From Hindu Baba to Village Pastor
On a trip in western Nepal, we traveled to a village called G*** to visit our friend L*** Bahadur. Years ago, before coming to know Christ, L*** lived as a Hindu baba—a spiritual holy man devoted to Hindu religious practices, meditation, rituals, and teaching. In many villages, babas are highly respected and often live very separated, disciplined spiritual lives devoted to religion.
Later in life, L*** became a believer in Jesus. After coming to faith, Joshua had the opportunity to work alongside him in India through YWAM. Today, L*** has returned to his family’s village in Nepal, where he faithfully continues serving and has started a small church among the local people.
When we visited him, we were deeply moved by his situation. L*** is now an older man living alone in a very small one-room home where everything happens—sleeping, eating, studying, praying, and hosting visitors. Though he continues ministering faithfully, he has very little support and was even carrying debt at the local market because he could not afford rice and basic food items.
As we listened and spent time with him, we felt led to help in a practical way. We paid off his grocery debt at the village shop, left some additional money with the shop owner for future food needs, and purchased a large bag of rice for his home.
At Jivan for Nepali, while we try to thoughtfully steward our resources and maintain clear ministry support strategies, we also intentionally keep some room in our budget to respond to situations where we feel led to personally encourage and bless individuals like L*** in practical ways.
While in G***, we also gathered together with the believers from L***’s church. In remote villages like this, believers can easily become discouraged or isolated. Through worship, testimonies, prayer, and fellowship, we hoped to strengthen and encourage them to continue standing firm in their faith.
Please pray for L***, for the believers in G***, and for continued wisdom as we seek ways to help relieve some of his financial burdens so he can continue serving more freely in the village God has called him to.