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
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