Sowing Seeds of Spiritual Intimacy - NEPAL
by Sonu Maharjan & Pradip Shahi
Close, harmonious relationships are not a guarantee in life, even among those closest to us like family members and friends. Yet there is one God, who is all-knowing and all-loving, understands every heart, sees every situation clearly, and knows the truth beyond human perception. Therefore, we must go to Him when experiencing the challenges of maintaining healthy relationships.
We encountered this reality during our ministry trip to a remote village in Nepal. In this community, relationships are fragile and trust is minimal. Many of the households we visited were grieving the loss of family members, the issues of early-age marriage, lack of education, and migration to cities far from home for employment. As a result, we noticed that many children were neglected and, thus, growing up without proper guidance or support.
Pradip (far right) with several men from the village he and Sonu visited.
Among all the people we met, one individual stood out as an energetic servant of God whose faith went far beyond his age. His name is Rana Bahadur Buda (wearing the vest in the photo), but we called him Sarangi Ba because of the musical instrument he plays. This kind, generous man supported us throughout our entire stay and patiently sought to understand how the Lord works in our lives. Sarangi Ba even chose to remain with us until the final day of our ministry trip. Through him, we felt God speak to us, saying, “Age does not determine trustworthiness - As the deer pants for flowing streams, so my soul pants for You, O God.” He remains a living testimony we carry with us in our hearts.
Sarangi Ba and Pradip with a Sarangi.
The Sarangi is usually carved from a single block of wood. It’s short neck has no frets and it’s sound closely mimics the human voice. The Nepali version has four strings (goat intestine) and a bow with strings of horse hair.
Sonu teaching in one of the villages.
In the midst of these challenges, God led us into deeper spiritual intimacy with Him and those we served. We thank God for opening the door for us to show His love and lead us in prayer for situations where human solutions seemed impossible. Through prayer, burdens carried deep within people’s hearts were healed by Jesus. Many broke down in tears as they realized the value of God in their lives—they realized their sin, repented of it, and received His gift of forgiveness. We witnessed and praised the amazing work of God’s Spirit in these precious people.
Sonu and Pradip guiding youth through the Step-by-Step Discipleship Process
During our visit, we provided Step-by-Step Discipleship Training for 25 young people from four different churches. We prayed earnestly that at least five of them would grow spiritually and become instruments of transformation in their community—helping others turn from repeated and often unrecognized sin.
Sharing with village pastors about what Disciplers International has to offer.
Before leaving the area, we met two pastors who had traveled for five hours just to receive the training we offered and understand what spiritual intimacy is all about. They came from very remote regions where there is no electricity. After spending several hours introducing them to Disciplers International, both pastors were joyful but apprehensive, wondering whether DI could actually reach their remote setting. We encouraged them by sharing that DI is not just for places where modern conveniences are available but for all people in all places.
As we continue this journey, we humbly ask you to pray for our ministry, the people you just read about, and many others we are reaching. Thanks so much, and God bless you!
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