Dale & Bethsaba Nafziger – Nepal<\/p>\n
Dale & Bethsaba Nafziger – Nepal<\/strong> <\/p>\n Warmest greetings from “warming up” Nepal!\u00a0 In addition to gasoline, cooking gas, electricity and water shortages we are also beginning to contend with the dust and heat of the hot season.\u00a0 Your friendship, prayers have been and continue to very special to us.\u00a0 Thank you for the many ways in which you express that.\u00a0 Via this letter we hope to maintain “our end of the deal” by keeping you abreast of things happening here.\u00a0 Read and enjoy! <\/p>\n New Church Fellowship Started in February<\/strong> Another School Year Completed<\/strong> “Great Commission Companies”<\/strong> Family update…since we were last in touch<\/strong> <\/em> <\/p>\n Looking ahead…<\/strong> Are you interested in more-regular e-mail updates & photographs from us?<\/strong> Sincerely, for Sushma, Shova, Bethsaba & myself,
In February we began holding services in a second location way across town, right in the village where we live.\u00a0 At the moment we are meeting in a temporary facility but also constructing a simple building for fellowship in the long-term.\u00a0 It is amazing the number of local people who have showed up and expressed interest since we began.\u00a0 It seems that, symbolically, God was simply waiting for us to take the “leap of faith.”\u00a0 We maintain the long-term goal of doing much more than simply holding meetings (James 1:26)!\u00a0 Read more about this under the “Top of the World” heading below.<\/p>\n
March is the end of the school year here in Nepal.\u00a0 Despite many strike-days and other interruptions Sushma recently completed Class 2, and Shova completed Class 4.\u00a0 In late March we attended both of their “Display Days” (the equivalent of a “Spring Concert” in North America).\u00a0 All told we sat through well over 4 hours of dramas, skits, and what have you.\u00a0 It made me a bit more appreciative of what my parents must have endured for me in days gone by.\u00a0 Ha!\u00a0 We will continue to keep Sushma and Shova in Montessori during the coming year.\u00a0 Following that, however, we continue to pray for sound-wisdom, as we make decisions that will affect them for life.\u00a0 Nepal’s continuing political instability, frequent strike-days, etc. has necessitated that we prayerfully consider these issues.
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“Top of the World”<\/strong>
In addition to her many other responsibilities, one of the “hats” Bethsaba has worn here during the past number of years is that of managing a small business that we operate out of our home.\u00a0 In recent years “Top of the World” has “cranked out” frozen french fries, nuggets (Tater Tots) and, most recently, frozen pizzas.\u00a0 The object of this enterprise is not to make “wads of money” but, rather, to employ village women in a safe, clean working environment.\u00a0 Seeing the change that has taken place in some of the girls’ lives makes it all worthwhile!\u00a0 As our church’s outreach continues to grow in the village where we live, we continue to be challenged to “grow” the business – providing more jobs for Nepal’s many citizens who have none, particularly young women-at-risk.\u00a0 Please join us in praying as we seek God’s will in this matter.<\/p>\n
One area of life that I enjoy greatly in Nepal is that of participating in a monthly meeting of “Great Commission Companies.”\u00a0 This is a group of local business men and women, both Nepali and expatriate, who share a “broader vision” for the businesses that they own and operate here.\u00a0 Currently we are working chapter-by-chapter through a book entitled “Great Commission Companies: The Emerging Role of Business in Missions.”\u00a0 The business environment found in Nepal nowadays is, frankly, depressing – but, as the book states, “…Christ will regularly take us out of our comfort zone and force us into situations where we must depend on his strength alone.”<\/em>\u00a0 Quite a challenge!\u00a0 It is wonderful in this context, therefore, to meet and gain mutual support from a like-minded group of investors.<\/p>\n
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Sushma and Shova begin a new school year in late April.\u00a0 Wonder Products is planning to make pineapple juice for a second year during the upcoming monsoon (June-August).\u00a0 I am planning to go to South Africa in July to “pick up” a few more MBA courses under Eastern College, St. Davids, Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n
We try and send out comprehensive updates of this nature roughly every three months.\u00a0 If you are interested in hearing from us more often, however, please be aware that we send out a brief prayer request and photographs on a weekly basis via e-mail.\u00a0 Kindly be in touch if you are interested in receiving these.\u00a0 Also, please be assured that we keep all e-mail addresses confidential.
“Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.” <\/em><\/strong>
– Ecclesiastes 11:4 (NIV) <\/p>\n
Dale <\/p>\n