Warmest greetings to you from the “top of the world.”  Yesterday was the main day of “Dasain”—the major annual-festival in the Nepali calendar.  The country is in a “holiday mood” for the entire week.  With all the live animal sacrifices being made, life here this week has in many ways been like living in Old Testament times.

Yesterday was a very special day as our church fellowship met to celebrate the holidays.  The reason was because 61-year-old Chitra Bahadur was in attendance.  Well over one year ago, when our church building-addition was being constructed, Chitra’s wife Shova showed up as a “daily-wage worker.”  She became interested in church to the point of secretly attending—much to the disapproval of her husband.  Over the past year, however, God has marvelously worked in the lives of this family.  Several weeks ago Chitra Bahadur sent word to our church pastor to “come over quickly.”  Chitra Bahadur thought that he was dying from the effects of many years of tobacco abuse. 

When Pastor David arrived, he found a man powerless—as he confronted his own mortality and found there was absolutely nothing he could do about his situation, except pray.  By the end of the evening Chitra Bahadur, had turned his life over, not to the gods made of wood and stone receiving sacrifices here this week, but to the “I AM,” Creator of heaven and earth.  Since then, we have seen a 100-percent about-face in both Chitra Bahadur’s outlook-on-life and also his health.  Yesterday he came to church—his first time out-of-the-house in many months and joyfully participated in the celebrations.

We are grateful for the small part we could play in sharing Chitra Bahadur’s joy yesterday and for this opportunity to share his happiness with you.  Thank you, most kindly dear friends for your prayers and financial support that allow us to serve here in the land of Mt. Everest.

Sincerely,
Bethsaba & Dale