What doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger”
I am by most peoples deffinition crazy. You know “loco, lost it, out of my tree, off my rocker” I like that being my definition, I feel that its my calling. So many people today are conformists, they are willing to fit into a nice neat mold of “American society” YUCK. That’s not for me by any stretch of the imagination. To start my career of not being a conformist my single mother, single handedly, homeshooled me while supporting us. You will quickly come to understansd that I hold my mother in the highest reguard as the most amazing woman, toped only by Mary the mother of Jesus, that have ever known, seen, or herd of. Anyway, As I began my life being one of those unsociliazed homeschoolers, I started to become the man that I am today.
I guess to start I should tell you about the was that I was brought up. My mother had a little brother, Randy. I don’t remember my uncle Randy he commited Suicide when I was two years old. Randy from what I have been told or have gathered, was the definition of a timid person. This, I do not think wa shis fault but was a result of his upbringing. You see theor parents got divorced when Melodie (my mom) and Randy where 13 and 11. I think the way that a person handles adversary this early in his or her life does a lot for defining the rest of what theirs looks like. Now don’t get me wrong my mom didn’t handle it perfectly by any means but differently. As a result of these events in their lives, a few things were set in stone. The first my mother decided that no matter what it took she would protect her own children with everything that she was andlet them know beyond the shadow of a dout that she loved them unconditionaly. The second was my uncle Randys total lack of self confidence was completed, signed, and sealed. Skip forward to 1990. I am conceved, out of marriage. 1991 My mother deciodes that she will raise and love me unconditionally by herself.
As she set out on this seemingly insurmountable, road she had many goals in mind. Love unconditionaly, instill responsibility, discipline often, and do all to the Glory of the Lord. Now I am sure that if you were to ask my mother she would say that she had no such thought but as I look back there is no way that she didn’t have at least some, subconscious as it may have been, incling in this direction.
Love was not her only goal but it was a huge part of the reason that I am “crazy.” What comes from total unconditional love? A confidence that cannot be replaced by anything else, a knowledge that no matter what happens you will still be loved. I grew up knowing that there was nothing that I could do to increase or deacrese my mothers love. Looking back I guess this is the perfect picture of the wat God loves us. I knew that if I told my mother that I loved her a lot or spent lots of time with her it would put her in a good mood and I could get what I wanted (I nevwer said that I was perfect), but evn if I failed to to do these things, although it put her in less of a good mood, she wouldn’t love me any less. I was not showed love just through positive reinforcement, although that was a big part of it. I was shown love through her disciplining me, whenever I needed it, but never in anger. I remember one particular instance that I had something to really make my mom angry, i wish that I could remember what it was but I don’t, and she sent me to our room (we shared a room as we lived with my grandmother), since she refused to spank me in anger I would get to sit and think about whatever I had done for as long as it took mom to cool down. Then she would come up the stairs. I remember perfectly the sound or her shoes going from the lanolniom to the carpeted stairs, the 4th stair creakes “shes ¼ of the way here “ I would think. Then thhe landing at the top groans ever so slightly as if to say “your really in for it this time dude”, then she would spank me. I hated her at that moment but she was the only one that I wanted to hold me as I cried. She would always tell me before and after the spanking that she loved me and that’s why she was doing this. I didn’t believe her till I was too old to spank, then I started to get it. She would never withhold punishment, no matter how much I cried, if I had really earned it and she never punished me when I didn’t deserve it. This reinforced the knowledge in me that there would be concquences but there would ayways bwe a hug waiting at the end of the pain, or to help me get through it. What a great testament to a parents love if, in the middle of the deserved punishment they stop to hush and hold then finish the sentence. Along with the unconditional love and not-to-rare punishment was the responsibility that I was given to help me deveolpe. I was slowely given things that I had to take care of. One of the biggest lessons that I was able to learn happened when I was eight years old. My uncle had just gotten into the livestock bisness, and as a result of a hard winter had a calf that would never get over 350-400 lbs. He let me bring the calf home and take care of him, I named him midget (even though he out weighed me by 250 lbs). Having a cowof my very own was awesome, for the first ten minuits. Then I realized that I was going to he=ave to wake up early to carry water I would have to get it hay, EVERY DAY. But I got usted to it and started to fall into a rut, never a good thing. As I got mre and more used to my new responsibility I started to slack off in areas. I started my only carrying half buckets of water, then by not so much hay, as a result I had to move the cow more and more often, then I started to not care where I would tie him. I once tied him to close to the road. We came home to a scared cow standing on our front porch. After a blaring poliece car went by he broke his rope and went to where he always saw us going. Later that year I tied midget within reach of the grain for the chickens. I didn’t think anything of it, not knowing much about cows and their uncanny ability to eat themselves to death. The next morning I woke up to a very sick cow and about 100lbs less chicken grain. We called the vet who came out and tried to punp the poor cows stomach but to no end, the grain was to digested and killing him. So there I sat holding the head of my dying cow in my lap. Knowing that this was all my fault. Midget died that day, and I learned so much. I learned that failure puts an evil taste in your mouth and I hated that taste. That day I had failed my uncle, who had trusted me with his cow. I faailed my mother, who put up with having a cow around the house for the better part of a year. But what seemed to be the worst of all, I had failed myself, I had thought that I was ready for that kind of responsibility and I wasn’t. I realized that there were two ways for me to avoid this feeling, for the most part that is, cause nobody can totally avoid all failure. I could etheir set my expectations so low of myself that there is no way that I could “fail” them, or I could never stop trying to learn, never stop giving everything my all. This is a huge part of my “crazyness,” I mean think about it the many things that are done on a daily basis when done with passion or to the fullest that is possible are going to inadvertently be known as crazy. I know that, like I said, nobody can completely avoid failure, however, if we decide as we go into something that if we fail we will learn from it how not to fail next time I think we can come one steop closer to being the people that we should be.
SECTION TWO, THE MEN IN MY LIFE
There have been a lot of men in my life. Some that I have respected some that I have not. Many that have made me a very high priority in their lives and who I owe much more than I could ever repay.
My uncle (second cousin) Buddy
I started my relationship with my uncle Buddy at a young age, about 4. He ownes an auto body and repair shop that, at that time was right below my backyard. I started to spend time with him wacching him in wonder as he would disect a transmission or install a radiatior. He would pay me $.25 a day to sweep his shop, so faithfully every afternoon I would go down and start to sweep, I am sure that he alyaws had to clean up the mess that I made after I left but I loved it. The havdle on the door was to high for me to reach so he put a screw into the door at the perfect height for me to get in and out of the shop, the screw is still there. I have learned a lot in my uncle Buddys shop. Starting with how to cuss, I think that I was 6 the first time that I used the F-word. My great aunt Suzie immediately wanted to know where I had learned such foul language and I said said proudly “the shop” then she washed my mouth out with soap. I learned everything that I know about cars from that shop and a good deal of what I know about life, politics, partying, driving and most recently love. Now don’t get me wrong I didn’t learn everything that I know from an auto shop but I would be willing to say that most of what stuck was reinforced by me sitting on a tailgate, tire, or air jack sitting in that sacred shop. I was taught the inportance4 of changing my oil, and how to properly use a firearm. I learned the right way to jack up a car, and the wrong way, luckily nobody got hurt as I learned. I learned that democrats were always wrong and republicans hardly better. At a young age I was convinced, and still am, that my uncle Buddy would be the perfect president. I learned that hard work never killed anybody and family is more important than everything else. Most recently I learned about marriage. I am currently in Nepal, planing on coming home and asking my current girlfriend to marry me. Before I left to come here I asked my girlfriends father if I could ask her before I left, he said no, for now. It was hard to take but I don’t in the least hold it against him. My uncle Buddy has a way of talking very intently, without letting anybody say anything, its not preaching or lecturing but more of a passing of knowledge and when he does it I know to listen closely. Anyway I was sitting in “the shop” three nights before I left to come here and the conversation turned to the subject of me and Sarah. We discussed some things about our relationship and I told him why I felt that I could spend the rest of my life loving only her. He started to “pass knowledge” and I started to listen. We talked for about two hours and at the end I had his blessing to marry her whenever her father would give me his and much more knowledge about marriage, life and women. The main things that I took from that conversation were things that were simple but profound. I had never before herd my uncle say the word love but that night he said it like life itself depended upon that very word and me knowing that it was not something to be toyed with. Even though we have never said it, and probably never will, I know that my uncle loves me like a son, and I him like a father.
My uncle (second cousin) Peter
Peter is Buddy’s little brother. Peter is different than Buddy, not quite as gruff, but fully as knowledgeable in more areas than I could list. I didn’t really start to develop a close relationship with my uncle Peter till I was about ten. I think that when I really took an intrest in the farm that we all live on. Peter and Buddy are the mainj farmers on the 50 ort so acres that we farm at home. Peter does a good amount of the picking in the summer and when I was 10 years old I started to help. I have spent countless hours in a field leaning on a hoe or a shovle or a rototiller, talking about life and family and friends and “crazy.” Peter hes this awesome way of making you feel like you are the most important person in the world when you talk to him. Even if you are telling a storie that he has heard a thousansd times, he stops what he is doing, listens and nods like ther is no one else that matrter5s even a little bit right then. The things that I have learned from Peter are about as many as the stars and as valueable to me as life itself. I learned that it really doesn’t matter what people think if of you as long as you tell the truth, family always comes first and marriage is the hardest thing I will ever do. I remember one time that my uncle and I were sitting at a fire in the drive of the farm. My memory is slightly sketchy on this so please forgive me if it isn’t exectly correct. Peters wife had taken their daughter and gone to California to visiot her family. Peter was just sitting outside alone before I walked up. I asked as I sat down “whatcha doin?” he replyed “thinkin.” “bout what?” “Everything” he said with out missing a beat. So there we sat without saying nothing, thinking about everything. That is one of the times with my uncle that I really cherish. Another time we were having a conversation about half of the farm being sold, I was angry and making it known. He asked why I was angry? I said because I have memories of people that I will never see again in those fields and times that I will never get back.” “Yeah, so do I, buy nobody can ever take those memories away, nobody no matter how strong or big or mean can ever take those times that we had from you, or me.” I promptly shut up. I have worked for my uncle the past two summers as a seasonal member on the crew of workers that the company he works for employs. In these past two summers I have learned more than I could write about, but it included things like, work ethic, how to drive and not get tickets, and how to do the best and expect the least praise. I remember one of my first object lessons from my uncle. I really don’t know why I acted the way I did but anyway here goes. It was a fall day, I was about 10. I used some of my uncles tools to work on something that I was trying to do, I don’t remember what. I didn’t put the tools away. The next day when Peter saw me he told me that I needed to put the tools away. I didn’t. I don’t know why I refused to put them away I just didn’t want to obey. Anyway over the course of a week or so I eventually put the tools away, as I was getting lectured about my disobedience I asked my uncle Peter why he didn’t just put the tools away for me, anyway it was only 15 feet to the tool box? “Because I wont be there for the rest of your life to pick up your tools, you need to know that before you are finished doing whatever you are working on you must pick up after yourself.” It really wasn’t that great or profound but it really stuck with me. I think because I had this picture in my head of what a dad did for his kids and that day when Peter said that to me I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that Peter would be there for me, not be my father, but jut be there fo rme when I needed him. Having that revelation at ten was pretty big. I think sometimes Peter has egretted being the one that I call, but he has never said so. Not when I rolled a Jeep in the field and needed to get it back onto its wheels before mom got home. Did I mention that it was about 9.30 pm Peter was getting ready for bed and 45 minuits before had told me to not roll the Jeep? Or the time that MY friend wrecked his car and couldn’t call his parents, so again, I don’t know what time it was, late, I called my uncle to came help us slightly freeking out teenagers fix the mess that we were in. Ahh the new truck. It was spring of 2005, Peter had purchased a beautiful blue dodge ram the fall before. We were putting up barb wire fence in a canyon not far from home. Every weekend we would load up the Four wheelers and head up to work. We did this for three weeks without any incendents, and then the fatefull day. I managed to think that I knew exactly how to secure an ATV into a pickup bed, I was wrong. The result was many very large dents and scratches in to forward section of the pickup bed. Since then My uncle and I have kept pretty even with the number of dents we have put into his truck and even so he still lets me near it. Even though we have never said it, and probably never will, I know that my uncle loves me like a son, and I him like a father.
SECTION THREE, WHO I SHOULD BE
Who should I be? What should I be? Why am I here? To what end is my life? Questions, questions, questions.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Heading
Howdy!! Its been a while since I have posted anything due mostly to the fact that I am not doing anything great and wonderful. I am currently in the Red Rocks Firefighting Academy here in Denver Co. The academy will finish up in may and then Paramedic School will start in July. I will graduate from Paramedic school in about a year and then I have no idea where I will be heading. There are so many things that I would love to do with my life, I cant wait to see where I will be in 5 years.
Over the last week I was able to visit the local YWAM bases and make some great contacts, not sure what fro but I think there will be a reason fro it soon.
James
Over the last week I was able to visit the local YWAM bases and make some great contacts, not sure what fro but I think there will be a reason fro it soon.
James
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Home.
February 24, 2009
Dear Brothers and sisters,
I am writing to you from the kitchen in my house in Golden, Colorado. I have so much to write and I don’t know where to begin.
First I must begin with an apology. I haven’t updated this in too long and so much has taken place. I want to assure you that I have consulted the Lord on every decision that I have made, as well as many of the men and women that I trust most in my life.
I received an e-mail from my mother on Thursday the fifth of February talking about my great grandmother and her rapidly deteriorating condition. After I read the e-mail, I spent about 48 hours fasting and praying about what to do next. I was at a point with the ministry in Nepal that I could leave and the things that I had helped to start would continue. I was at a point where I felt like I wanted to come home, and I felt the Lord leading me to come home. For the first 40 hours or so, I struggled with not wanting to think that God was telling me to come home when it really was just my imagination. Then I prayed, “God, if this is not what you want, please make it so clear that I couldn’t deny it if I wanted to.” After I prayed that, it became more and more clear that God was not only okay with me coming home but He was totally behind it.
During my time of prayer and fasting, I asked God that, if I went home, would that mean that I would be done in Nepal? He answered me and said “I have a lifetime of work here ahead of you.” So, I am completely confident in the Lord’s ability to use this time of being home to further his vision in me and equip me for what is next.
About support. I know that many of you have already sent me money that was supposed to last until the end of my trip in August. I will soon be getting a printout of all the support that I received and who it was from, from St. Johns, and as soon as I do I would be more than happy to send any money back to anyone that requests me to do so. In the case that you are willing to let me keep the support that has already been sent, I plan on putting the remainder of the Missions support that I have received into an interest bearing account until I know what the next thing is that God wants me to do. I will not be using any received Missions support for anything other than just that, Missions.
While I was in Nepal, I was able to see some people that are using real skills that they acquired prior to getting into the mission field to further the kingdom of God. I was able to observe and get a taste for what it takes to be effective in ministry for God. I saw people of all different walks of life and levels of education serving the Lord in many more ways than I could have imagined. Having seen all of this and experienced so much more, I have seen a way that I will be able to serve the Lord. I have decided to pursue further education by first getting my EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) certification, and after that, my Paramedic License.
You have been the legs of this past mission to Nepal. You supported me financially, you prayed for me often, and you encouraged me. I am honored and humbled to have had this opportunity to serve our Lord, with your support. Please know that I am grateful for each one of you, and that I felt your prayers, and saw the difference they made in my life.
God confirmed my calling to Bhutan. God also assured me that my months of interceding for Bhutan, from the neighboring country of Nepal, was not in vain. I will continue to update this blog, because I have only begun the journey that God has for me. I have put together a small presentation about my trip, and I am available to come to your church or Bible study or home to share this with you. I am excited to see each of you, and share my stories, and answer your questions.
In truth,
James P. Lear
Dear Brothers and sisters,
I am writing to you from the kitchen in my house in Golden, Colorado. I have so much to write and I don’t know where to begin.
First I must begin with an apology. I haven’t updated this in too long and so much has taken place. I want to assure you that I have consulted the Lord on every decision that I have made, as well as many of the men and women that I trust most in my life.
I received an e-mail from my mother on Thursday the fifth of February talking about my great grandmother and her rapidly deteriorating condition. After I read the e-mail, I spent about 48 hours fasting and praying about what to do next. I was at a point with the ministry in Nepal that I could leave and the things that I had helped to start would continue. I was at a point where I felt like I wanted to come home, and I felt the Lord leading me to come home. For the first 40 hours or so, I struggled with not wanting to think that God was telling me to come home when it really was just my imagination. Then I prayed, “God, if this is not what you want, please make it so clear that I couldn’t deny it if I wanted to.” After I prayed that, it became more and more clear that God was not only okay with me coming home but He was totally behind it.
During my time of prayer and fasting, I asked God that, if I went home, would that mean that I would be done in Nepal? He answered me and said “I have a lifetime of work here ahead of you.” So, I am completely confident in the Lord’s ability to use this time of being home to further his vision in me and equip me for what is next.
About support. I know that many of you have already sent me money that was supposed to last until the end of my trip in August. I will soon be getting a printout of all the support that I received and who it was from, from St. Johns, and as soon as I do I would be more than happy to send any money back to anyone that requests me to do so. In the case that you are willing to let me keep the support that has already been sent, I plan on putting the remainder of the Missions support that I have received into an interest bearing account until I know what the next thing is that God wants me to do. I will not be using any received Missions support for anything other than just that, Missions.
While I was in Nepal, I was able to see some people that are using real skills that they acquired prior to getting into the mission field to further the kingdom of God. I was able to observe and get a taste for what it takes to be effective in ministry for God. I saw people of all different walks of life and levels of education serving the Lord in many more ways than I could have imagined. Having seen all of this and experienced so much more, I have seen a way that I will be able to serve the Lord. I have decided to pursue further education by first getting my EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) certification, and after that, my Paramedic License.
You have been the legs of this past mission to Nepal. You supported me financially, you prayed for me often, and you encouraged me. I am honored and humbled to have had this opportunity to serve our Lord, with your support. Please know that I am grateful for each one of you, and that I felt your prayers, and saw the difference they made in my life.
God confirmed my calling to Bhutan. God also assured me that my months of interceding for Bhutan, from the neighboring country of Nepal, was not in vain. I will continue to update this blog, because I have only begun the journey that God has for me. I have put together a small presentation about my trip, and I am available to come to your church or Bible study or home to share this with you. I am excited to see each of you, and share my stories, and answer your questions.
In truth,
James P. Lear
Monday, January 12, 2009
Two packs a day, with no signs of quitting...
January 12, 2009
In my title I am not referring to cigarettes, I am referring to banana-flavored chewing gum. It’s addictive and I am up to two packs of five sticks each per day. I’m not proud of it, I know I need help…but I just love the gum. OK, enough of that.
The team for Youth Rallies in the refugee camps is up and running. There will be seven of us: Pastor Ashok, Pastor Joel and his wife Arina, and three 17 year olds whose names I am working on pronouncing first, then I will memorize them. Our first Rally will be with all of the youth in the Golab camp about 15 km south of Birtamod. The three youngsters are new to ministry but want to catch the vision, and they make a good little worship team. The two pastors are both great speakers and there I am right in the middle. We all have a vision to bring a fire to the youth in these camps and to get things moving without us.
Saturday we are going to start with a testimony from the most outgoing of the three kids and then I will give a one to two hour message, then a testimony from Pastor Joel, an altar call and some more worship and we are done. That is a lot easier to write, than it is to pull off. The biggest obstacle, as always, is language. But I know it will be great.
The biggest problem that I can foresee with the team and the youth ministry is finances. Normally, I would just ask the members of the team to jointly cover anything that came up, but their situation is quite unique. They are not citizens of anywhere, Bhutan has rejected them and Nepal provides housing and asylum but citizenship is not a part of the deal. This may not seem like a big deal but what it means is that there are tens of thousands of refugees with no way of getting a job. The UN provides food and water and shelter, so really no income is needed. SO, I am working with a team of six people with hearts on fire for God and not a paisa (100 paisas to the rupee, each paisa about 1/700th of a dollar) to their names. The nice thing about what we are doing is that we will have almost no expenses. Food and any lodging that we need will gladly be provided by the churches that we go to, but getting to these churches requires money. I have told them that for the first few weeks I would cover the traveling expenses and that I would talk to you and see if there is any way for you to help. The best part of this problem is that the travel expenses is looking like they are going to be less than 100 dollars a month, or about 5,000-7,000 rupees (remember it’s 77 rupees to the dollar), all in bus fare. As of right now, me covering the expenses will be no problem, but I just wanted to let you know that this will be another expense that I will be taking on. We will take up an offering at the youth meetings but like I said before there just isn’t any money in the camps.
Right now I am in Damak, waiting for a bus up to Ilam, where I will teach about intercession and hearing the voice of God for three days. Then back down here to write my message and make sure the team is ready for Saturday.
There has recently been quite the outbreak of Avian flu in India, just over the border from me, so please keep that in your prayers. Pray that it stays out of Nepal. I have mostly stopped eating eggs and have totally stopped eating all chicken, which is sad ‘cause its mostly the only source of protein that I get, but I will be fine. I weighed myself at the train station about two weeks ago and I was right at 132 lbs, when I left home I weighed almost 160. I call it the ASIA DIET.
Thank you to all of you who have been supporting me every month, I can't tell you how wonderful it is to know that there people who think about and pray for me all the time.
Please pray:
For my health.
For my newly formed team to find our strengths and utilize them.
For my illusions of American religion: I was raised Lutheran, with 19 to 22 minute sermons, and now I am giving sermons that are sometimes topping two hours, my poor religious psyche is so confused.
For my intercessors and my supporters, they are as big a part of this as I am.
Thank you for reading and praying,
In Truth,
James P. Lear
In my title I am not referring to cigarettes, I am referring to banana-flavored chewing gum. It’s addictive and I am up to two packs of five sticks each per day. I’m not proud of it, I know I need help…but I just love the gum. OK, enough of that.
The team for Youth Rallies in the refugee camps is up and running. There will be seven of us: Pastor Ashok, Pastor Joel and his wife Arina, and three 17 year olds whose names I am working on pronouncing first, then I will memorize them. Our first Rally will be with all of the youth in the Golab camp about 15 km south of Birtamod. The three youngsters are new to ministry but want to catch the vision, and they make a good little worship team. The two pastors are both great speakers and there I am right in the middle. We all have a vision to bring a fire to the youth in these camps and to get things moving without us.
Saturday we are going to start with a testimony from the most outgoing of the three kids and then I will give a one to two hour message, then a testimony from Pastor Joel, an altar call and some more worship and we are done. That is a lot easier to write, than it is to pull off. The biggest obstacle, as always, is language. But I know it will be great.
The biggest problem that I can foresee with the team and the youth ministry is finances. Normally, I would just ask the members of the team to jointly cover anything that came up, but their situation is quite unique. They are not citizens of anywhere, Bhutan has rejected them and Nepal provides housing and asylum but citizenship is not a part of the deal. This may not seem like a big deal but what it means is that there are tens of thousands of refugees with no way of getting a job. The UN provides food and water and shelter, so really no income is needed. SO, I am working with a team of six people with hearts on fire for God and not a paisa (100 paisas to the rupee, each paisa about 1/700th of a dollar) to their names. The nice thing about what we are doing is that we will have almost no expenses. Food and any lodging that we need will gladly be provided by the churches that we go to, but getting to these churches requires money. I have told them that for the first few weeks I would cover the traveling expenses and that I would talk to you and see if there is any way for you to help. The best part of this problem is that the travel expenses is looking like they are going to be less than 100 dollars a month, or about 5,000-7,000 rupees (remember it’s 77 rupees to the dollar), all in bus fare. As of right now, me covering the expenses will be no problem, but I just wanted to let you know that this will be another expense that I will be taking on. We will take up an offering at the youth meetings but like I said before there just isn’t any money in the camps.
Right now I am in Damak, waiting for a bus up to Ilam, where I will teach about intercession and hearing the voice of God for three days. Then back down here to write my message and make sure the team is ready for Saturday.
There has recently been quite the outbreak of Avian flu in India, just over the border from me, so please keep that in your prayers. Pray that it stays out of Nepal. I have mostly stopped eating eggs and have totally stopped eating all chicken, which is sad ‘cause its mostly the only source of protein that I get, but I will be fine. I weighed myself at the train station about two weeks ago and I was right at 132 lbs, when I left home I weighed almost 160. I call it the ASIA DIET.
Thank you to all of you who have been supporting me every month, I can't tell you how wonderful it is to know that there people who think about and pray for me all the time.
Please pray:
For my health.
For my newly formed team to find our strengths and utilize them.
For my illusions of American religion: I was raised Lutheran, with 19 to 22 minute sermons, and now I am giving sermons that are sometimes topping two hours, my poor religious psyche is so confused.
For my intercessors and my supporters, they are as big a part of this as I am.
Thank you for reading and praying,
In Truth,
James P. Lear
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Rest and Reflections
Today is December 28th , my third day in Kashmir, India. I received confirmation from God about a week and a half ago that it was ok and good for me to take a break and do some intense resting. I am currently about 50 miles from the India-Pakistan border in the Himalayas, at about 4400 meters above sea level. I am here to rest and recharge.
Something that is really cool is I have had time to reflect on and process all of the things that I have seen in the past two and a half months. It’s hard to put it all into words but I will try. I can look back and see the places that God used me in overt ways. I can recall changes in people right before my eyes. I can also remember the times that I put everything that I could into something and saw no results.
Two stories that really demonstrate this well…First, my waiter at the Hotel Daniel, Aaryan. I didn’t ever make an effort to witness with words to him. I was always nice and ready to talk but I never tried full witnessing (sharing the Gospel), and I didn’t have to. In God’s time he came to me and asked to meet the Lord. Second, I was leading a cell group in a village in Ilam, and at the end of my message a girl, about 22 years old, came in and started to talk to my translator and motion towards me. He explained that this girl and her brother had been living in a house where two people had committed suicide and now she and her brother were having suicidal thoughts and she wanted to know if I could pray and break this spirit off of her. I said that I absolutely could, and I almost started to pray, but then I heard God saying something: “she is not Mine, you have no authority”. So I asked the girl if she was a Christian. She said no. I then tried to explain that as long as she was a Hindu and thus a child of Satan my prayers were nothing more than powerless words. It was a disappointing night to say the least. The girl left in tears and I left feeling like I had failed.
I spent almost two hours talking about nothing but God’s grace and forgiveness and acceptance with this girl and I spent no time at all talking about these things with Aaryan. God’s timing is perfect. I know that I planted a seed in that girl that night and I know that no matter how much I talk, unless I am moving in God’s time, I will see no results, but that doesn’t mean I stop praying for her. I ask that you too pray for her. I have no idea what her name was but she was young and lost and in great need of a Savior.
In the mornings when I have my quiet time I still have visions of the children in Bhutan. They are beautiful children, God’s children. I can honestly say that I love those kids. I don’t know their names or stories but I know their faces. They were created to be in relationship with their Creator and they have been denied every opportunity to do so. I also have visions and sometimes dreams of the girls that are being bought and sold in the sex trade. After I have a dream about these girls, I wake up in tears. I try and pray or intercede for them but I can't, because I can't stop crying over them. I hate the way they are treated and the things that are done to them, and I pray often that God will show me how I can make a difference in this. So far I am just allowed to pray, and so that is what I will do with all of my broken heart.
Current events: Like I said before, I am in Kashmir, India at a ski and snowboard resort named Gulmarg (say the “arg” like you’re a pirate). I left Nepal on the morning of December 22nd and arrived at Gulmarg late in the afternoon on December 25th. It took me a 50 hour train ride and three taxi rides, totaling 14 hours. It was a long trip at just over 2,300 km but well worth it.
I have been here for the past two days and I have really been able to debrief myself on the last two and a half months. In YWAM, a very critical part of the DTS (Discipleship Training School) is the debrief at the end. I wasn’t sure how this was going to work for me, being here by myself, but now I know. If I am able to take a week or so off every two or three months, I will have the time and rest required to properly review the last few months and I will be able to refocus.
This may not make much sense, so I will try and help. I have been here in Asia for almost three months. I came here with the purpose of reaching out to the country of Bhutan. I am yet to even set a foot into Bhutan. This is something that Satan uses against me, things like “you came with a reason and you have totally failed”, and “if you were a good missionary you would be in Bhutan right now”, but this isn’t how God sees what I have been doing.
In my quiet time, God has assured me that my prayers for Bhutan make a difference. So, I pray. I ask you to join with me in prayer for patience, for increased faith, and for God’s perfect timing regarding my entering the country of Bhutan. I also ask you to join me in praying for the precious children of Bhutan, for the kingdom of God to come to them.
Please also pray for Pastor Ashok and his wife, Santi. Pastor Ashok and I will be meeting to carve out a plan for my next 12 weeks of ministry in the Bhutanese refugee camps.
Thank you for all of your prayers and all of your support. I am praying for you as well. I love to hear from you, via email and notes on this blog. I will update again soon.
In Christ,
James
NOTE from Melodie, James' Mom
James is back in Nepal, as of Jan. 4. He will update again soon.
Love you all!
Something that is really cool is I have had time to reflect on and process all of the things that I have seen in the past two and a half months. It’s hard to put it all into words but I will try. I can look back and see the places that God used me in overt ways. I can recall changes in people right before my eyes. I can also remember the times that I put everything that I could into something and saw no results.
Two stories that really demonstrate this well…First, my waiter at the Hotel Daniel, Aaryan. I didn’t ever make an effort to witness with words to him. I was always nice and ready to talk but I never tried full witnessing (sharing the Gospel), and I didn’t have to. In God’s time he came to me and asked to meet the Lord. Second, I was leading a cell group in a village in Ilam, and at the end of my message a girl, about 22 years old, came in and started to talk to my translator and motion towards me. He explained that this girl and her brother had been living in a house where two people had committed suicide and now she and her brother were having suicidal thoughts and she wanted to know if I could pray and break this spirit off of her. I said that I absolutely could, and I almost started to pray, but then I heard God saying something: “she is not Mine, you have no authority”. So I asked the girl if she was a Christian. She said no. I then tried to explain that as long as she was a Hindu and thus a child of Satan my prayers were nothing more than powerless words. It was a disappointing night to say the least. The girl left in tears and I left feeling like I had failed.
I spent almost two hours talking about nothing but God’s grace and forgiveness and acceptance with this girl and I spent no time at all talking about these things with Aaryan. God’s timing is perfect. I know that I planted a seed in that girl that night and I know that no matter how much I talk, unless I am moving in God’s time, I will see no results, but that doesn’t mean I stop praying for her. I ask that you too pray for her. I have no idea what her name was but she was young and lost and in great need of a Savior.
In the mornings when I have my quiet time I still have visions of the children in Bhutan. They are beautiful children, God’s children. I can honestly say that I love those kids. I don’t know their names or stories but I know their faces. They were created to be in relationship with their Creator and they have been denied every opportunity to do so. I also have visions and sometimes dreams of the girls that are being bought and sold in the sex trade. After I have a dream about these girls, I wake up in tears. I try and pray or intercede for them but I can't, because I can't stop crying over them. I hate the way they are treated and the things that are done to them, and I pray often that God will show me how I can make a difference in this. So far I am just allowed to pray, and so that is what I will do with all of my broken heart.
Current events: Like I said before, I am in Kashmir, India at a ski and snowboard resort named Gulmarg (say the “arg” like you’re a pirate). I left Nepal on the morning of December 22nd and arrived at Gulmarg late in the afternoon on December 25th. It took me a 50 hour train ride and three taxi rides, totaling 14 hours. It was a long trip at just over 2,300 km but well worth it.
I have been here for the past two days and I have really been able to debrief myself on the last two and a half months. In YWAM, a very critical part of the DTS (Discipleship Training School) is the debrief at the end. I wasn’t sure how this was going to work for me, being here by myself, but now I know. If I am able to take a week or so off every two or three months, I will have the time and rest required to properly review the last few months and I will be able to refocus.
This may not make much sense, so I will try and help. I have been here in Asia for almost three months. I came here with the purpose of reaching out to the country of Bhutan. I am yet to even set a foot into Bhutan. This is something that Satan uses against me, things like “you came with a reason and you have totally failed”, and “if you were a good missionary you would be in Bhutan right now”, but this isn’t how God sees what I have been doing.
In my quiet time, God has assured me that my prayers for Bhutan make a difference. So, I pray. I ask you to join with me in prayer for patience, for increased faith, and for God’s perfect timing regarding my entering the country of Bhutan. I also ask you to join me in praying for the precious children of Bhutan, for the kingdom of God to come to them.
Please also pray for Pastor Ashok and his wife, Santi. Pastor Ashok and I will be meeting to carve out a plan for my next 12 weeks of ministry in the Bhutanese refugee camps.
Thank you for all of your prayers and all of your support. I am praying for you as well. I love to hear from you, via email and notes on this blog. I will update again soon.
In Christ,
James
NOTE from Melodie, James' Mom
James is back in Nepal, as of Jan. 4. He will update again soon.
Love you all!
Monday, December 15, 2008
White Knuckle Ride
December 13, 2008
Hello my dear Brothers and Sisters,
I would like to cover lots of stuff and am really wired on caffeine and adrenaline right now, but I will try to be as clear as possible.
The title of this post refers to the ride that I just had on this amazing Yamaha motorcycle. It transformed the one hour trip to the cyber cafe to a 33 minute adrenalin rush. The Pepsi that I had before the ride did not help at all.
To start with: an example of the amazing-ness of the amazing God that we serve. Last night I was planning on leaving Birtamod, where I have been stuck due to the strikes (I will talk about them in a sec) but something in me said not to go. So there I was wandering the small city aimlessly feeling very alone, slightly discouraged and totally burnt out. I decided to go back to my room and read some more of the Grisham novel I was in the middle of. As I sat there reading, but not really liking it or engaging at all, there was a knock at my door. I opened it and there stood the waiter that I had seen frequently, from the rooftop restaurant in the hotel. He asked if he could come in, and I said yes. We sat on my bed kind of awkwardly for about 2 minutes and then he said, "You know Jesus, right?" I answered, “Yes I do, why do you ask?" I have to pause here and explain that I am very careful whom I tell that I am a Christian. I do not hide it, unless told to, but I do not advertise it. So, my waiter had been watching me. I was bracing for a barrage of questions and maybe even some yelling when he said, "I need Him and I want Him in my heart." At that point I started to smile, a really big stupid grin, like a kid with a secret that he wants to tell everybody who will listen. Then, I got to tell him my secret, and pray with him and then welcome him into the family of the King. WE will be attending Church tomorrow, together as brothers in Christ. I no longer feel discouraged or alone; still slightly tired, but I will talk about that later.
I am moving from Ilam. It has been an amazing ministry to have been a part of but I am being called to the refugee camps. I talked yesterday to Pastor Ashok about starting a team in the camps that will go from camp to camp, 7 camps total, to start youth groups. I am really excited to see what God is going to do with this. I know that it will be amazing and I will be working and ministering among the Bhutanese people, and that is what I am called to do for this season. We will start putting together the team in mid January and hopefully start going to camps before February.
In my last blog I talked about wanting to give a Christmas blessing to the school in Ilam. I gave the school the money yesterday, and then I received an e-mail hours later from my agent/support coordinator/intercessor/mom saying that one of you had written a check. It’s amazing. Every time I act in faith, God moves. I love you guys.
Strikes.
The newest thorn in my side is "the strike." As some of you may know, Nepal is in the process of trying to piece together a Maoist (communist) government from scratch. This means that all of the peaceful groups that the former king supported are in need of government funding and recognition. When they don’t get the funding and recognition they block the roads. They set up blockades that limit all merchandise and travel. Today is the first day that there has not been a strike for the past 11 days. Highly inconvenient. I can hitch rides on motorcycles through most of the strikes because they just want to limit public transport and goods. This, however, takes a little research every time I want to travel because I don’t move when dangerous or potentially dangerous groups are striking. One of the most violent groups in called the YCL (Young Communist League). I don’t have time to tell you all about them, but if you picture evil boy scouts with guns, nothing to lose, and an intense sense of patriotism, you kind of get it. The good thing is that they have sworn to only terrorize their countrymen, and to leave all foreigners alone. They have no desire to be compared to the Mumbai attacks.
Tomorrow I will be leaving Nepal for three days to go to the border of Bhutan and India to encourage the border churches and do some intercession for the country. I would appreciate your continued prayer covering.
Christmas.
The team that I was planning on spending Christmas with moved their outreach location to south India, about 200 km from Mumbai. So I will not be going. There are a lot of reasons: 1) I don’t have a peace about it, which means that God ain’t in it. 2) It’s close to Mumbai and I would like to be wise-- not overly cautious (I have never been accused of that and don’t plan to be), but I think that going there for a pleasure trip right now would be against better judgment. 3) Fifty straight hours on a train is enough time for me to truly go crazy. So what will I be doing? I may just spend it here, with Ashok and his wife, Santi. I was thinking about trying to get to Kathmandu, but there is a bridge out (so no bus) and flying is too expensive. I may take same money that I have (not missions support) and take a few days to rest and try and find a place to do some snowboarding. After all, I am in the Himalayas, but I am still praying about that too.
The ministry of Ashok and Santi Rai is really being blessed. Recently, Ashok was able to lead 5 Nepali soldiers working under the UN to the Lord. After this they welcomed his church/school compound to use their water and power, which are both hard to come by in the refugee camps, and which are both being given freely. The only thing that they are asking in return is discipleship. Praise the Lord.
Please pray:
For Ashok and Santi, that their ministry continue to be blessed, and they continue to be able to spread the Gospel.
For my new brother in Christ, the waiter, and for our meetings.
For me to have a clear, defined path into Bhutan, and know when to move.
For the border churches, and my intercession for the country.
For my intercessors.
For the Lord to continue to supply all my needs (and praise for His supplying them.)
And last, pray that I get a rest and rejuvenation, however God orchestrates it (snowboarding as part of it would be nice!!)
In Truth
James P Lear
Hello my dear Brothers and Sisters,
I would like to cover lots of stuff and am really wired on caffeine and adrenaline right now, but I will try to be as clear as possible.
The title of this post refers to the ride that I just had on this amazing Yamaha motorcycle. It transformed the one hour trip to the cyber cafe to a 33 minute adrenalin rush. The Pepsi that I had before the ride did not help at all.
To start with: an example of the amazing-ness of the amazing God that we serve. Last night I was planning on leaving Birtamod, where I have been stuck due to the strikes (I will talk about them in a sec) but something in me said not to go. So there I was wandering the small city aimlessly feeling very alone, slightly discouraged and totally burnt out. I decided to go back to my room and read some more of the Grisham novel I was in the middle of. As I sat there reading, but not really liking it or engaging at all, there was a knock at my door. I opened it and there stood the waiter that I had seen frequently, from the rooftop restaurant in the hotel. He asked if he could come in, and I said yes. We sat on my bed kind of awkwardly for about 2 minutes and then he said, "You know Jesus, right?" I answered, “Yes I do, why do you ask?" I have to pause here and explain that I am very careful whom I tell that I am a Christian. I do not hide it, unless told to, but I do not advertise it. So, my waiter had been watching me. I was bracing for a barrage of questions and maybe even some yelling when he said, "I need Him and I want Him in my heart." At that point I started to smile, a really big stupid grin, like a kid with a secret that he wants to tell everybody who will listen. Then, I got to tell him my secret, and pray with him and then welcome him into the family of the King. WE will be attending Church tomorrow, together as brothers in Christ. I no longer feel discouraged or alone; still slightly tired, but I will talk about that later.
I am moving from Ilam. It has been an amazing ministry to have been a part of but I am being called to the refugee camps. I talked yesterday to Pastor Ashok about starting a team in the camps that will go from camp to camp, 7 camps total, to start youth groups. I am really excited to see what God is going to do with this. I know that it will be amazing and I will be working and ministering among the Bhutanese people, and that is what I am called to do for this season. We will start putting together the team in mid January and hopefully start going to camps before February.
In my last blog I talked about wanting to give a Christmas blessing to the school in Ilam. I gave the school the money yesterday, and then I received an e-mail hours later from my agent/support coordinator/intercessor/mom saying that one of you had written a check. It’s amazing. Every time I act in faith, God moves. I love you guys.
Strikes.
The newest thorn in my side is "the strike." As some of you may know, Nepal is in the process of trying to piece together a Maoist (communist) government from scratch. This means that all of the peaceful groups that the former king supported are in need of government funding and recognition. When they don’t get the funding and recognition they block the roads. They set up blockades that limit all merchandise and travel. Today is the first day that there has not been a strike for the past 11 days. Highly inconvenient. I can hitch rides on motorcycles through most of the strikes because they just want to limit public transport and goods. This, however, takes a little research every time I want to travel because I don’t move when dangerous or potentially dangerous groups are striking. One of the most violent groups in called the YCL (Young Communist League). I don’t have time to tell you all about them, but if you picture evil boy scouts with guns, nothing to lose, and an intense sense of patriotism, you kind of get it. The good thing is that they have sworn to only terrorize their countrymen, and to leave all foreigners alone. They have no desire to be compared to the Mumbai attacks.
Tomorrow I will be leaving Nepal for three days to go to the border of Bhutan and India to encourage the border churches and do some intercession for the country. I would appreciate your continued prayer covering.
Christmas.
The team that I was planning on spending Christmas with moved their outreach location to south India, about 200 km from Mumbai. So I will not be going. There are a lot of reasons: 1) I don’t have a peace about it, which means that God ain’t in it. 2) It’s close to Mumbai and I would like to be wise-- not overly cautious (I have never been accused of that and don’t plan to be), but I think that going there for a pleasure trip right now would be against better judgment. 3) Fifty straight hours on a train is enough time for me to truly go crazy. So what will I be doing? I may just spend it here, with Ashok and his wife, Santi. I was thinking about trying to get to Kathmandu, but there is a bridge out (so no bus) and flying is too expensive. I may take same money that I have (not missions support) and take a few days to rest and try and find a place to do some snowboarding. After all, I am in the Himalayas, but I am still praying about that too.
The ministry of Ashok and Santi Rai is really being blessed. Recently, Ashok was able to lead 5 Nepali soldiers working under the UN to the Lord. After this they welcomed his church/school compound to use their water and power, which are both hard to come by in the refugee camps, and which are both being given freely. The only thing that they are asking in return is discipleship. Praise the Lord.
Please pray:
For Ashok and Santi, that their ministry continue to be blessed, and they continue to be able to spread the Gospel.
For my new brother in Christ, the waiter, and for our meetings.
For me to have a clear, defined path into Bhutan, and know when to move.
For the border churches, and my intercession for the country.
For my intercessors.
For the Lord to continue to supply all my needs (and praise for His supplying them.)
And last, pray that I get a rest and rejuvenation, however God orchestrates it (snowboarding as part of it would be nice!!)
In Truth
James P Lear
Monday, December 1, 2008
Lots of stuff (some NOT for kids)
I wrote this a few days ago, but it's all still current. Over the past few days I have been stuck in a hotel due to the terrorist blockade here. This time was the biggest that I have seen, 13 counties or districts experiencing full traffic stop, and no selling of any goods allowed. The hotel was good though until the last day. We had power and food but on the last day the generator ran out of fuel and the stove ran out of natural gas so we had fruit to eat and candles for light.
Thank you for your prayers, this gets interesting. Read on.
Good morning, today is November 30, 2008. It is 0812 hours in the Bangalore time zone.
I wish that I could say that I was writing you with joy and happy stories, but I can't. I am writing you today with a broken heart. Know that I have been trying to write this post for the past few weeks and just never could get the words to come, but I can't wait any longer, this must be told.
PARENTS BE CAUTIONED - THIS MAY BE GRAPHIC. I URGE YOU TO READ IT FIRST BEORE LETTING YOUR KIDS.
AND KIDS PLEASE GO GET A PARENT AND HAVE THEM READ FIRST.
November 8, 2008 There was an article in the Kathmandu Times titled Where have all the Kamlari gone? Then in today’s paper there was a similar article titled Booming flesh trade goes unchecked.
In the first title the word Kamlari is used, when translated it means “young female slave.” It goes on to describe how parents who are suffering financially are promised by “middle men (often women)” that they can find a good safe home for their young daughter, and get them good compensation. These parents then sell their daughters to these “middle men” for anywhere between Rs1000 and Rs10,000. To give you some perspective, the exchange rate is 79.6 rupees to a dollar. They sell their daughters for somewhere between $12.56 and $125.63. But what usually happens is these “middle men” disappear with a busload of girls between the ages of 5-12. Nobody knows where, or nobody cares. I will tell you where they are going but first let's go back to the parents. If they demand to know what happened to their child they are ethier bribed with money or land to be quiet or just not seen anymore. So, where are all these bus loads of 5-12 year old girls going? They are being taken to Tibet, India, Bhutan and other parts of Nepal and re-sold, as sex toys, as nothing more than a playboy magazine.
The article that was in the paper today had stats in it, would you like them? The estimated number of sex workers in Nepal is 25,000, at least 5,000 are children. Now remember what standpoint this article is written from. We as Americans would see ‘children’ in this situation as 12-17; this article means that there are at least 5,000 4,5,6,7,8 year olds that are being raped 5-9 times daily in hotels all across Nepal. 35% of all “sex workers” are in the line of work by the time that they are 15. There is a small interview with a woman who works at a hotel in an unnamed city. She said she came there when she was 16 to be a housekeeper, then the owner told her that if she wanted to get paid she would spend the night with whoever he told her to. According to her she “services” 5-8 clients daily and spends almost every night with someone. She still hasn’t seen any of her money. You are not going to believe this but prostitution is illegal in Nepal, but if the cops and gov. officials get first pick of the “fresh” girls it's business as usual. According to a cop-turned-brothel owner the girls get 70% of the earnings. Well, let's you and I do the math here. Let's say 5 a day at Rs1000 each +4000 for the whole night. That Rs9000 70%=6300, If you think that these sick men are giving their 7 year old “Kamlari” Rs6300 a day I have some ocean front property in Colorado to sell you.
I wish I could say this is just a problem is Nepal or southern Asia, but it’s not. Human or sex trafficking is present in many countries in Europe, Russia, and even our own Red White and Blue.
I believe that God is calling me to work in this area. NOT THIS TRIP, but soon and maybe for the rest of my life. One man can absolutely change the world, change history, and influence millions. You want proof? George Washington, Adolf Hitler, Gandhi, Jesus. Am I saying that I have the charisma of Hitler or the faith of Jesus, no but if God wants me to, I will.
Please don’t just forget about this when you turn off your computer, fighting this starts on our knees. Satan screams when you war against his kingdom in prayer.
In other news, things in Mumbai have calmed down, and to tell you the truth I didn’t even know that anything was going on because news doesn’t move in India.
Wednesday and Tuesday of this week I was out of commission with food poisoning, but have made a full recovery and will now be more careful what I eat.
The school that I have been teaching at is only a year old, before that it was run by a hindu family who sold it to the ministry that now owns it. As with every startup they are very tight financially and I would like to give them a Christmas blessing of Rs12,000 (150.75 USD). This would pay off about %50 of their outstandiong loans and make the new year run smoothly. This is about two weeks worth of my living money so things may be tight but if anyone feels led to help with this please do. If you would like to make sure that your money goes to the school, send your check to St. John's like normal, but call my mother (720) 352 4697 and tell her that your donation of x much is to go to the school.
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. For me it passed rather easily, considering that it’s an American holiday nobody even knew what I was talking about. I did miss the food though. However for my thanksgiving dinner I was able to have rice and curry, which is the same thing I have had for the past 54 days. But I love it, God is truly amazing.
Please pray:
For my road into Bhutan, I don’t know what it is but God has told me that he is going to make one.
For me to know when to move on to Bhutan.
For my Intercessors as they are my biggest warriors.
For the Lord to continue to supply all of my financial and physical needs.
May the Lord richly bless your holiday season and your new year.
In truth, James P Lear
Thank you for your prayers, this gets interesting. Read on.
Good morning, today is November 30, 2008. It is 0812 hours in the Bangalore time zone.
I wish that I could say that I was writing you with joy and happy stories, but I can't. I am writing you today with a broken heart. Know that I have been trying to write this post for the past few weeks and just never could get the words to come, but I can't wait any longer, this must be told.
PARENTS BE CAUTIONED - THIS MAY BE GRAPHIC. I URGE YOU TO READ IT FIRST BEORE LETTING YOUR KIDS.
AND KIDS PLEASE GO GET A PARENT AND HAVE THEM READ FIRST.
November 8, 2008 There was an article in the Kathmandu Times titled Where have all the Kamlari gone? Then in today’s paper there was a similar article titled Booming flesh trade goes unchecked.
In the first title the word Kamlari is used, when translated it means “young female slave.” It goes on to describe how parents who are suffering financially are promised by “middle men (often women)” that they can find a good safe home for their young daughter, and get them good compensation. These parents then sell their daughters to these “middle men” for anywhere between Rs1000 and Rs10,000. To give you some perspective, the exchange rate is 79.6 rupees to a dollar. They sell their daughters for somewhere between $12.56 and $125.63. But what usually happens is these “middle men” disappear with a busload of girls between the ages of 5-12. Nobody knows where, or nobody cares. I will tell you where they are going but first let's go back to the parents. If they demand to know what happened to their child they are ethier bribed with money or land to be quiet or just not seen anymore. So, where are all these bus loads of 5-12 year old girls going? They are being taken to Tibet, India, Bhutan and other parts of Nepal and re-sold, as sex toys, as nothing more than a playboy magazine.
The article that was in the paper today had stats in it, would you like them? The estimated number of sex workers in Nepal is 25,000, at least 5,000 are children. Now remember what standpoint this article is written from. We as Americans would see ‘children’ in this situation as 12-17; this article means that there are at least 5,000 4,5,6,7,8 year olds that are being raped 5-9 times daily in hotels all across Nepal. 35% of all “sex workers” are in the line of work by the time that they are 15. There is a small interview with a woman who works at a hotel in an unnamed city. She said she came there when she was 16 to be a housekeeper, then the owner told her that if she wanted to get paid she would spend the night with whoever he told her to. According to her she “services” 5-8 clients daily and spends almost every night with someone. She still hasn’t seen any of her money. You are not going to believe this but prostitution is illegal in Nepal, but if the cops and gov. officials get first pick of the “fresh” girls it's business as usual. According to a cop-turned-brothel owner the girls get 70% of the earnings. Well, let's you and I do the math here. Let's say 5 a day at Rs1000 each +4000 for the whole night. That Rs9000 70%=6300, If you think that these sick men are giving their 7 year old “Kamlari” Rs6300 a day I have some ocean front property in Colorado to sell you.
I wish I could say this is just a problem is Nepal or southern Asia, but it’s not. Human or sex trafficking is present in many countries in Europe, Russia, and even our own Red White and Blue.
I believe that God is calling me to work in this area. NOT THIS TRIP, but soon and maybe for the rest of my life. One man can absolutely change the world, change history, and influence millions. You want proof? George Washington, Adolf Hitler, Gandhi, Jesus. Am I saying that I have the charisma of Hitler or the faith of Jesus, no but if God wants me to, I will.
Please don’t just forget about this when you turn off your computer, fighting this starts on our knees. Satan screams when you war against his kingdom in prayer.
In other news, things in Mumbai have calmed down, and to tell you the truth I didn’t even know that anything was going on because news doesn’t move in India.
Wednesday and Tuesday of this week I was out of commission with food poisoning, but have made a full recovery and will now be more careful what I eat.
The school that I have been teaching at is only a year old, before that it was run by a hindu family who sold it to the ministry that now owns it. As with every startup they are very tight financially and I would like to give them a Christmas blessing of Rs12,000 (150.75 USD). This would pay off about %50 of their outstandiong loans and make the new year run smoothly. This is about two weeks worth of my living money so things may be tight but if anyone feels led to help with this please do. If you would like to make sure that your money goes to the school, send your check to St. John's like normal, but call my mother (720) 352 4697 and tell her that your donation of x much is to go to the school.
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. For me it passed rather easily, considering that it’s an American holiday nobody even knew what I was talking about. I did miss the food though. However for my thanksgiving dinner I was able to have rice and curry, which is the same thing I have had for the past 54 days. But I love it, God is truly amazing.
Please pray:
For my road into Bhutan, I don’t know what it is but God has told me that he is going to make one.
For me to know when to move on to Bhutan.
For my Intercessors as they are my biggest warriors.
For the Lord to continue to supply all of my financial and physical needs.
May the Lord richly bless your holiday season and your new year.
In truth, James P Lear
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
