NOTES FROM THE FIELD In this series, those involved with CLC foreign missions profile one aspect of our overseas endeavors.
An Update from Nepal
[Editor: The following is a report about current activities in the Himalayan Church of the Lutheran Confession in Nepal (HCLCN). It is written, in his own words, by the indigenous pastor who is our main contact in Nepal. Names of people and places are being withheld because of the risk of persecution. The report is lightly edited for clarity.]
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
I would like to share about Nepal, and a crisis during last monsoon season. As you know, Nepal is located in the southern part of Asia between the two giant countries China and India. The country’s geography is mostly mountainous. Mighty mountains of the Himalayan range run through Nepal. Because of this, the country is physically difficult to traverse. For example, to travel one hundred miles it takes over six hours, which is an average of 16.7 miles an hour. This 16.7 miles per hour is possible when weather conditions and everything is good. During bad weather it gets worse. Poverty and lack of infrastructure makes the living difficult in the country. The country still has a lot to do to provide the basic human rights and basic human needs to its population. As a citizen of Nepal, I can tell you that there are many areas where people find themselves hopeless, disappointed, and dissatisfied with the government, their decisions, and the administration.
In 2024 Nepal got devastating rain and floods. Kathmandu, the capital of the country, was hit hard. Hundreds of people died in the flood. Every “highway” to Kathmandu was blocked by mud slides. There were a number of Christians who died in the flood as well. The members of the HCLC churches also reported loss of homes, property, cattle, crops, and land by the flood. The churches reported that people were facing need of food and basic supplies for their families. This year’s monsoon in Nepal was especially tragic in that the whole country was in crisis, and suffered from floods and landslides almost everywhere. We also heard that in the United States there was a devastating hurricane, Milton, that caused flooding affecting millions of people.
During the time of crisis, people need more care, comfort and consolation, and company. Even the pastors and leaders in Nepal that are to preach and share the Word of peace and comfort from the Lord had hard times, and several of them shared their stories with us.
Everywhere in the world people are in great need of love, care, and support. We can tell that there is no peace and security in the world, that we cannot rely on the things and materials that humans have created and built. But there is a hope that the Lord provides which has an everlasting effect. Lasting peace, comfort and security are only to be found in the Lord and in His Word. The love that we find in the Lord is the greatest; He cares for us from the time of our conception in the mother’s womb. He comforts us with His Word, and He gives us the hope of salvation and frees from all the sorrows. We thank the Lord Who gave Himself to die on the cross for all the people in the world. His blood has paid the price of sin and its consequences for us. Now the people in Nepal can have this joy too.
As we read in Revelation 21:3-4 “. . . and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (ESV)
This is our hope. We believe that there is eternal peace, comfort, and joy in the Lord, Who is the creator of heavens and earth, Who became a man and lived among us and experienced everything that a man experiences. In the month of December, we celebrate the birth of our Savior with great joy. He is our comforter and our refuge. As Isaiah 12:1 reads, “I will, give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.” (ESV)
The world is not our home. We are here for short time. In this time, we need love, care, and comfort; and the only sure source of comfort is our Lord Whom we trust.
In this season of celebration, we pray that a great number of Nepali people and more people from all countries may come to know their true Savior. Only in Him we find comfort during crises. Have a blessed Christmas and New Year everyone!