The day with dianne Louise

“Discover creative ways to encourage others and to motivate them toward acts of compassion, doing beautiful works as expressions of love.” Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭24‬ ‭TPT‬‬ We can be caught up in ‘big things’. These can obfuscate the simple truths in ordinary people’s live. We become hardened to the small people and lack love and compassion. This is the danger of bigness and success. As I plan the work in Sindhulpalchok and encourage the team who will do the communication, I cannot lose God’s compassion for the girls who have been, are being and will be trafficked or sexually abused. I have experienced big organisations in churches. The leaders become overtaken with the forward vision and maintaining the movement. This removes them from the small people, the hurting and the needy. Jesus kept  the focus. He stayed connected. His eyes were on the sheep not the pen. He held together the need to train his people, manage his people, face His own crisis, His need to die on a cross, and still He ...

“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” James‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬ James is right! We fool ourselves if we fail to apply what we read. It is so easy to read and forget. If our hearts are hard the words bounce right off. I remember being in a service where the preacher was speaking about faith and hope,  and I could see that he was failing to make an impact. What he said was right but the hardness of the people’s hearts made a thudding sound. They looked at him blankly. It our job to ensure that our hearts are soft to God’s word. James tells us our hearts are hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Jesus told a parable about the different types of receptivity of hearts by likening them to types of soil. Truely hard hearts had souls that was trampled upon like a path. What do we allow to trample upon our hearts? Sinful thoughts and ways. In other words fleshly behaviours. The next two types of soils were rocky soil and th...

“Then Hannah prayed: “My heart rejoices in the Lord! The Lord has made me strong. Now I have an answer for my enemies; I rejoice because you rescued me. No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.” 1 Samuel‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Hannah believed God and was blessed with a son, Samuel. Samuel was raised at the temple of the Lord and became a great prophet in Israel. Hannah had been childless. Her husband’s other wife bore many children and mocked her continually. This grieved Hannah. Therefore, she went to the temple and implored the Lord for a son, saying “I will return him to you if you give him to me!” This was a big thing to do. Not having children and then promising to hand her first son over to the Lord was huge. However, she went on to have other children. Her enemy was her husbands other wife. We can have very close enemies. Only God can intervene. He did for Hannah! What are you seeking Him for today? Our God is faithful and true and w...

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭MSG‬‬ Paul wrote these words from prison. He had an earthly reason to worry, yet, he chose to pray and worship. Last night I received word that a fellow student was having difficulty in obtaining her student visa. It has prompted me to go early to apply for my visa. It was not due until Monday. My friend told me that immigration told her there would be a one week delay and that they were doing a home visit to ensure she was not compromising her study visa. I may also face such scrutinity. I have not worked, hiwever, was planning on doing some social work, voluntarily. I must leave this in the Lord’s hands. If He wants me to r...

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.” Psalms‬ ‭143‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Here in Nepal there are many obstacles to foot traffic. The roads and paths are constantly being dug up. Just when. New road has been laid and confidence is being given that same place will be overturned, uneven and dangerous. Needing s firm footing in God inportant to me. I am a creative person and can come up with some wild schemes. Not all are God inspired. Currently, I am making curtains for our puppet stage. The puppet stage is made of plumbing pipes so it can be dismantled and transported easily. Did I say easily? I bought bags for the puppets and the stage. The stage is heavy. Too heavy for me and will be a challenge to transport in public transport. I had been  advised that this was how puppeteers locally staged a puppet show.  I am developing a team to work the puppets and they can help in the transport. I am aware that in the area we a...

“When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?” Psalms‬ ‭8‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬ David loved the night sky. I am sure there were many, who like him, enjoyed gazing into the night sky. Way before television I was one such person as a child. It filled me with wonder. As an astronomer the invention of modern telescopes has done nothing to diminish my wonder. Currently, no human will ever leave our galaxy. With current technology it would take millions of years. However, even more amazing is that there are millions such galaxies in the universe. Why did God choose one small blue planet? Why did He give us such a gift? Why did He choose a man and a woman to be in charge of His earthly creation? Why does this Psalm go on to say:  “Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of...

“All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬ This chapter deals with false prophets and antichrists, the test to know if a person is really of God and loving. The good news is for us who declare Jesus is the Son of God, we have God living in us. It is amazing to read that John writes even in his day there were many false prophets and antichrists. How much more is there today? Many! We also have many preachers accusing other men of God to be false prophets. However, this chapter gives us the means to test what manner of spirit is in a person. We cannot foolishly accept every voice as from God.  The flesh of man craves attention and modern technology gives us the means to promote. The important thing is, not how many people come to hear a preacher, but how many lives are changed. Are the listeners convicted of sin and a need to live better lives? Are they merely listeners and consumers or are they genuine disc...

“The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.” Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Lamentations was written by Jeremiah. Jeremiah had a difficult time as a prophet. He was badly treated by the king and those false prophets who refused his words of warning. He prophesied of the coming of Babylon and the people being taken into captivity, whilst the false prophets spoke otherwise. Jeremiah was proven correct. In the first part of this chapter Jeremiah is telling the Lord how He has abandoned him and done aweful things to him, he then moves on the proclaim the goodness of God and asking the Lord to deal with his persecutors. Jeremiah did not have an easy life, he was not allowed to marry, he was abused and often alone. Yet He was faithful to the Lord. He spoke what was given him to speak, even though the people refused to listen. If we think our lot is heavy we should read Jeremiah and Lamentations. There are saints of God who suffer badly for their faith. Jesus tol...

“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Jesus paid for my sins past and present. As I walk in faith of this glorious fact, I walk in His continual forgiveness. I must keep my eyes on Jesus as He walks before me. Today I go to visit a new place called Dhulikel. It ai onky 1 1/2 hours from Kathmandu. I will accompany young Thomas as he goes to collect some documents. It will be an opportunity to talk about our mission to Sindhulpalchok some more.  Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak to a young Asian friend about Jesus. She claims to follow Buddha, however, her life does not portray his teachings. She said she admired my passion for life and boldness to study the Nepali language. I told her Jesus is my strength and boldness. In Romans 8 if we read further into the chapter Paul says:  “He (Jes...

“And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.” Philemon‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬ If we take this verse in isolation then we could assume it was about finance and we would be wrong. Paul is writing to Philemon and asking Him to have a forgiving heart towards a slave of his, who had run away and ended up with Paul. The slave, Onesimus, had not had a good relationship with his master, Philemon, however he had become useful to Paul. Paul is basically asking Philemon to forgive Onesimus, and receive him back with a changed heart. He stresses, in bold type, that Philemon owes him his life. He is really applying pressure on Philemon. People will wrong us, run away from us and if found by a Paul, will return to start again. Forgiveness we receive from Christ and forgiveness we are expected to give to others. Sometimes we need a Paul to remind us of our own previous condition. We too were ...

“The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.” Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬ David wrote in the psalms: some trust in horses, some in chariots, but I will trust in the name of the Lord! (Psalm 20:7) Some trust in men or women of high standing, however, all people can fail us, especially in the matter of priorities. However, God is our safety, our hiding place. Some trust in themselves and believe they can handle anything. However, along comes something they cannot handle and they struggle. I used to be supremely confident. I remember being asked, “what do you do if you find someone who does not like you?” I replied, “I will win them over!” Unfortunately, life is not like that. I have had many situations where I cannot win a person over and some have been those I never thought would leave, but they did. Only God can win a person over. He can make life very difficult for them and chase them down. He does it in love. I have to trust Him for final outcomes and...

“See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.” ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Evil lurks around tempting the unaware heart to resent, criticise and become offended. Spirits of wickedness want us for breakfast. They want to live through us. They want us to adopt their evil ways. When we choose to be offended or to criticise they have us hook, line and sinker.  Yesterday, I spent the day with a friend attempting to build a puppet stage. We encountered all manner of problems, but we finally finished at dinner time. I fed my friend lunch and dinner and then sent him on his way. My flatmates stayed in their rooms in bed, one stayed all day the other half a day. It is cold here and when we have nothing to do we go to bed. We do not have a TV and so mobile phones are the tool to entertain. I am not used to such a sedentary lifestyle. So I try to busy myself. I sew, paint, cook read or study. Yesterday was fun! Criticism of my flat...

“How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!” Psalms‬ ‭133‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬ I have been taking lessons from the Lord about creating harmony in a work. It started last year with friends. I began drawing people into friendship that normally would be not involved. Patiently waiting, shepherding, drawing, loving and not being drawn into reacting. This year as the vision comes into focus I have an intensity of friction from within and being patient and prayerful. Amazingly, God is working to create harmony and unity. As ai pray and allow Him to move in hearts and minds, godly action takes please and repentance comes to those in friction. Gently, I push forward. No this is not my personality, it is God. I am naturally pushy and efficient. I get things done. However, the things are being done God’s way. Now, I know this will last and be effective. As I patiently, lovingly, pray and encourage it is happening, God’s way. Allowing God to move and change hearts is best as ...

“I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.”  1 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬ The church in Corinth was experiencing divisions of beliefs in who they followed. Paul was urging them to be of one mind. We all have preferences in preaching styles and leandership, however is that so important? We join together to worship Jesus and follow His ways. When we start to idolise man we cause trouble for ourselves and the man.  We have preferences in interpreting how to run organisations and churches. As I endeavour to establish an organisation to deal with trafficking many have come along with their opinions about how things should run. Several would die for their opinions but only one is worthy of our death, His name is Jesus. Yesterday, I visited the former palace of the kings of Nepal. We saw all the pomp and spl...

“For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world.” Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Chapter 3 and 4 address the issue of rest. The rest that is spoken of is a rest from works to earn salvation. This can only be entered by faith. In chapter 3 the author of Hebrews says:  “For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.” Hebrews‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬ The inclination of humans is to start trying to add to the work Jesus did in order to earn favour. I cannot add anything worthwhile, Jesus’ sacrifice was perfect. He is enough. He paid the price for us and there is nothing lacking. All we can do is submit and obey. Living in obedience to freedom is not hard, we just need to yoke ourselves to Jesus. He said, “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to b...

“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Imagine Jesus living in your home, your community! How would you behave? I imagine if it were me, I would defer to Him, make room for Him and see His take on things that happened. Wouldn’t you? Here is the good news: if you are a Christian living in a Christian community He is here among us. We are His church. We can defer to Him and ask His advice. So many things we bumble along with, when we could seek advice. Ask Him! Read His words to you ! I currently have many things I need advice on. It seems things are taking longer than I want in organising our base in Sindhulpalchok. Yet, I sense His hand, and His voice, “wait, trust me!” For someone who is used to getting things done, promptly, this is a challenge. Yet, as I wait, He moves. It is not all up to me. Amen!

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬ The Message Bible has more to say about treasure: ““Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.” Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭MSG‬‬ In Australia we have just witnessed severe bush fires in the State of Victoria. Many lost homes, livestock and vehicles, in fact all was lost. People have spent their lives building and collecting treasure only to have it destroyed in a day, in fact a short period of time. As they know nothing else they will rebuild and recollect. What was Jesus saying in the above scripture? How do we relate to this scripture? Do not collect what can be destroyed here on earth but what is stored in heaven. What does that look like for y...

“True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life.” Proverbs‬ ‭22‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬ How do you know if you fear the Lord? The answer is: you are probably humble. How do you know if you are humble? You first reaction is to go to the Lord and not react. I know when I am reacting and not humble, my head hurts right in the centre front and I become angry. Submitting this reaction to the Lord and asking His way is life and peace. Unfortunately, I am not alway humble. I want to be and this is a goal. The result, Proverbs tells me leads to riches, honour and a long life. The opposite is poverty, dishonour and a short life. The difference is stark. Each day I must choose. Each time an opportunity comes to humble myself I must choose. Life or death?   This proverb ties in with another: do not lean on your own understanding:  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to t...

“You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭40‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Have you ever had a surprise visit from someone? Were you prepared? Was your  house in order, fresh biscuits made, and time to give them? Jesus will not require biscuits, but is looking for souls ready for Him. How can I be ready? I can be in close union with Him, living as He advised in John 15, abiding in the vine. Is there activities you need to delete? Activities you need to include? Have you failed to obey Him in some area of your life? Time to repent and obey! Jesus told several parables about being ready. One was about ten virgins invited to a wedding feast. The grooms was slow in coming and they all fell asleep. When the announcement came that the groom is here, five were ready, five were not. Five has brought along spare oil for their lamps. The five unprepared raced off to buy oil and returned too late. Are you ready?

“If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.” Mark‬ ‭8‬:‭35‬ ‭NLT‬‬ The only adventure worth taking is surrender. Giving up the grasping for our perceived life is true life. Flowing with the Holy Spirit is life indeed. He is waiting to take us on the ride of our life, if we would just surrender. Surrendering our finances, our goals, our perceptions, our fears all lead to an unimaginable life of joy in the Holy Spirit. I just woke from a dream in which the Holy Spirit was Lord. It was fun and filled with peace. This is what I want. Anxiety does not figure here, just peace and rest, and joy. Can you surrender today?

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬ This is the day of the rising young! I rejoice to see them rise up and preach. We have a particularly young man in our church who is involved in Sunday school. After our church service the teacher leads the children in reporting what they had learned. This young man ends up preaching, he can’t help himself. I believe he is annointed to preach. As an older woman I am wanting to raise up the young. They have a place and a vital part to play in church in these days.  I am to mentor, release and bless the young. They have a freshness that blesses. However, they need protection, prayer and training.  Jesus chose young men as His disciples. He can learn from Him. Even before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit He sent them out two by two to preach, Heal the sick and cast out demons. When they were filled wi...

“Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.” Psalms‬ ‭103‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬ This is a psalm of David. There was a time when he did forget the Lord. When he stayed behind in Jerusalem and didn’t go to war, he was walking on his rooftop and saw a lovely woman bathing. He lusted after her and took her even though she was married to Uriah. He subsequently made this woman, Bathsheba, pregnant and tried to cover his sin, going so far as to murder her husband. I just awoke from several dreams in which I had forgotten the Lord and became mixed up with unbelievers in a wrong way. My flesh ruled in these dreams. My flesh has been fighting me fiercely of late and so has my enemy Satan. Critical thoughts, selfish and vindictive thoughts, all manner of wicked thoughts have been crowding in. I’ve had to recognise them and reject them.  Some have stayed longer than they should. Yesterday my colleague in the work to be done in Sindhulpalchok was in a motorbike ...

“So you must remain in life-union with me, for I remain in life-union with you. For as a branch severed from the vine will not bear fruit, so your life will be fruitless unless you live your life intimately joined to mine.”  John‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬ ‭TPT‬‬ Intimacy mean face to face connection. This is very close. How close am I? If my own thoughts are causing me to be touchy then not close enough. How easy it is to walk our own path in our own understanding of truth. Yesterday, I had this brought home to me. I was challenged with opposition to having my young male colleague share the same flat with me in Sindhulpalchok. This boy is younger than my son and looks upon me as a mother. Yet, as my friend pointed out, the local perception is important. Fortunately, his family (aunts, uncles and cousins) live just over the hill.  Another thing happened yesterday. My best friend has been barred from Nepal for 12 months all because she overstayed her tourist visa by one day. This is a heavy pri...

“We will show mercy to the poor and not miss an opportunity to do acts of kindness for others, for these are the true sacrifices that delight God’s heart.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭16‬ ‭TPT‬‬ For the longest time, well, since 2016, I have wanted to return and live in Sindhulpalchok as I love the area. Yesterday I went to a small village near Chautara in Sindhulpalchok. I checked out a flat that has been constructed and ready for rent. My Nepali colleague and I have decided to take the flat. I am now having to put in flooring and furniture to make it habitable. Who would have thought a 72 year old Australian pensioner is able to do this? Yet, here I am doing this. God is good! Living in Australia is so expensive it consumes all my pension but in Nepal I am able to support two employees, save and now pay two rents and furnish two flats. Wow! For the first six months I will only visit the new flat every two weekends. I am committed to college again this year until July. The local people are delig...

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬ This is the challenge we have as Christians, we are here for the Lord. We work for His vision not ours. Eating and drinking as such basic activities. Yet, even in them we must honour our God. Gluttony does not belong in this space. If we are given to chasing the latest meals or different types of drinks then we need to repent. We do not live to eat and drink. Jesus, Himself, said, “my food is to do the will of Him who sent me!” Our purpose is all consuming! Today I go to do the will of my Father. What is His priority? What can ai do to bless Him? May Your Kingdom come Lord, You will be done! Amen!

““Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you. Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you. All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance.” Isaiah‬ ‭60‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Although the Christian church has often quoted this in reference to itself, these verses, in fact the whole chapter, are about Israel in the end days.  As I watch how Israel is conducting itslef in these days I am impressed. The innovations in technology and medicine are amazing. The ability of this very small country to defend itself against many larger countries is impressive. Yet, Jesus is returning to rule and reign from Jerusalem. In those days it will be the centre of the earth. Mind blowing advances in all areas of innovations will be seen. Nothing will be impossible! I praise God that I know Jesus as my saviour. I rejoice in His plans for Israel...

“Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭TPT‬‬ In Australia there was a killing of Jewish people on Bondi Beach Sydney. In the aftermath there was a lot of people that did things to say they support the Jews, we would call it virtue- signalling, but nothing changed with the stance against those who were stirring violence against the Jews. There were government promises to ban guns, again, and laws against ‘hate speech’, but not a removal of those who were inciting the violence.! Did the people write petitions to the governments demanding these changes or did they just throw tokens? The world believes in tokens. It says ‘feel good’ for us thing but not a help my neighbour thing. We the church cannot be caught up in ‘feel good’ things. We are...

“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” Psalms‬ ‭27‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬ As a Christian I am aware that I am the Lord’s temple.! This is awesome to me! David writes above that he delights to be in God’s temple. For him it was a tent. My body is a tent that is wearing away. However, my Lord delights to dwell there. I am awake in the middle of the night hearing worship. The song that seems to be prevalent is ‘worthy’ written by Steve Furtick, pastor of Elevation Church USA. I have made it a practice of singing worship songs every morning and this one is one I sing. I think heaven likes it. My spirit does! When the enemy of my soul attempts to fill my mind with junk thoughts this song is my reply. Scripture exhorts us to think on noble and worthy things. There is no higher a noble thought than Jesus and His gift of eternal life. Worthy is Your name Jesus...

“Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath.” Mark‬ ‭2‬:‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬ We can be legalistic on one side of the Sabbath coin but on the other totally disregard the message in what Jesus said. Here, He was opposing the criticism about He and His disciples walking through the fields and eating the grain on the Sabbath. The legalisms were going to their extreme about Sabbath laws. God gave the law about the Sabath so that mankind would be refreshed and take time to worship Him. The legalisms had added to the law telling people they could not go a certain distance, could not eat certain things, they had turned the Sabbath into a prison. As Christians we can disregard the teaching about the Sabbath to our own detriment. Resting one day a week from all labour is good for us, so is taking time to reflect on God’s goodness. Today, in Nepal, is the rest day. However, many churches occupy most of the day with lon...

“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬ I know my body is becoming older, however it causes me to walk in faith. I say to the Lord, “You are my beauty and strength”. Then I step out and refuse my body authority to speak negatively. Right now a virus is attempting to set up camp. It must leave in Jesus’ name. I have work to do! Each day the renewing power of God is available for me. I can appropriate it. I can walk in His power and authority. Today ai go with a friend to immigration. She has to pay a late fine and apply for a tourist visa until college starts. We will then go to my college to mark application for next term. I have promised to make sheets for another friend and am planning a trip to Sindhulpalchok next week to see a flat my young colleague has found to rent for the work there teaching children about trafficking. I will furnish this flat for that purpose as many people will stay...

““Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬ Today marks the first day of 2026. It also marks the beginning of new things for me in Nepal. I received notice that I passed my last language exam and now face enrolling for another term. I had thought I would enroll in a pottery class to use to train ladies in Sindhulpalchok but it is not to be. I was informed that I might not be accepted, therefore I did not pay the entrance fee, knowing that the University would keep 25% of the monies paid.  It turns out I did the right thing as I am facing expenses in setting up a base in Sindhulpalchok and expenses in provisions for the social work to be done there by my team. I was also convicted by a comment made by a Nepali man in my Bible study group, he said, “You need to keep learning the language”. I didn’t want to...