After my last trip to India, I felt that God is asking me to visit Nepal and work among the children and youths there. So I was praying for that and God opened me a door as a answering to my prayer. Sis. Sudha from Nepal invited me to visit them and encourage the people in her church. So I took the first step and prepared my mission trip to Nepal.
07 th of January 2009
This afternoon I arrived to Kathmandu, Nepal International airport and my friend sis. Sundha and her daughter Anugra came to pick me from there. So first day I was staying at one Hotel in Kathmandu and from second day I went to stay with her family. I didn't see them from 2007 and I was so happy to see them again after some time.
10 th January 2009
My first program was preaching at Greater Grace church in Kathmandu. It was Saturday and I didn't know that Saturday is a public holiday in Nepal. It's an evangelical church and a beautiful church. I preached about Isaiah's calling based on Isaiah 6 : 8 and it touched many people. I encouraged them to spread the gospel all around the Nepal. Pastor and all the believers were touched by the message and they invited me to come share the messes at another branch church of them.
So same day evening I went to that church and preached about the Holy Spirit. It really touched them. I encouraged them to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and then we can obey to God's commands as how people of Israel did. Thank God for this church and thank God for using me there.
11 th of January 2009
This church organized a mission trip to China border and they have invited me to come with them too. I was so happy about that and early in the morning we prepared for that. Sis. Anugra and Esther also joined with me. It was 6 hours driving by bus through narrow roads. We had a baptism service also on the way. 6 new believers had water baptism and it was wonderful.
At the afternoon we arrived to China border and we were there till to evening. I saw that how people of Nepal suffering with poverty and especially how children suffering there. And also I noticed that how Nepal soldiers treating to women's and children there. It was so bad and we should pray for the children of Nepal. So we had a wonderful time there and at late night came back to our homes. Thank God for taking me to there and helping us to have a good time there.
12 th January 2009
Today we went to Greater Grace Bible College because they have invited me to do a workshop with them. We had 15 Bible college students and I shared with them about “12 Keys to transform your ministry” workshop. These students came from different rural areas and they said this workshop helped them lot. And also they didn't have any idea about the children's ministry and I was able to talk with them and encouraged them to start Sunday schools in their churches. Thank God for the opportunity you have given me.
13 th January 2009
Today evening I moved to YWAM, King's Kids base in Baluwater, Kathmandu. Actually I had to move there because we had a water problem and it was so bad. In Kathmandu we had 18 hours power cut and because of that we had a water problem too. But in Baluwater, they didn't have any water problem and also they had only four hours power cut.
King's Kids base located in a beautiful place and King's Kids leaders Bro. Noel and Sis. Shashi are really wonderful people. Sis. Sudha and Anugra took me to there and at evening they went back to their home in Jawlakel, Kathmandu. At King's kids I met Bro, Annad who was about to start his DTS and he helped me lot there. Noel and Sashi shared with me lot of stories of what they are doing in Nepal and I was impressed with what they said. They are doing a great ministry among the street children and also running PCYM School there.
14 th January 2009
Today I went to visit YWAM base in Kathmandu with Bro. Noel. Every Wednesdays they are having a prayer meeting and they asked me to share about children's ministry there. It was a great opportunity for me to share about importance of children's ministry. I had 15 minutes for that and many came back to me after the meeting and told me that it really encouraged them. One Brazilian guy came to me and said it really touched him to see children in a different way. Thank God for giving me that opportunity and helping me to share about children. I had a really good fellowship time with YWAM friends and at the evening came back to King's Kids base.
15 th January 2009
Today afternoon Noel took me to a slum area in Kathmandu and we did a children's program there. We started the program with some songs and then children started to come and join with us. I did some games with the children and Noel did some action songs with them. After that I shared the Gospel with children using the salvation bag and after that I was praying for them. Many children raised their hands to accept Jesus as their Best friend and I prayed with them too. Children really enjoyed the time and the best thing was many children opened their hearts to Jesus.
We had some fellowship with a local pastor their and with King's Kids they are planning to start a children's church there. Noel has a big dream for that and please keeps it in your prayers.
Thank God for the time I had with the children and thank God for giving me a time to share the gospel with them.
16 th January 2009
Today I went to visit one girl with Sashi. This girl grew up in streets and then Sashi met her. Sashi noticed that the danger in streets and she took her to their home. After sometime Sashi sent her to a children's home and we went to visit her there. Many children were there and most came from streets. We spent some time with this girl and after that we came back to King' Kids base. On the way home shashi told me many stories about the children in streets and they are in a big danger. She told me about one girl who 9 years old and doing as a child prostitute. It was so bad and I was trying to image that how much God crying about these children. So please keep these children in your prayers and they really need your prayers.
17 th January 2009
Today morning I went to Bro. Noel's church with their family. It's a beautiful church. We did a program with Sunday school children there. We had around 25 kids and Noel started the program with some action songs. Then I did some games and after that I shared a story about the boy who gave his lunch to Jesus. I encouraged children to give their talents and abilities to Jesus and told them that Jesus can multiply those gifts to be blessings to many people. I prayed for the children who said they want to give their gifts to Jesus and it was wonderful.
Same day evening I came back to Greater Grace church that they have organized a youth program for me. I did some group games with them and shared about the gifts we have and encouraged them to identify it and use to serve God and serve people. We had more than 50 youths and they really encouraged by the workshop.
18 th – 20 th January 2009
These few days I spent with King's Kids family and helped bro. Noel to develop their website and taught him to add some new tools to it. We had a great fellowship there and shared all our experiences in children's ministry and our passion for children's ministry. They have invited me to visit them again and I told them that I'll be coming back on next October for the BOO camp.
20 th – 24 th January 2009
YWAM in Kathmandu they are running their own guest house and I spent my last few days there. During these few days I was able to visit some people and pray for some people. Specially I was able to spent some time with Sis. Sudha's family and pray for them. I encouraged them through Isaiah 60: 1-4 and prayed for each other. Really thanking God for this wonderful family and the heart they have to serve God.
24 th Morning I said good bye to all my friends in Nepal and came back to Delhi, India.
24 th evening I arrived to Delhi and I took a bus to Chandigarh. It was 6 hours driving by bus and around 1.30 am 25 th morning I came to YWAM base in Chandigarh. I was so happy to see all my friends in Chandigarh.
25 th January 2009
This morning I was so tired because I arrived there early morning and didn't have good sleep. And also weather was very cold there. YWAM running a church in Mohali and they have invited me to share the message there. It's small church but people are wonderful. We had around 60 people and I shared with them about being sensitive to the Holy Spirit. I took people of Israel as a example for that and encouraged people to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. After the sermon we had a wonderful ministry time and many people touched by the Holy Spirit. I was so happy because I knew that I am nothing but because God's grace he's using people like me for his kingdom.
25 th January-26 th January 2009
YWAM in Chandigarh organized a youth program in these two days. Last year also we had the same program and I was so exciting to see my friends in the youth group. We had more than 40 youths and I started the program with some games. They really enjoyed the games. After that we had a great worship time. Bro. Athine led the worship and we really felt God's presence there.
Then I shared my message based on Isaiah 6: 1-8. I talked four points from this chapter two points each day. The first day I was challenging these youths to have God almighty as their only king that can control their life. They had many things that controlling their lives and this was a great opportunity for them to think about it. Then I talked about the Holiness and it really touched them.
Second day also we started with some games and after that Bro. Athine led the worship. I knew that God is going to a brand new thing there and I was preparing for that. After the worship time I continued the message from Isaiah 6:1-8. I talked about the transformation happened in Isaiah's life. Even he's from a royal family he accepted that he's a sinner. Then God cleansed him and asked him that “ Whom shall I send?” This time without any doubt Isaiah said “HERE AM I, SEND ME”. This was the transformation happened in Isaiah's life and I encouraged these young people also to be like Isaiah. Then we had a wonderful time in ministry and God touched many youths and changed their lives. I was so happy because this is what I wanted to see there.
Thank God for everything and thank God for using me there.
This is an email I have received from one of the brothers who attended for this program.
Hi.. asela bro..
This is Suraj, I want to give you thanks first & thanks for nice work in among us (youths).. and I real feel the god presence at that time. Today is my commitment renewed.. and iI realy feel, first we need to be right in front god.. and thanks for example from isaiah chapter.. and thanks for whatever you have done.. thanks for your blessings & prayer..
i will pray for you bro & i remember you in my prayers..
thanks...
see you next time..
god bless you...
From 26 th – 30 th January I spent time in Chandigarh with YWAM family and was able to visit some families too. On 30 th Morning I said good bye to my friends in Chandigarh and arrived to Delhi Airport at the evening after 6 hours bus ride. From Delhi – Chennai I took a flight and that day night I spent in Chennai. Bro. Daniel and Moses came to pick me from the airport and next day morning they came to airport with me too. They helped me lot in Chennai and really want to thank them too.
On 31 st of January I said good bye to India and came back to Sri lanka after finishing a very successful mission trip. Really thanking God for bringing me safely back to my home and giving me a wonderful experience in Nepal and in India.
Especially I want to thank Pas. David Goodwin and Sis. Shanthi for releasing me from Kidsreach for this mission trip.
Everybody in Kidsreach, Pas. Asanka and everybody in Vineyard church, all my friends, I want to thank you for praying for me and helping me with this trip.
Sis. Sudha, Anugra, Esther and Marcus, Really thanking you for inviting me to Nepal, caring me there and helping me there.
Pastor at Greater Grace church, thanking you for opening doors at your church for me and helping me there.
Bro, Noel, Shashi, Dabu & Wiju, Really thanking you all for caring me, using me in your ministry and helping me with everything.
Sis. Anmol & YWAM staff in Chandigarh, Thanking you guys for always opening doors in your ministry for me.
Thank you very much for everybody who prayed for me and encouraged me.
Once again thank you very much and please continue to pray for me.
Blessings,
Asela Jayarathne
From Sri lanka
You can see more pictures of my Mission Trip to Nepal 2009 by clikcing this link. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=76269&id=525041330&l=b85fa
You can see more pictures of my Mission trip to India 2009 by clicking this link http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=76274&id=525041330&l=c7e60