Dear JL, 

Christmas of 2011 is over now and God has given us another New Year.  But one thing did not go away from my mind:  "What am I giving to the Lord as gift who sent His only Son?"  Am I am giving or offering a worthy gift this Christmas?  

I have been trying to immerse  myself in the depth of what ought to be offered as a worthy gift to the Lord who indeed sent His only Son for us.  While pondering on the topic of this matter, I read an interesting things about the Wright Brothers,  "In December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their "flying machine" off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine: "We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas." Katherine hurried to the editor of the local newspaper and showed him the message. He glanced at it and said, "How nice. The boys will be home for Christmas." He totally missed the big news--man had flown 120 feet."  Here in the news, the editor missed a real achievement of the Wright Brothers -- that they had indeed flown 120 feet off the ground. 

Christmas has been celebrating around the world joyfully.  When Pope Julius I authorized December 25 to be celebrated as the birthday of Jesus in A.D. 353, who would have ever thought that it would become what it is today.  When Professor Charles Follen lit candles on the first Christmas tree in America in 1832, who would have ever thought that the decorations would become as elaborate as they are today.   But still what we are offering to the Lord as gift on each Christmas as God gives us years to live?  Are we really offering to the Lord a worthy gift when we celebrate Christmas joyfully with our family, relatives, with the church members and close friends each year? 

We sing a great worship song (translated into Nepali from English) written by Charles Carroll Luther who was a journalist and lay evangelist before being ordained as a Baptist minister in 1886. Though not a prolific composer, he authored this hymn in 1877 when he heard a Rev. A.G. Upham relate the story of a young man who was about to die. This young man had been a Christian for only one month. Though thankful to the Lord for granting him salvation during his final hour, he was nevertheless grieved that he'd had no opportunity to serve the Lord nor to share Him with others. He explained, “I am not afraid to die; Jesus saves me now. But must I go empty handed?” Upon hearing this account, Luther wrote the following hymn. 

"Must I go, and empty-handed?"
  Must I meet my Savior so?
Not one soul with which to greet Him:
    Must I empty-handed go?

I am not trying to discourage anyone who gives a great deal of Christmas gift sacrificially which represents their heart's love and sentiment to their loved ones.  But main thing is that the meaning of Christmas gift goes beyond what can be seen by physical eyes.  The gift of the Christmas is connected with eternity and our passion to meet Jesus.  How did you meet Savior this year on Christmas day?  How did your family  or Church met Jesus this year? 

I do not know much about in Western part of the world, but in Nepal, we can see Churches well decorated Santa Claus in white beard dress, with Christmas Tree, hanging little bells in the branch of mere plastic tree, saying 'Merry Christmas!'  Gates and walls of the hotels well decorated with great lights, every shops and supermarkets filled with decoration, big sales on heavy discount commercially to attract more customers!  We don't have to be necessarily Christian to have Christmas things in our shops, owner doesn't have to be necessarily Christians to decorate their hotels, shops and supermarkets.  Moreover, we don't have to be necessarily Christians to say 'Merry Christmas,' but how about us who claims to be the followers of Jesus? 

In keeping with what I have written about Christmas giving, I would like to share the following pictures that shows what God has done in us and through us in the past 12 months of time through our church ministry in Nepal.  

Typical rural church buildings constructed by the efforts of the local believers by using the materials locally available.  They are their worship place where they come together to worship the Lord who liberated them from the bondage of their sins.  People in the following pictures represents the most untouchable Dalit community in Nepal.  Racially excluded, economically exploited, educationally ignorant, and religiously excommunicated!  When we preached the good news to them, many have believed in Christ and they deeply felt that they have been not only liberated spiritually but set free from the bondage of racism built on social caste system from ages and ages.  The following pictures were taken one from the central Nepal and the other one from west Nepal.  Both of these Churches have been planted through the mission effort of our church in 2011.

The pictures below represent our ongoing mission effort in rural areas.  The man who can be seen in the picture is a full-time apostolic pastor our church who looks after 14 of our branch churches in eastern part of Nepal.  After sharing the good news or gospel of Jesus Christ, pastor is helping the person to accept Christ as their person savior.  It's a great joy to see more and more new souls coming into the kingdom of God through our ministry each day.  We will be able to see these people while they live in the world physically, and will see them in heaven too one day. 

Below in the pictures you can see a man burning his family God called (Kuldevata).  He can be seen above accepting Christ as his personal Savior, but below in the pictures he can seen burning his family god which has been worshipped by his father and forefathers for ages and ages.  He is burning the idol family god below.  Power of God prevails when we pray and transformation of hearts takes place.  This is what is taking place here in the pictures which can be seen here.  These are the kind of gift God expects from each of children and Churches today. "Must I go, and empty handed?"  God is destroying the strongholds of devil each day and causing people to turn to Him.  What a great story that we have here to share what the Lord has been doing in our part of the world through our Church ministry?  To God be the glory for each and everything that is taking place.  

Below in the pictures you can see, some pictures of baptismal process.  God has allowed us to baptize hundreds and thousands of people in the year 2011 and joyfully we thanked the Lord joyfully as we celebrated Christmas of 2011.  What a gift that we can bring to Him the very soul that He has created to worship him and to honor Him alone.  

Below in the pictures you can see men and women dancing.  This has taken place as they have gotten an opportunity to celebrate Christmas for the first time.  Thanking God for all that He has done to liberate them from the bondage and power of darkness and making them so special giving them power to become children of God.  These are some live story that God has graced us to see as His power demonstrated practically.  Praise God for His great work!

These are the kind of gifts that God has allowed us to bring to Him this year as we celebrated Christmas so joyfully. 

JL, I do not know what would be your opinion after reading this update, but one thing I am sure that you will at least join us to praise and give thanks to the Lord for this many souls that He graced us through the ministry that He has entrusted to us.  Pray for us and for our team members so that we can be more effective and efficient in what we have been doing.  Thank you.