We have spent the past several years investing in the lives of men and women at Calvary Chapel Bible College in Kathmandu, Nepal and Saving Grace School of Ministry in Northern India. It seems like yesterday that these schools and ministry campuses were just an idea we talked about in conference rooms in the USA. Starting new works seemed crazy, nothing we had money for and a long shot at best. But, we laugh that in our lack of experience God choose us to be part of something so amazing and much bigger than we ever envisioned. With huge amounts of faith, lots of prayer and a ton of support from churches / ministry partners like you, the Lord established these schools so that He would receive all the glory!
Our goal is to train up future pastors and leaders and send them back to their villages to plant churches, begin new ministries and meet the needs of the people spiritually and physically in the remote regions of Asia. It would take us years to learn languages and there may never be a full acceptance of us into some of the difficult places where our students are from. (Bond has a hard enough time pronouncing the names of each student, which is why many of them now have nicknames). But, if we equip them in the Word we know that they will go further and reach more people than we could ever reach with the Gospel.
Saving Grace School of Ministry: Northern India
In the month of April we took a trip from Nepal to India to spend time with the current School of 
Ministry students before graduation. We called the first graduating class to come back to join with the current class of students. Bond taught a course through the Old Testament. The second class of graduates has spent thousands of hours studying over the past two years with notebooks filled with notes. The time has come where they have now graduated and have been sent back to their villages to begin new works and serve in various capacities as ministers of the Gospel in their communities.
Calvary Chapel Bible College: Kathmandu, Nepal
The first class of students at CCBC Nepal will always hold a special place in our hearts. We set up a large circus tent, cooked the celebration meat (goat), ironed the cap and gowns and invited all the families and friends of our students at CCBC Nepal. The first graduation for those students who completed the two-year course took place on May 20th. These students have been with us from the very beginning when there was no light at night, no heaters, no chairs, no library and we really had no idea if it would really work.
We stood like proud parents and Bond even got choked up as he gave the commencement address during graduation when he realized we would be releasing them to start new ministries throughout Nepal. We knew the day would come, but didn’t realize that the very thing we had prayed for would be so difficult since we have become like family. We reminded ourselves that they belong to the Lord and God has great things planned for each one of their lives.
By partnering with us, you have invested in these graduates and together we are one step closer to reaching Nepal and India. Luke 10:2 says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” We are excited to share that together in the month of May, we have sent out more laborers. Thank you for your partnership!
Click here for a two-minute video that was shown during graduation highlighting our past two years at CCBC Nepal (created By Sabin in Nepal): https://youtu.be/a1cbmFJPfL4
Click here to meet a few of our graduates: https://youtu.be/AP8eLfAYp4s
First Mother’s Day
I had the greatest mom on planet earth. If you knew my mom Janice, you would shout a loud AMEN! She was loving, smart, loyal, hardworking, giving, thoughtful and we miss her like crazy. Last mother’s day was the first without my mom who is now in heaven and this year it was my first being a mother. It has been my prayer that I would be ½ the mom she was to me now that we I have a daughter of my own.
As I shared in last month’s update, I have been spending much of my time this spring welcoming, visiting, teaching and loving on 12 little girls that the Lord has brought to us to live in the Promise Child Girl’s Home. Many of them are orphans, have been abandoned, were at risk of being trafficked and most lost their homes in the earthquake last year. Knowing how it felt to have lost my mom as an adult, it was hard for me to fathom what it would be like to be 5, 6, or 7 years old and not have your mom.
When he asked, I told Bond my idea that for Mother’s Day I wanted to go with Breanna and the 12 little girls to the Kathmandu Zoo on Mother’s Day! I don’t think in a million years he was expecting to take 15 females to the zoo as my present, but he managed and it was the absolute best day. There were giggles, laughter and smiles from ear to ear. It was the first time these girls had a picnic, tried PB&J sandwiches, played on a playground, saw animals and just got to be kids. The highlight was when the trainer was walking the elephant (yes out in the open zoo) and brought it over to our area and all the kids got to pet the elephant. My heart was full and I am so thankful for the privilege to be a mommy to Breanna and to many others now too!
We Hope To See You in CA
We just arrived back in the states and hope to see those of you in CA before we head back overseas in mid-July to Uganda. Here is a list of places we will be sharing / visiting, so if you are in the area please come as we would love to see you and share more:
Saturday, June 4th at 6:30 p.m. ~ Gaona Missions Dessert Gathering @ The Chapel in the Fellowship Hall in La Mesa, CA (a time to give a full update of the past two years)
Sunday, June 5th at 10:30 a.m. ~ Brief Update @ The Chapel in La Mesa, CA
Wednesday, June 8th ~ Mid- Week Study at CC Healdsburg in Healdsburg, CA
Sunday, June 12th ~ Sunday Services at Calvary The Rock in Santa Rosa, CA
Sunday, June 26th ~ Chinese Bible Missions Church (English Service) in Alhambra, CA
June 27 – 29 ~ Calvary Chapel Pastors Conference in Costa Mesa, CA
Breanna will also be celebrating her 1st birthday while we are stateside and we cannot wait for you to see or meet her as we shower her with birthday love American style!
With Love,
Bond, Heather and Breanna Gaona
