Are You Ready?

Are you ready? It’s a question we often ask right before we leave the house. Ready or not, time is a precious gift and we have been challenged to make the most of each day here as we step out into the streets, roads and trails of Nepal. Generally speaking, we have two years with students, ten days with teams that come, and sometimes only a few minutes with shopkeepers and our desire is that we would be ready at all times to make the most of every opportunity. Ephesians 5:15-16 says, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity [make it count], because the days are evil.”

To Make It Count

A short-term missions trip is an all-out sprint. Every moment of every day is planned, scheduled and jam packed making the most out of the limited time we have together. We recently welcomed teams and friends from Northern & Southern CA and Texas here to Nepal. We appreciate the men, women and children (yes 6 kids) that came this past month to put on a medical clinic, distribute hygiene kits to those living in the leper colony, host programs in the slums for hundreds of kids, visit churches that have been planted, encourage and teach students at the bible college and share the love of Jesus with thousands.

Providing a meal

Dr. Melody came with her husband Vernon, three children and her mom (three generations) to serve with us in Nepal. It just goes to show that you are never too young or too old to step out in faith and see what the Lord might have in store. Many of the patients walked long distances to come and she took time to hear their stories, treat them with care and prescribe meds to help before praying for God’s healing touch on their bodies and lives.  

Recently read a quote that says, “I want to be a part of a people who are fearlessly holding on to God’s Word while selflessly sacrificing to share and show God’s love amid urgent needs in our world.” Indeed that has been the case this past month and we are thankful to serve together with such amazing people.  

For School to Start

The fall semester is underway at the CC Pastors Training Center & School of Ministry in Nepal. We are thrilled to have a great group of students that are committed to the Lord and studying His Word. Many of the men have made great sacrifices to study as several are married with children and the pressure to go abroad to work as opposed to prepare for ministry is intense. Pray specifically for Nikesh, Harka, Laxman, and Ribendra as they are all married and making a sacrifice to study and serve the Lord.

For Church Visits

In the past 6 weeks, we have visited 4 of the churches that have been planted in recent years. We are greatly encouraged that after studying for 2 years, the men that have been sent out are shepherding the flock entrusted to them, ministering in their communities, visiting the sick, helping the poor, reaching out to the lost and laboring for the sake of the Gospel. By partnering with us, you are a part of planting churches in areas where there was not one church to speak of in parts of the world that are difficult, dangerous, remote, unreached and in desperate need. You cannot be here, we cannot be everywhere, but as we co-labor together and churches are planted we have seen firsthand this month the multiplying effect and it is marvelous and leaves us in awe of all our great God and all He is doing here!

For Your Heart to Grow in Love

This past month, we celebrated being married for 20 years! Those years have taken us places we never dreamed and filled our hearts and lives with immeasurable joy that comes from serving Jesus together. Recently, it seems Breanna is growing in inches, vocabulary and in love throughout this season. She has been learning to ride a bike, is taking ballet classes and enjoying friends here. Recently she outgrew toddler sized clothes and we knew that in a blink of an eye she has become a little girl.

With Love From Nepal,

Bond, Heather and Breanna Gaona