Preaching the good news and healing the sick
in New Zealand, Nepal and the world
Nepal village life - Nov 2010 - Chandranigapur and Hetauda
If Ilam was beautiful, Chandranigapur was plain. But the people were not. Pastor Dipak and his team served and served and served, and it is clear why his church is full of beautiful believers. We were humbled by their grace.
Our team tolerated our guest house without complaint, finding Kiwi-ingenious ways around its shortcomings, the most effective being that we were only there one night, thanks to a flight cancelled at the last minute that had us an extra day in Kathmandu. We accept the unpredictability of missions, because somewhere God has his reasons!
It was the rice harvest, which drew many away, but those who came were hungry for God. This time we began by calling forward all who were sick (including members of our own team, who had been fighting colds and tummy bugs). Those who weren’t sick prayed for them, and most were healed within a matter of minutes! Later we also saw several demons cast out, and the faces of the newly liberated shone with Jesus. In the streets, our team ministered while the street loungers eyed us suspiciously, arms akimbo. Then one lady was healed of a frozen hand, and promptly ran to fetch her neighbour. Curiosity overcame scepticism, and a now eager crowd gathered and heard about the love of Jesus – many said they would come to church on Saturday. Surely this is the method that Jesus, our example, mostly used! Why don’t we do the same?
Risky? Yes! But we all take risks, if we consider it worthwhile. Surely one soul more in heaven is worth it? Jesus evidently thought so.
Then it was on to the Youth Conference. The Lonely Planet Guide to Nepal says that ‘there is no reason to stop in Hetauda except to change buses!’ We found a better one – to change lives! Almost 300 young enthusiasts bopped and screamed to Hillsong numbers in a packed and steamy upstairs room. Very sadly they were not expecting a team, just myself, so the programme did not really make space for multiple involvement. However, God had given me a series of messages on the Prodigal Son from Luke 15.
About 80 responded to the altar call for salvation on the first night, and from then on they lapped up the Word. Many were filled with the Spirit too, and on the final evening we asked for all who had back-pain – about 15 came forward. I was just calling our team to minister to them, when the Lord showed me another way. We lined them up, each with their right hand on the back of the one to their right! When they commanded, ‘Be healed, in the Name of Jesus,’ about one third were instantly healed. We closed them up and did it again! More healed... now we had only three left, who were also healed after the third prayer! God is good!
Despite our delayed return due to another cancelled internal flight, we are still planning to go again in March. God has been speaking to me about training others who are willing to teach Schools of Healing themselves, on how to run these Schools. Hopefully our visit to the Far West of Nepal will include that, so that in future others will take this ministry into the towns and villages that we are unable to reach. Why not join us?
300 zealots attended the Youth Conference at Hetauda. Almost 80 responded to the call for salvation!
Below: Traditional Chandranigapur houses on stilts avoid floods and mosquitoes! Here they are drying maize cobs.
