Dear friends and family,
We returned from Nepal around midnight on Monday(9/16) and have been busy unpacking, debriefing and, believe it or not, beginning to plan for our next visit.  John and Ellen remain in Nepal until September 17, but we are in almost daily contact with them to share their experiences and to confirm or critique their plans.

We understand that a number of you did not receive some or all of our earlier reports from Nepal.  Apparently our address list was corrupted or incomplete.  Our apologies.  We wanted to get this report out promptly, so we will simply summarize the "highs and lows" of our last few weeks.  Those of you who dislike long reports will appreciate the brevity.
Do take a moment to glance at the photos below that may have made this e-mail slow to open!


The "highs" include:
1.  A 2-day retreat with 16 of the college age kids sponsored by Foresight Development International (FDI), http://www.foresightdevelopment.org/ .

2.  Visiting again with Sabita, our sponsored child, who is doing wonderfully in ninth grade at Living Stone Academy (LSA), a Christian boarding school in Kathmandu.

3.  An opportunity to observe classes at LSA followed by a request from the principal for a workshop to help their staff improve their teaching and classroom management skills.

3.  A 1-day workshop with 20 Christian college and university students where we discussed areas of agreement and conflict
between the Nepali culture and Christian values.

4.  A 4-day visit to National Bethel Academy (NBA), the school begun with support of FDI.  It now has 150+ students through Class 5 and has become a model school for the district because of the innovative teaching techniques.

5. One-on-one meetings with each of the sponsored FDI students, aka "Foresight Kids," to discuss their studies, health, personal lives, career options and family struggles.  In many cases, we are effectively the parents of these kids.

6.  Attending a Nepali church service where four Foresight Kids led the worship service.

7.  Attending the Crossway Church (for the first time).  This Nepali church was loaded with young people and features an active outreach ministry to the remote regions of Nepal.  This church even had chairs!!!

The "lows" include:

1.  Learning that Rajkumar's infant son has lost the sight in his left eye and that only a miracle will restore it.  Rajkumar is the dynamic, highly motivated principal of NBA.


2.  Learning that one of the young men sponsored by FDI has decided to return to his family's village rather that continue his studies in a university in Kathmandu.


3.  Realizing that several additional teachers with excellent skills in both English and their subject specialty (math, science or social studies) will be required if NBA is to maintain excellence as the school grows.  Recruiting these teachers from Kathmandu to the remote town of Trishuli will require God's intervention.


4.  A 5.0 earthquake that emptied our hotel at 11:30 pm two nights before we headed home.  Waiting in the street, with no information available, in a country with no infrastructure makes one realize how little control of our lives we really have.  Praise God that no real damage was done.

We appreciate your prayers, support and encouragement in so many forms, particularly those of you who are actively sponsoring one of these children at the Prison Fellowship Nepal homes or through Foresight Development International.

Photos below highlight a few of the items mentioned above.  Overall, we are very encouraged by our visit and trust that God will be present as we confront the challenges identified above and others that continue to unfold.

Thanks again for your prayers and financial support.

In His grip,
Terry and Dave

              
















Worship time at the Foresight Kids retreat



















                                                                     Time to "catch up" at the retreat

                          













































                                   Time with Sabita, our sponsored PFN child

                       

















                                                Typical classroom at National Bethel Academy

             


















One-on-one counseling session with Karma, a "Foresight Kid"
       (Do those coffee cups in the foreground look familiar?)

                   













                                                          

                                                            Four "Foresight Kids" leading worship at their church
                                                            (with Sudip, a PFN child on drums)

               

















Service at Crossway Church in Kathmandu (note the chairs)