Safe Return

Well, 10 days later we're back. So sorry we weren't able to update during the trip - the internet connection was sporadic and unstable. 

I'm sure we all have a lot to share, and I know there are thousands of photos and some hilarious videos. 

I also know lives have been touched and hearts changed - ours perhaps more than others. We thank you all for your support and prayers!

Safe Arrival & First Day

Greetings from the shadow of the Himalayas!

My apologies, internet is weak and spotty, so pictures will have to wait for our return. But we will try to write regularly. Our trip was rather straightforward - most of the group met up and packed, then all of us found each other at the airport. One person forgot their passport, but God was gracious and delayed our flight 3 hours!! 

Upon our arrival, we waited for our local contacts at the airport and struck up a conversation with the police and taxi drivers. We were impressed with how friendly and sincere everyone was. I, for one, cautiously asked if I could take photos of the group / police conversation. The policeman laughed, looked around sheepishly, and said, "As long as my boss doesn't appear." Stacey, Mierie, and Elizabeth proceeded to get language lessons from them.

While there is much that could be said, time runs short. It's about 5:30 on our second morning, Saturday morning. We'll be going to a local church in an hour. We appreciate the prayers and support of everyone, and already we see how much we need it.

A few things to pray for::

Health - so far, everyone is fine, but it's very likely we will get dysentery or similar ailments.

The people - we see so much spiritual darkness, but such kind and wonderful people - it's heartbreaking

Us - for us to have sensitive, loving hearts.

Our message - that we remember our purpose here and have the words to speak

Church today - that we be a blessing and be blessed by the local church

Praises:

For our very generous and prepared hosts.

For our safe arrival.

For a local Christian guide who is excited, prepared, and very, very kind.

Thanks and God bless you, as you have blessed us with your prayers and support!

~Jennifer

Intercessory Prayer and Fasting

Intercessory Prayer

There are three characteristics in intercessory prayer:
1. Identification (feelings of connection and empathy)
2. Sacrifice
3. Authority (with God through the Holy Spirit)
Here are six solid points to get us started in how to pray for others:
1. Pray that they know God’s Will for their lives
2. Pray that they would do God’s Will in their lives (through the process of knowledge, attitude and behavior)
3. Pray for productivity in their lives
4. Pray for them to have a growing relationship with God
5. Pray for power in their lives
6. Pray for them to have a right attitude

Fasting

When used with prayer, fasting is incredibly powerful. Here is a list of several biblical insights into spiritual needs for fasting:
1. It is a way to truly humble oneself
2. It brings revelation by the Holy Spirit resulting in brokenness, repentance, change, and a crucial means for personal revival
3. It helps us better understand the World of God by making it more meaningful, vital and practical
4. It transforms prayer into a richer and more personal experience
5. It can result in a dynamic personal revival
6. It can restore the loss of one’s first love for the Lord.

How does fasting help? It brings us to submission, a holy brokenness, resulting in inner peace and self-control, it renews spiritual vision and faith, and inspires determination to follow God’s revealed plan for our life.


Partners in Prayer by John Maxwell and special section on fasting by Bill Bright.

Slideshow!

Sorry this is late, I was having some technical problems (Microsoft and their proprietary softeware). Anyway, here's the complete slideshow with music. Sorry about the annoying green symbol - that's the price of free video conversion.

So, this slideshow was created for the OEM Wednesday night prayer meeting. We went up, introduced ourselves, and received prayer. The video includes some facts about Nepal, the team, and how to pray for us.

Going to Kathmandu

Here's a fun theme song for the team!

Bob Seger's "Kathmandu"

Just a Video

I was reminded of this video as I work on a slideshow for tomorrow's prayer meeting. I first saw it a few years ago when it came out... and it was just as powerful this time.

This is from Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley (near LA). They were outgrowing their church building, and began raising funds for new facilities. They raised $20 million dollars.

Then, they made this video:



They donated it all. Now, 2 years later, I'm glad to see what they've done instead of a traditional building.

~Jennifer

Kent & Daisy - prayer requests

Greetings...

Daisy and I have always been interested in missions, and for the first time, we have a chance to go on a short term missions trip. We would appreciate your prayers in the following areas...

Personal experience with God
Pray for spiritual protection from spiritual attack; for God to go before us and brake down spiritual opposition before us. May God use us to plant seeds for the gospel in Kathmandu. May God empower us to share his word and be effective witnesses there.

The team

Pray for team unity, and against spiritual attack or opposition against our team. May he use us to pray against spiritual strongholds there as we pray.

Our vision
May God open our eyes and grant us spiritual vision for missions, for his heart for the lost, and for Nepal. May he change our hearts and our thinking, and open our eyes to the spiritual realm, and may we be transformed spiritually by the trip.

Our needs

Please pray for Kent’s visa situation. There are some complicated problems with my Korean visa (having to do with leaving one job and moving to another in Korea), and I need to get my new visa done back before the trip. Please pray that God will move mountains and work in the admin people and officials at the immigration office, my current employer, and my previous employer, to resolve this.