Two hours east of Pokhara, past roads that turn to mud in the rainy season, lies the homeland of the Dura people. Ringed by the Annapurna range, surrounded by mountains that display God’s majesty, yet many still know nothing of their Creator. Once Buddhist, the Dura’s faith has blended over generations with the Hinduism of neighbouring settlers.

It was into these hills that our partner Batsal travelled seventeen years ago. He ministered for several days, then left behind some gospel literature and his contact details before returning home. Humanly speaking, that might have been the end of it.

But a seed had been planted. Just recently, a 65–year–old woman from that region reached Batsal by satellite phone to tell him she had accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Batsal was astonished to learn that this woman had kept the distributed literature safe for nearly two decades. Only now had the life–giving message of the gospel contained in its pages been accepted by the Dura woman. The power of the Word of God had finally worked in this woman’s life!

A second encounter shows the same power at work on a shorter timescale! On a recent trip to a village 9,285 feet up in the mountains, Batsal met a Tibetan grandmother selling produce at the village gate in the cold morning air. He bought some spices and food from her. As he turned to leave, she said quietly, “Thank you, son.” She’d sold nothing at all on the day before, and his custom meant more than he knew.

Batsal stayed and talked with her, then offered her a gospel tract. She received it gladly, explaining that she would ask her grandchildren to read it to her.

Somewhere in the hills near Pokhara, a tract is being read aloud to a grandmother by her grandchildren. We don’t yet know what will come of it, but we know Who is at work. Sometimes the Word takes root within days. Sometimes it takes seventeen years.

Please pray that the seed sown that cold morning will be watered by the Holy Spirit, both in the elderly woman and in the children who read to her. Praise God for the salvation of this Dura woman as well. 

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