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
Monday, December 15, 2008
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
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
SO MUCH TO SAY
About two weeks ago
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2008
SO MUCH TO SAY
About two weeks ago
I had a vision of the reigning demonic power on the mountain that I live on in Ilam. It was a huge black scorpion. I asked God why I had this vision and he said it was so I could war with it, and that now is the time. SO I spent about a week in prayer about how to attack this power and finally decided that the time had come. So last Thursday myself and two other pastors were going to intercede against this power at about 4 in the afternoon. God had a different idea. At about two that day God said to me that it was time, I told him that He must be mistaken cause the other pastors were not here yet. Well God won and I went out to the place that God had showed me was this demon’s stronghold and started to pray. God told me to pray Ezekiel 21 which talks about a sword, and in verse 14 it says strike your hands together three times and on the third the sword will do double damage. So I did. And the demonic power was defeated. Talk about amazing Intercession. Here’s the coolest part. After all this God told me that I wasn’t done, so I prayed and asked what I was to do next. He said that I should send this demon to the throne room of heaven and command it to behold the glory of the Lord. So I did. And I had a vision, I saw a huge black scorpion walk up to two huge golden doors, as it entered and looked up the glory of God hit its eyes and it exploded. We really do serve an amazing God.
I met another American missionary. His name is Thomas Dulan. He has been in northern India for the past six years. He is a doctor who received all of his medical training as a US Marine.
I went to the missions hospital in northern India about a week and a half ago with a member of a local church. It was really amazing to meet another person who is here alone following the call of God. I was only able to spend a day with Dr. Thomas but I look forward to meeting him again. He invited me to come back and stay for a month next spring, to learn as much as possible in that time. I am praying about it. While I was there for the one day He was able to teach me how to give stitches and perform minor surgery. People from all over India come to him for treatment, so he uses his medical training as a way to tell them about Jesus. Over the past six years he has been able to lead over 5,000 people to the Lord. That is an amazing ministry.
Yesterday was the last day of my teaching on “Hearing the Voice of God”. I gave it to about 40 students at a one month Bible training school, held in the Beldangi refugee camp. It went really well. The students were able to take a lot away from it.
In current events here in Nepal the Bhutanese government is threatening to start a "bloody uprising" in the refugee camps if the Nepali government doesn’t stop resettling the refugees in other nations. TO give you a little background on that statement: the country of Bhutan went through an ethnic cleansing 18 years ago. They told everyone that had any Nepali or Indian blood in them that they were welcome to leave and if they didn't they would be killed. Many tried to stay in their homes, many died. Those that choose to leave were put into refugee camps that the Nepali government allowed the UN to set up on the India/Nepal border. Well, in the last 8 months or so the UN has started to "resettle" the refugees in to first world countries all over the globe, the US, Canada, Norway, Australia, and many others. Well the Bhutanese government seems to think that since these people were once their citizens they can still dictate what happens to them, and when the UN disagreed things started to heat up. So the deadline the Bhutan has given the UN and Nepal in January 1st 2009 so be praying that things cool down.
Since I am here because of your support I would like to ask your permission to do something. YWAM Idaho will have a DTS outreach in northern India starting December 3 until mid February, and I would like your permission to go spend Christmas with them. The train ticket will be about 20 dollars. If anyone has any objections to this I am totally open to them.
Please pray that God would open the door for me to get into Bhutan to help build the underground church there. The price of a 1-day entry visa is 180 dollars so if God wants me in Bhutan He is going to have to make it happen. The church there is in great need of teachers and disciples. SO please be in prayer for them.
In truth,
James P. Lear
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2008
SO MUCH TO SAY
About two weeks ago
I had a vision of the reigning demonic power on the mountain that I live on in Ilam. It was a huge black scorpion. I asked God why I had this vision and he said it was so I could war with it, and that now is the time. SO I spent about a week in prayer about how to attack this power and finally decided that the time had come. So last Thursday myself and two other pastors were going to intercede against this power at about 4 in the afternoon. God had a different idea. At about two that day God said to me that it was time, I told him that He must be mistaken cause the other pastors were not here yet. Well God won and I went out to the place that God had showed me was this demon’s stronghold and started to pray. God told me to pray Ezekiel 21 which talks about a sword, and in verse 14 it says strike your hands together three times and on the third the sword will do double damage. So I did. And the demonic power was defeated. Talk about amazing Intercession. Here’s the coolest part. After all this God told me that I wasn’t done, so I prayed and asked what I was to do next. He said that I should send this demon to the throne room of heaven and command it to behold the glory of the Lord. So I did. And I had a vision, I saw a huge black scorpion walk up to two huge golden doors, as it entered and looked up the glory of God hit its eyes and it exploded. We really do serve an amazing God.
I met another American missionary. His name is Thomas Dulan. He has been in northern India for the past six years. He is a doctor who received all of his medical training as a US Marine.
I went to the missions hospital in northern India about a week and a half ago with a member of a local church. It was really amazing to meet another person who is here alone following the call of God. I was only able to spend a day with Dr. Thomas but I look forward to meeting him again. He invited me to come back and stay for a month next spring, to learn as much as possible in that time. I am praying about it. While I was there for the one day He was able to teach me how to give stitches and perform minor surgery. People from all over India come to him for treatment, so he uses his medical training as a way to tell them about Jesus. Over the past six years he has been able to lead over 5,000 people to the Lord. That is an amazing ministry.
Yesterday was the last day of my teaching on “Hearing the Voice of God”. I gave it to about 40 students at a one month Bible training school, held in the Beldangi refugee camp. It went really well. The students were able to take a lot away from it.
In current events here in Nepal the Bhutanese government is threatening to start a "bloody uprising" in the refugee camps if the Nepali government doesn’t stop resettling the refugees in other nations. TO give you a little background on that statement: the country of Bhutan went through an ethnic cleansing 18 years ago. They told everyone that had any Nepali or Indian blood in them that they were welcome to leave and if they didn't they would be killed. Many tried to stay in their homes, many died. Those that choose to leave were put into refugee camps that the Nepali government allowed the UN to set up on the India/Nepal border. Well, in the last 8 months or so the UN has started to "resettle" the refugees in to first world countries all over the globe, the US, Canada, Norway, Australia, and many others. Well the Bhutanese government seems to think that since these people were once their citizens they can still dictate what happens to them, and when the UN disagreed things started to heat up. So the deadline the Bhutan has given the UN and Nepal in January 1st 2009 so be praying that things cool down.
Since I am here because of your support I would like to ask your permission to do something. YWAM Idaho will have a DTS outreach in northern India starting December 3 until mid February, and I would like your permission to go spend Christmas with them. The train ticket will be about 20 dollars. If anyone has any objections to this I am totally open to them.
Please pray that God would open the door for me to get into Bhutan to help build the underground church there. The price of a 1-day entry visa is 180 dollars so if God wants me in Bhutan He is going to have to make it happen. The church there is in great need of teachers and disciples. SO please be in prayer for them.
In truth,
James P. Lear
Friday, October 31, 2008
THE OUTHOUSE HAS A LIGHT!!!
Wow, I have been here for 26 Days and SO much has happened. For starters I am now living at the english boarding school that I taught at last week, I will explain in a moment. I will still be working very closely with the refugee camps and I will still be giving the teaching in a few weeks. During the week that I spent in Ilam I was able to lead Bible studies for about 100 new christians. I taught 4th, 5th, and 6th grade english. *I just wanted to shoot in that the cyber cafe that I am in is now blasting Celion Dion, that makes me laugh.* Anyway, I loved it, the climate is almost identical to Colorado, and the people there were amazing. There is a man up there named Robin, and the day that I was leaving he said to me over and over "you have to come back, because we love you" I really didn't think much of it at the time and just promised that I would come back. I spoke at two of their three churches that Saturday, and came back to Birtamod. I then gave two sermons on Sunday at a refugee camp, and was done by mid afternoon. I had the afternoon to just rest and hang out here in town, I went to my room and just felt like I had been run over by a demonic truck. I was under attack, and didn't know it. As I prayed through this with others and alone, I heard that God wanted me at Ilam, so I moved there. After I was back in
Ilam for a night I had a dream. In the dream I was leading Sarah around Birtamod and then I went to show her my room, andas we got there I pointed and she looked at me like I was crazy. I said "what?" and looked back at the house which had transformed into a buddhist temple. I'm quite glad that I left that place. My base now will be Ilam, I will continue to teach english to the kids there, they are mostly hindu and buddhist and the Bible has a lot of really great reading exercises in it!!
The life up in Ilam isn't quite 21st century, but I love it up there, AND the outhouse has a light!! We cook on wood, carry water from a spring for baths and do our laundry at that same spring, it's amazing. I do have a cell phone if anybody feels that they would like to call please do, although I think its kinda cost prohibitive from the US. I will put my address and # at the end.
I am starting to really see my purpose here, and a huge part of it is spiritual warfare. Satan is finding this out too. Two nights ago I went to bed early with a high fever, I wasn't too worried. About two hours after I went to bed I woke up with such incredible chest pain that I couldn't breath when I laid down. I spent the rest of the night trying to figure out how to fix myself medically. The next morning I went to all of the Pastors at the school and had them pray over me, and not much happened but at least I was now thinking that it could be spiritual. That afternoon I spent adout 5 hours just talking with Jesus, not praying to God, but talking to Jesus. As I did I felt the satanic boulder roll off of my chest. EVERYTHING IS SPRITUAL. The fever hasn't been back ethier.
Please pray:
That I am able to discern what and how to battle spiritually.
For spiritual protection.
That I would continue to see that Lord's will for my teachings.
For faith and perserverence on the days that I really miss home and you guys.
For the school to see a spiritual breakthrough, through my "big rock thing" God showed the spiritual power that is suppressing the school and preventing break-through there.
That this place would find better music.
For my mom and Sarah, who are two of my biggest intercessors, therefore open to attack themselves.
And for the ministries here, youth groups, cell groups, churches, etc. for God's continued guiding.
Thank you all so much, your prayers can be felt. I promise to write a few cool stories next time.
In truth James P Lear.
mobile # 09779807903518
Mailing address:
James Paul Lear
c/o Subandra Rai
Himalayan Faith Gospel Church
Godak-6 Ilam
Mechi, East Nepal
Ilam for a night I had a dream. In the dream I was leading Sarah around Birtamod and then I went to show her my room, andas we got there I pointed and she looked at me like I was crazy. I said "what?" and looked back at the house which had transformed into a buddhist temple. I'm quite glad that I left that place. My base now will be Ilam, I will continue to teach english to the kids there, they are mostly hindu and buddhist and the Bible has a lot of really great reading exercises in it!!
The life up in Ilam isn't quite 21st century, but I love it up there, AND the outhouse has a light!! We cook on wood, carry water from a spring for baths and do our laundry at that same spring, it's amazing. I do have a cell phone if anybody feels that they would like to call please do, although I think its kinda cost prohibitive from the US. I will put my address and # at the end.
I am starting to really see my purpose here, and a huge part of it is spiritual warfare. Satan is finding this out too. Two nights ago I went to bed early with a high fever, I wasn't too worried. About two hours after I went to bed I woke up with such incredible chest pain that I couldn't breath when I laid down. I spent the rest of the night trying to figure out how to fix myself medically. The next morning I went to all of the Pastors at the school and had them pray over me, and not much happened but at least I was now thinking that it could be spiritual. That afternoon I spent adout 5 hours just talking with Jesus, not praying to God, but talking to Jesus. As I did I felt the satanic boulder roll off of my chest. EVERYTHING IS SPRITUAL. The fever hasn't been back ethier.
Please pray:
That I am able to discern what and how to battle spiritually.
For spiritual protection.
That I would continue to see that Lord's will for my teachings.
For faith and perserverence on the days that I really miss home and you guys.
For the school to see a spiritual breakthrough, through my "big rock thing" God showed the spiritual power that is suppressing the school and preventing break-through there.
That this place would find better music.
For my mom and Sarah, who are two of my biggest intercessors, therefore open to attack themselves.
And for the ministries here, youth groups, cell groups, churches, etc. for God's continued guiding.
Thank you all so much, your prayers can be felt. I promise to write a few cool stories next time.
In truth James P Lear.
mobile # 09779807903518
Mailing address:
James Paul Lear
c/o Subandra Rai
Himalayan Faith Gospel Church
Godak-6 Ilam
Mechi, East Nepal
Friday, October 17, 2008
Chow mein, black chili, and a mute girl.
Greeting brothers and sisters,
I don’t know where to start. I can't believe that I have only been here 11 days and have seen God so clearly and amazingly.
To give you an idea of where I am... I am not in the mountains like I had thought I would be-- I am in the jungle. There are foothills in the near distance and I have a feeling that if I were to hike to them I could see the Himalayas. The weather is hot and sticky. About 85-90 degrees in the days with humidity that is WAY too high. It is pretty much everything you would expect a jungle to be, big banana trees, snakes, everything made of bamboo, that sort of thing, and I love it.
The last week I spent in the largest of the three refugee camps here in Nepal. I was able to teach at a seminary and preach at two churches. As a result I have been asked to come back and teach at the next "mini seminary" they hold. It will be in November, slightly more than one month long and I will be teaching for one week on Hearing the Voice of God. Pray that the words that leave my lips are not mine but the Lord’s. Next week I will be going north into a more mountainous area called Ilam. There I will be teaching and helping at an English boarding school of about 100 students.
Now to my slightly strange title.
Chow mein.
I guess that I had forgotten how much I liked Asian food. Not that stuff that we get at home but real, amazing, spicy, Asian food.
Black chili.
It was Wednesday of last week, I was on the walk home, through the jungle, from the service we had just attended with two pastors and their wives. One of the pastors stopped and picked something from the tree near to him and threw some in his mouth. Curious, I approached. I motioned and he let me see, it was a cluster of about 20 odd looking seeds. The pastor said it was very good for your health and that I should take some. So I did. They were slightly crunchy and tasted quite good, that is until I couldn't breath because of the fire that was now raging in my throat. Needless to say, I am not going to do that again. But I think, if you could handle them, they would be good for your health.
The Mute Girl.
I don’t know her name and I don't know how old she was, I would guess about 14, but she is responsible for my faith being about 600% stronger than it was.
It was Wednesday last week, we went to a Healing service. I wasn't quite sure what to expect but I kept an open mind about it. As we got there a man started preaching (I would tell you what about, but at this point my translator was not with me, so I have no idea). He preached for a good 5 hours. By this time I'm not really in a very "healing" mood. But them something started to happen. All of the people started to move closer to the stage and pray really loudly. The pastor started to scream into the microphone. I asked and somebody told me he was praying for healing for all the sick gathered in the front. Then I started to feel the presence of God. I don't know how to explain it, but if you have felt it you know what I mean. People started to get on the stage and talk about what had just happened to them. The first few were boring, still amazing but boring, a pain gone or an ear opened. Then this girl and her mother got up there. The mother was in tears because her daughter was mute and had not been healed. The pastor said that we would all pray in unison and God would move here. I have to confess that I was having my doubts at this point. Then I heard God’s voice say to me "if you have faith in me you can move mountains" SO i started to pray. WE all started to pray. Within 30 seconds this girl screamed "PRAISE THE LORD" into the microphone. I felt as thought I was that girl’s mother, I was so overjoyed. I was jumping and screaming.
God really is amazing.
For now that’s all I have. I hope to be able to update again soon.
Pray for me to have an impact on the children I am going to this week.
And thank you all so much for your financial and Prayer support. I am spending a lot of time in prayer so please send me your requests and I will lift them to the Father as well.
In Truth
James P. Lear
I don’t know where to start. I can't believe that I have only been here 11 days and have seen God so clearly and amazingly.
To give you an idea of where I am... I am not in the mountains like I had thought I would be-- I am in the jungle. There are foothills in the near distance and I have a feeling that if I were to hike to them I could see the Himalayas. The weather is hot and sticky. About 85-90 degrees in the days with humidity that is WAY too high. It is pretty much everything you would expect a jungle to be, big banana trees, snakes, everything made of bamboo, that sort of thing, and I love it.
The last week I spent in the largest of the three refugee camps here in Nepal. I was able to teach at a seminary and preach at two churches. As a result I have been asked to come back and teach at the next "mini seminary" they hold. It will be in November, slightly more than one month long and I will be teaching for one week on Hearing the Voice of God. Pray that the words that leave my lips are not mine but the Lord’s. Next week I will be going north into a more mountainous area called Ilam. There I will be teaching and helping at an English boarding school of about 100 students.
Now to my slightly strange title.
Chow mein.
I guess that I had forgotten how much I liked Asian food. Not that stuff that we get at home but real, amazing, spicy, Asian food.
Black chili.
It was Wednesday of last week, I was on the walk home, through the jungle, from the service we had just attended with two pastors and their wives. One of the pastors stopped and picked something from the tree near to him and threw some in his mouth. Curious, I approached. I motioned and he let me see, it was a cluster of about 20 odd looking seeds. The pastor said it was very good for your health and that I should take some. So I did. They were slightly crunchy and tasted quite good, that is until I couldn't breath because of the fire that was now raging in my throat. Needless to say, I am not going to do that again. But I think, if you could handle them, they would be good for your health.
The Mute Girl.
I don’t know her name and I don't know how old she was, I would guess about 14, but she is responsible for my faith being about 600% stronger than it was.
It was Wednesday last week, we went to a Healing service. I wasn't quite sure what to expect but I kept an open mind about it. As we got there a man started preaching (I would tell you what about, but at this point my translator was not with me, so I have no idea). He preached for a good 5 hours. By this time I'm not really in a very "healing" mood. But them something started to happen. All of the people started to move closer to the stage and pray really loudly. The pastor started to scream into the microphone. I asked and somebody told me he was praying for healing for all the sick gathered in the front. Then I started to feel the presence of God. I don't know how to explain it, but if you have felt it you know what I mean. People started to get on the stage and talk about what had just happened to them. The first few were boring, still amazing but boring, a pain gone or an ear opened. Then this girl and her mother got up there. The mother was in tears because her daughter was mute and had not been healed. The pastor said that we would all pray in unison and God would move here. I have to confess that I was having my doubts at this point. Then I heard God’s voice say to me "if you have faith in me you can move mountains" SO i started to pray. WE all started to pray. Within 30 seconds this girl screamed "PRAISE THE LORD" into the microphone. I felt as thought I was that girl’s mother, I was so overjoyed. I was jumping and screaming.
God really is amazing.
For now that’s all I have. I hope to be able to update again soon.
Pray for me to have an impact on the children I am going to this week.
And thank you all so much for your financial and Prayer support. I am spending a lot of time in prayer so please send me your requests and I will lift them to the Father as well.
In Truth
James P. Lear
Thursday, October 9, 2008
I am Here!!!
WEll I am here in India. It is a wierd sensation without a team here, I am momentairly overwhelmed with the sense that I am totaly alone, not anole in my room, not alone in my hotel, not even alone in this city, but alone on this continent. I take a moment to think about all of the wonderfull people that I left behind, tears are fought back. I open my bible knowing that even as I feel alone HE is here with me, I am just looking for i little reassurence. My bible falls open to Isiah 41.10 "He will uphold you with his rightous right hand" and I sleep peacfully not just knowig that HE in there but FEELING that he is here
In other news I left my computer power supply @ home so for now I am writing everything right before i send it, so i am sorry that this is a little sloppy.
So in my attempts to get a new power supply I went to an electronics store and asked, tyhey said no problem no problem, but we need your computer for 5 hours and half the money in advance. I said a quick prayer and didnt get a strog answer one way or the other, so i did it. Then spent the next 4 hours worring about it. Turns out this poor guy went all over Delhi and no one has the power supply I need (mom, you and the DHL guy have a date, when I get an address). But true to the culture he gave me my computer unmolested as he promised, and the advance in full, I love being in a trustworthy country.
I did get a train ticket to NJP purchased and will be leaving at 2 pm tommorow, thats 1.30 am your time I think. It will be a 22 hour train ride. I couldhave flown for an extra 75 dollars, but at this point the thought of one more miniute on a plane makes me want to vomit. But I will get to see much of the Indian countryside, which excites me.
Neph 3:17 I think is going to be my theme verse for this trip. I have really been able to take it to heart and I helps with everything. I want to get a broken bluetooth headset so that I can talk really loud to my Father while I am walking down the street.
I love you all and an thanking God for your prayers and support.
James P. Lear
In other news I left my computer power supply @ home so for now I am writing everything right before i send it, so i am sorry that this is a little sloppy.
So in my attempts to get a new power supply I went to an electronics store and asked, tyhey said no problem no problem, but we need your computer for 5 hours and half the money in advance. I said a quick prayer and didnt get a strog answer one way or the other, so i did it. Then spent the next 4 hours worring about it. Turns out this poor guy went all over Delhi and no one has the power supply I need (mom, you and the DHL guy have a date, when I get an address). But true to the culture he gave me my computer unmolested as he promised, and the advance in full, I love being in a trustworthy country.
I did get a train ticket to NJP purchased and will be leaving at 2 pm tommorow, thats 1.30 am your time I think. It will be a 22 hour train ride. I couldhave flown for an extra 75 dollars, but at this point the thought of one more miniute on a plane makes me want to vomit. But I will get to see much of the Indian countryside, which excites me.
Neph 3:17 I think is going to be my theme verse for this trip. I have really been able to take it to heart and I helps with everything. I want to get a broken bluetooth headset so that I can talk really loud to my Father while I am walking down the street.
I love you all and an thanking God for your prayers and support.
James P. Lear
Monday, September 29, 2008
Getting Ready.
I can really see that God is in what I am doing. I know that sounds a little late, but God has this awesome way of telling us to do things on faith then as we act in obedience he confirms, and confirms, and confirms.
Today is September 29th I leave in 8 days. I can't wait. I have been packing and getting ready. As I prepare for my upcoming mission I can't help but stop momentairly to see the greatness of our creator in everything around me.
I am so thankfull for all of your prayers and support thank you and God bless.
James
Today is September 29th I leave in 8 days. I can't wait. I have been packing and getting ready. As I prepare for my upcoming mission I can't help but stop momentairly to see the greatness of our creator in everything around me.
I am so thankfull for all of your prayers and support thank you and God bless.
James
Friday, September 19, 2008
Things are happening!!!
I got a plane ticket bought!!! Sadly because aof airline standards I was not able to buy a one year roung trip ticket and because of country standards I was not allowed to purchase two one way tickets. SO i did the nezt best and bought the longest roundtrip ticket as i could...9 and a half months. I did pray about it because i reallt felt that God had told me to go for a year, but the answer that I got was "go and do my will." SO on October 7th I am off. THank you to all of you who have already supported me financialy and to all of those who are continualy praying for me.
God Bless,
JAmes
God Bless,
JAmes
Monday, September 1, 2008
Support Details...finally.
Well, I finally got all of my ducks in a row, as far as receiving support and the like. So, for those of you that would like to support me financially, it is now set up and possible. Following is the address for St. John's Lutheran Church and School. They will be receiving all of my support, and forwarding it to me. This allows your contribution to be tax deductible. Please send checks, payable to St. John's, and marked "James Lear-Missions" in the memo line. To receive a tax deductible receipt, please enclose a postage paid envelope and they will be happy to provide one.
St. John's Lutheran Church
700 S. Franklin Street
Denver, CO 80209
marked: James Lear - Missions
For All of you supporting me in prayer, please pray:
For peace while I am preparing for this season in my life.
For faith during this time of support-raising.
For God to continue setting things up as they should be for my trip.
Thank you and may the Lord bless ansd keep you, James Lear
Well, I finally got all of my ducks in a row, as far as receiving support and the like. So, for those of you that would like to support me financially, it is now set up and possible. Following is the address for St. John's Lutheran Church and School. They will be receiving all of my support, and forwarding it to me. This allows your contribution to be tax deductible. Please send checks, payable to St. John's, and marked "James Lear-Missions" in the memo line. To receive a tax deductible receipt, please enclose a postage paid envelope and they will be happy to provide one.
St. John's Lutheran Church
700 S. Franklin Street
Denver, CO 80209
marked: James Lear - Missions
For All of you supporting me in prayer, please pray:
For peace while I am preparing for this season in my life.
For faith during this time of support-raising.
For God to continue setting things up as they should be for my trip.
Thank you and may the Lord bless ansd keep you, James Lear
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
July Update
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Where I was
As many of you k now, I recently completed a Discipleship Training School (DTS) with
Youth With A Mission (YWAM). During the first phase (lecture phase) of this six month
school I and 11 other students received training at a college level in the areas of “Hearing
the Voice of God”, “Spiritual Warfare”, “Evangelism”, “Missions”, and many others.
As I stepped out on this adventure, I had my life planned out starting the second I returned
home…I was going to The University of Texas, Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps, Marine
Corps option, that was my plan. I, however, had made one fatal mistake in my planning;
I had to forgotten to ask my Author and Perfector what He wanted.
As my DTS progressed, my mind slowly opened to the possibility of Jesus having
a different plan for my life. This slow progression came to an end while we were on outreach
in Kanpur, India. Over the course of about a week, through about 5 different people,
the Lord showed me that His Plan was so much greater than mine and all I had to do was be willing
to follow. As I asked the Lord to reveal HIS plan for my life He started to put the country of
Bhutan on my heart. Bhutan is a small country, located directly north of India, south of Tibet and
east of Nepal. The majority religion is Buddhist, the minority is Hindu.
The Lord told me that I was coming back to Asia…SOON. Since then the doors have been
open for me to live in a refugee camp on the eastern border of Nepal. I have been invited to
speak at over 55 churches, to more than 150,000 people, and not only to spread the good news
through my words but to help these people who have nothing by building houses for their
families and starting farms to create an income. HIS PLAN IS AMAZING!
Where I am
Currently I am living at home in Golden, Colorado with my mother and grandmother. I am
working for the Agricultural Ditch and Reservoir Company. I am preparing myself physically,
mentally, and spiritually for the upcoming time of missions that I have been called to.
As of right now the plan is for me to leave in the first week of October 2008 and to return in
October 2009. As of right now, I am going alone. However I am not going as a “lone ranger”.
I am going to a specific place to serve a specific mission that is already there.
I apologize for the vagueness of the details; I have been asked to be discreet for the safety of
my Indian brothers and sisters.
I would humbly ask you to join with me in this endeavor. Are you willing to partner
with me in prayer and finances, to help further the great commission? However, I ask that
you not send me one cent until you know that God is behind it.
I believe fully, that if the Lord asks you to partner together in supporting me, the Lord will
bless you in return, sevenfold. I know that if you are behind me as I am on the mission field,
it is as if you are my hands and feet, You are my team, you are my support, and that will
not go unblessed.
(more on the flipside)
I will do my very best to keep in touch. I will have a web page that can be checked, and
hopefully, I will be able to send regular updates. I would sincerely like to talk to you about this,
one on one, to answer any questions you may have.
Luke 10:17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are
subject to us in Your name. And Jesus said to them, “I saw satan fall like lightening
from heaven. Behold, I give you athe authority to trample on serpents and scorpions,
and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather
rejoice because your names are written in heaven.
To send financial support, just reference me by name, and send it to either one of the
Churches below.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, and to pray about joining me on my
adventure. God bless you throughout this next year,
In Christ’s service,
James P. Lear
Please send contributions to
James Lear, c/o Missions Board
St. John’s Lutheran Church
700 S. Franklin Street
Denver, CO 80209-4505
Webpage/blog
Email: leather_hat777@yahoo.com
Home address:
James Lear
16235 W. 32nd Avenue
Golden, CO 80401
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Where I was
As many of you k now, I recently completed a Discipleship Training School (DTS) with
Youth With A Mission (YWAM). During the first phase (lecture phase) of this six month
school I and 11 other students received training at a college level in the areas of “Hearing
the Voice of God”, “Spiritual Warfare”, “Evangelism”, “Missions”, and many others.
As I stepped out on this adventure, I had my life planned out starting the second I returned
home…I was going to The University of Texas, Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps, Marine
Corps option, that was my plan. I, however, had made one fatal mistake in my planning;
I had to forgotten to ask my Author and Perfector what He wanted.
As my DTS progressed, my mind slowly opened to the possibility of Jesus having
a different plan for my life. This slow progression came to an end while we were on outreach
in Kanpur, India. Over the course of about a week, through about 5 different people,
the Lord showed me that His Plan was so much greater than mine and all I had to do was be willing
to follow. As I asked the Lord to reveal HIS plan for my life He started to put the country of
Bhutan on my heart. Bhutan is a small country, located directly north of India, south of Tibet and
east of Nepal. The majority religion is Buddhist, the minority is Hindu.
The Lord told me that I was coming back to Asia…SOON. Since then the doors have been
open for me to live in a refugee camp on the eastern border of Nepal. I have been invited to
speak at over 55 churches, to more than 150,000 people, and not only to spread the good news
through my words but to help these people who have nothing by building houses for their
families and starting farms to create an income. HIS PLAN IS AMAZING!
Where I am
Currently I am living at home in Golden, Colorado with my mother and grandmother. I am
working for the Agricultural Ditch and Reservoir Company. I am preparing myself physically,
mentally, and spiritually for the upcoming time of missions that I have been called to.
As of right now the plan is for me to leave in the first week of October 2008 and to return in
October 2009. As of right now, I am going alone. However I am not going as a “lone ranger”.
I am going to a specific place to serve a specific mission that is already there.
I apologize for the vagueness of the details; I have been asked to be discreet for the safety of
my Indian brothers and sisters.
I would humbly ask you to join with me in this endeavor. Are you willing to partner
with me in prayer and finances, to help further the great commission? However, I ask that
you not send me one cent until you know that God is behind it.
I believe fully, that if the Lord asks you to partner together in supporting me, the Lord will
bless you in return, sevenfold. I know that if you are behind me as I am on the mission field,
it is as if you are my hands and feet, You are my team, you are my support, and that will
not go unblessed.
(more on the flipside)
I will do my very best to keep in touch. I will have a web page that can be checked, and
hopefully, I will be able to send regular updates. I would sincerely like to talk to you about this,
one on one, to answer any questions you may have.
Luke 10:17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are
subject to us in Your name. And Jesus said to them, “I saw satan fall like lightening
from heaven. Behold, I give you athe authority to trample on serpents and scorpions,
and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather
rejoice because your names are written in heaven.
To send financial support, just reference me by name, and send it to either one of the
Churches below.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, and to pray about joining me on my
adventure. God bless you throughout this next year,
In Christ’s service,
James P. Lear
Please send contributions to
James Lear, c/o Missions Board
St. John’s Lutheran Church
700 S. Franklin Street
Denver, CO 80209-4505
Webpage/blog
Email: leather_hat777@yahoo.com
Home address:
James Lear
16235 W. 32nd Avenue
Golden, CO 80401
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