Nepal & Tibet

Rebuilding from the ruins of 2021:

by Pastor Shalva* and Jandi* (Country Directors, Nepal+Tibet)

As I look back at 2021, we have faced some of the greatest challenges in that year. But the most difficult part is the greatest loss of the church leaders. Because of the pandemic we lost more than 750 pastors and leaders unexpectedly in Nepal and Tibet. We also lost thousands of believers. I used to receive continuous telephone calls requesting for prayers and financial support to meet some of their expenses. Whenever I received a telephone call it was painful because I guessed another bad news coming. When our pastor friends passed away, we were not allowed to attend the funerals. I have lost about 15 of my very close pastor friends. This is the greatest loss for the churches in Nepal. We need to work very hard to fulfill all this loss and it takes many years. Around the country, we also lost around 15 churches and 50 believers in the landslides. In the communities, people were sick and not getting any medicine or oxygen, not having any money in their hand and the government did not do enough to help. We provided food relief for more than 350 people. We are grateful that none of our missionaries have passed away even though many suffered from covid-19 and even hospitalized. We helped them in their crises with extra monetary support. We have done so much more than my expectations from the support we received from Harvest Bridge. The year 2021 was a very sad and sorrowful year for all of us. Our ministry this year was to focus on providing for the leaders and believers in our care. We wanted to contribute more to the ministry of the Lord, but we couldn’t do as we planned to. However, what we could do was offer contributions to some pastors’ and leaders’ treatment and some help for the bereaved families.

It was painful - we can’t buy life with money but at least we could support their families with some amount so that they would be somewhat comforted.

The faithfulness of our missionaries

In the midst of all this, we have witnessed 9 new churches and 32 new house fellowships in 2021. Around 500 people came to Christ and many of them attend regular fellowships. Only 85 were baptized since the churches were not meeting in person for many months. The regular support enables our 55 missionaries to be able to serve in this way and it benefits their families impacting around 250 individuals every month. They are able to pay some of their daily bills. I am amazed by our missionaries and seeing their faith and commitment in The Lord and ministry despite the many struggles and pressures they are facing. They are regularly visiting, following up, and teaching the believers and new believers.

As I read Psalms 121, I found it a blessing that in the time of crises only the Lord can help us, and we can trust Him alone. I saw with my eyes that wealth, power, influence, or anything else can’t help us, but only The Lord. We trust in Him whatever may be the situation. We are still moving around and doing His ministry because of His mercies and grace. All other things have been passed away, even powerful men and women passed away but the Word of the Lord and His promises are still working beyond our expectations.