

We landed in the Kathmandu, Airport and then headed for our hotel.  This beautiful hotel was a nice respite from the previous 5 or 6 nights in more meager conditions.

Kathmandu is an interesting city. As the capital of Nepal, it is home to almost 1 million people.  It is nestled at the base of 4 of the Himalayan Mountains and sits at an elevation of about 4600 feet.  The political makeup of the country changed in 1950 and today, Kathmandu is often referred to as the gateway for tourism in Nepal and is the nerve center of their economy.  There are multiple shopping districts, and you see much more evidence of the English Language.  Out of any urban city in Nepal, it has the most established infrastructure.  And as you are driving down the streets, it feels much like the humbleness/simplicity of the rural areas like Biratnagar—only now it is in a city setting.

A local car wash

I will NEVER get used to the hungry children
begging outside the car.  Never.

We set out after getting settled in our hotel to find a local church (called Living Baptist Church) we had been invited to….this comes out of the well of John’s previous ministry days.  We were invited to come for a Friday night Praise Team rehearsal (in preparation for a Saturday Nepali Service, and a Sunday American Service.) 

Meet DeePok (pictured as the one on the right with the tan leather coat.  The man in the middle was our guide the next day).  DeePok is the cab driver that drove us Friday night to church.  The deal was, he would call and talk to James (our contact at the church) and get directions, as the church is in a remote place in the city.

  

John was invited to speak (with an interpreter) during the Saturday Service.  We arranged with DeePok to pick us back up the next day.  So early Saturday morning, we got into his cab and headed to church.

Just to keep it an adventure, our car started to choke and slow during the drive.  We had given ourselves a small window of time to get there and get settled before John was to preach.  Just for laughs—that cab broke down!  DeePok was so sweet and quickly made some phone calls to retrieve a new cab for us.  When the reinforcements arrived, DeePok made that guy get out and stay with the broken down car so we could then ride in his cab.  It was funny and endearing at the same time.

The unlucky cab driver who got stuck with our
broken down car.  

We arrived at church unbelievably on time!  Visited with them for a bit and then the service started.  I love to hear them praise in foreign tongue.

Our new Danish friend who was
there with his wife visiting
from Copenhagen, Denmark.

John preaching on Evangelism

John and his Interpreter

Us and our Danish Friends

This church participates in Samaritan's Purse!
How cool.

James

One thing I haven’t mentioned to you is this…..when DeePok drove us to the church, we stayed in the car with him for a moment.  See, Friday night, he asked John about the guitar he was carrying.  (Always being cautious about saying we are traveling Christians), we told him simply that John plays music and that he would be playing music at the place he was taking us.  A smile beamed across his face and in broken English he said, “I like music!”  So when we arrived at church that night, we told the church members inside about DeePok.  We told them that he would be driving us to the Saturday service the next day, and could they talk to him in his native tongue and invite him in “to hear the music.”  It was evangelism on the spot! 

So, the next day when DeePok got us to church, we sat in the car with him and said, “DeePok, we are playing music inside.  We would LOVE for you to come in!!”  He seemed to understand us.  Before we went inside the church, we were met by James and we begged him to work on DeePok. 

DeePok, James and John

He DID come inside after much prodding from James!!!  I felt SO HAPPY!  After the service we set out for a little sight-seeing.  We went to Durbar Square.  Inside it stands the very old Kathsamandap Temple (which is what Kathmandu is named after.)  We walked around the square with a guide (pictured earlier) and learned about the myths and legends of the square. 

Durbar Square

I was supposed to be meditating.

Inside the Golden Temple

The rest of the day was mingled with some shopping and meandering and eating!!!  All in all, it was a beautiful day.........and a perfect day for sharing the gospel.   

"Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord to send out laborers into His harvest...." Matthew 9:37-38

We miss you, and we love you.....