Happy Losar

For Losar, the Tibetan New Year, we passed out the kupsay we made and labeled them with 1 Peter 3:18 to describe the meaning of the cross. We went into 4 families homes that we have close relationships with.

20 kgs of kupsay

We used our closet doors to make table to roll out the dough and cut our shapes out. (If anyone wants to send us a cross cookie cutter for next year, please do!!!!) We cut out a lot of crosses and used heart cookie cutters to make hearts to also share about the love of Christ. It was so much fun and took about 7 hours to make about 20 kilos of kupsay.

Losar Kupsay

For Losar, we decided to have some nationals over to make kupsay, Tibetan sweet bread, which is used every year at this time to give as gifts for the Tibetan New Year. We decided to make our bread in the shape of a cross and use it as a tool for evangelism. We made tags to tie to the bags that gave a New Year Greeting on them in Tibetan as well as a verse to explain the meaning of the cross.

Shops

For Losar, the Tibetan New Year, the Tibetans buy a new dress every year, new prayer flags, new prayer beads either for themselves or as a gift to others. These are pictures of those shops that make money on things that do not bring glory to God. (except the dress) Pray for the Tibetans this next week that they would see His light and repent.

Electricity or not

It's no wonder we are without power for 14 hours a day!

Tibetan Losar

The Tibetan Losar New Year is coming up on March 5. Everyone is preparing for the holiday. I had the privilege of helping some Tibetan women make kupsay, while sharing the Creation story and a few others with attentive listeners. A Losar tradition is to give kupsay as a gift to the Losar party you attend. It is basically a fried sweet bread. Many people make some extra cash around this time of year by making and selling kupsay.

Isabella's 2nd birthday

For Izzy's birthday, we went to a new play place in Kathmandu. We had lots of fun with all of our friends here.

The Gospel with Sophia

Last night I read Sophia (my 3 yr old daughter) a Bible story before bed. The story was about Eastern astrologers who visited Jesus after his birth and worshiped him. After the story, we, like these men from the East, bowed and worshiped Jesus in song. After praising Jesus, I told Sophia that one day we won't have to close our eyes in worship but will be able to see him and sing our praises to him in Heaven. Sophia then asked, "When we will get to go to heaven?" I told Sophia that we don't get to go until we die. She said she didn't want to die. I explained to her that everyone will die one day. We will all have to die at some point. I told her that those who follow Jesus and trust Him alone as their Savior will get to be with him in heaven. As Sophia struggled to grasp and understand death and heaven, she asked about Isabella (her little sister), "Will Izzy get to go to heaven?" I explained that whoever trusts in Jesus will be in heaven with him. As we finished praying together and kissed and said goodnight, Sophia said, "Dad...I want to go to heaven but I don't want to go to the cross." This statement shocked me b/c I had not mentioned the cross in a long time. I explained to Sophia that since Jesus went to the cross, we don't have to. He went there for us, to take our place. This is the good news of the Gospel. I am praising God for His work in Sophia's heart even now. Sophia understood that Jesus' exalted place in heaven was only by means of the cross. Sophia is already demonstrating a burden and concern for the salvation of the lost, even her little sister. Please join me in praying for God's continuing work in Sophia's heart; that one day she would embrace the call to follow the Lord and trust Him for salvation.

More on the protests

So far the protests have been peaceful. The Maoists are not burning tires, throwing bricks or beating people. However the police are ready for when they do (even though they may not look like it in this picture!).

Nepal strikes

The Maoists have called an indefinite strike against the government. Today is the fifth day of the strikes. No vehicles are allowed on the road. No shops are allowed to be open. It looks like a war zone here. If you really need to get somewhere you have to walk. Yesterday I had to walk an hour to bring Izzy's stool sample to the doctor and found out that she has a bacterial infection. Through all this mess, she has been sick, but now I have an antibiotic to give her and she is feeling much better today. We are planning to leave to go back to the states in five days. If the strikes have not been called off by then, we will have to walk to the airport. We have so many things to do to prepare to leave and we can not do any of it. We have special ordered things from shops as gifts for people and we may not be able to get them to bring back because the shops are closed. So we are praying that the strikes are called off so we can get things ready to leave and so that we do not have to walk to the airport.

More on Chitwan

We took a canoe ride down a river and saw crocodiles, peacocks, and other exotic birds. Summer went swimming with an elephant! Crazy, but fun.

More from Chitwan

Chitwan, Nepal (elephant riding)

Mounting an elephant with two kids is quite difficult! We went on a team retreat to Chitwan, Nepal where we rode elephants, canoes, saw rhinos and crocodiles. It was a lot of fun being with our team for the last time before we go home to the states in five weeks.