Closer to Home in Nepal

By Nina Aboganda

It was my longest and scariest flight, yet. Four hours at the last row of an airbus with very turbulent weather. No TV or leg space. I felt dizzy and stiff. Finally reaching our destination, it was the farthest I’ve been from the Philippines. The language and money were different. The driver’s seat was on the “wrong side” of the vehicle, and the traffic was crazy-er. (If you thought you were a good driver in the Philippines, try driving in Nepal.) Everything was unfamiliar, new, and different. But I felt closer to Home than I ever did.

July 13, my husband and I, along with the other full time JZONE workers went on our first ever cross-cultural mission trip. With the help of CCF’s missions department and CCF-supported pastors in Nepal—Ptr. Raju Sundas and Ptr. Bishnu Regmi—we were able to join God’s work in Nepal where 99% of the population are Buddhists and Hindus. We have so much stories and lessons to share. Here are some from each of the cities we visited:

1. In KATHMANDU we were able to spend a lot of time with the youth and the workers. Even if we have different backgrounds, language, and culture, they all felt like brothers and sisters to us. They made us feel loved and welcomed. And their passion for Jesus is unmistakable and contagious. They composed this very catchy worship song that talks about how they will never get tired of worshipping and praising God. Truly, despite persecution, they boldly and passionately proclaim Jesus in a nation filled with images of gods and “holy cows.” One of the young ladies asked me to pray for her because her classmates were making fun of her being a Christian. Nevertheless, her eyes and smile at the time showed that nothing can take away the joy she has in Jesus.
2. CHITWAN is similar with the Philippines with its humid weather and beautiful rice terraces. We trained the church how to grow their dgroups and to share the Gospel using some of the evangelistic tools JZONE has developed. Some of the participants walked for 4 hours just to get to the church. I was inspired by these people’s hunger for God and convicted for the times I used to complain about long bus rides to CCF.
3. God is also doing so much in TANSEN, a city much like Baguio with its cool weather and great view. Aside from the growing churches and the passionate youth we met, I was particularly blessed and touched by their missions hospital. Here they offer cheap and often free medical care to the people who are broken and sick spiritually more than physically. I was close to tears when I heard how these Christians would minister to patients whose ailments range from simple coughs and colds to suicidal tendencies. Every day they have chapel hour where patients and their relatives can come to hear the Gospel, receive a free Bible, and sing hymns of praises to the One True God. As their tagline reads, “We Serve. Jesus Heals.” I saw how these people didn’t just preach the Gospel in the church building but in their everyday lives, as well. It is also noteworthy that their youth coordinator not only works in the hospital but is also taking care of orphans saved by the church in his home.
4. In POKHARA, we were able to get a breathtaking view of the Himalayas. But I believe what took our breath away more is what God has been doing in the churches and people of Nepal. In the church we visited and served there, we learned that in 6 years they were able to plant 14 churches not just in Nepal but in other countries as well. They are 100% self-sufficient funding their missions and village churches through décor and jewelry they make and sell in the public markets.

We visited four cities passing through long, winding, and sometimes dangerous roads. But in each stop, we got a glimpse of what worshipping in Heaven would be like—every tribe and tongue passionately confessing that Jesus is Lord, praising Him day and night.

Originally, we were scheduled to have 2 youth retreats, 2 leaders’ trainings, 5 preaching opportunities for the men and 1 random evangelism activity. But God gave us more opportunities to serve that we had 2 youth retreats, 4 trainings, 1 evangelistic activity at a boys’ dormitory, 1 Worship Team training, 7 preaching opportunities for the men, and 1 impromptu evangelistic activity at the hotel in Chitwan. By God’s grace, we were able to reach about 1,730 people in our 17-day stay.

But it doesn’t end there. In every plane ride we prayed for opportunities to continue sharing God’s love. In our flight leaving Nepal, my husband and I were able to share to our seatmate the Gospel using the Gospel bracelet. It was another first in our long list of firsts through this trip. It is such a privilege to take part in Christ’s commission and CCF’s vision to go to all nations, making disciples.

In all this, God’s Word to me at the start of 2010 comes to mind:

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. – Ephesians 3:20