Nothing's Mature at the Time it is Born

It has been a long time since I've written more of my story. So much has happened that draws my heart back to Nepal. It was a time of seed planting, watering, and not seeing anything mature.

Yet in the last two months something amazing has happened. Through Facebook, many of Kissan's Tharu children and grandchildren have found us! We've been having daily contact with them and even chatting and  talking on the phone ... in Tharu. We have found they all survived the earthquake, but are suffering from the Nepal-India border sanctions. BUT several are following Jesus. There is even a church in our village. So hard to imagine. All we left with Kissan was the book of Mark and half of Genesis. Then Kissan's letter came, soon after we settled in California, telling us how he had decided he, too, would follow Jesus.

This story goes on in future blogs, but for now, another serendipity: I found a whole batch of pictures and slides from our time in Nepal ... and now we have received some recent ones that our Tharu friends have sent. So, before moving on to the "rest of the story," here are some pics and memories of those years planting and watering and seeing nothing mature.

First, a series of pictures Jonathan drew for one of his kindergarten assignments. The kids were asked (Thank you, Heather Wells!) to draw where they lived in their villages and what it was like. I love these pics! The next blog will be the recently discovered photos with captions. Enjoy!

A Broken Heart, A Broken Summer: Waiting for Bill from Kathmandu to Oklahoma

From event-filled England we traveled across the ocean to Norman, Oklahoma on July 27th, 1976, arriving on the 28th. We were met by Bill’s parents who were there at SIL helping process new candidates (Bill's Dad, Otis, was the candidate secretary for Wycliffe at that time). His mom was great with the kids and we were surrounded by loving Wycliffe people. We stayed in the dorms there for the next couple weeks, til they closed down. I knew that many were praying for us. Still I felt pretty exposed and vulnerable during those weeks, and alone without Bill, but grateful for praying people, and always aware of His faithfulness.

Note: We had no contact with Bill for over three and a half weeks from the time we left Nepal, until we got a call about his imminent arrival. No letters, calls, or any form of communication. Remember, this was in the Dark Ages before the Internet, so no Skype or Facebook or email; and international calls were not only iffy but the expense was prohibitive.

July 29 from Norman, Oklahoma: “Hurting so bad this morning. My thots are in tears. I don’t understand the tears, or much of anything. I do KNOW a deep sure peace in my heart, directly from Him who keeps my heart and mind: all mixed with pain, burdens and love. In numbness, Lord, I come to you for blessing and encouragement and whatever….What a privilege to be numb with grief, yet abounding with joy.

Here the Lord said to me: “My words are sweet, child, as honeycomb. Eat them and live. They will be your nourishment. They will be your source of strength and growth and youth. Dwell in Me as I dwell in you and I will make our hearts rejoice together: sorrow turned to joy. I know your pain. I’ve known pain so great I sweat drops of blood—the pain of separation. Yes, child, I know it hurts. Take heart that it’s part of MY pruning and prelude to full resurrection, joy unbounded and oneness with the Father to do His will."

July 30: “So tired. Dreaming of being in the village….a large river coming….waves are hitting now, and drenching me, but not pulling down. Cover me, Lord.”

August 1: “A good talk with Dow, open sharing of what happened and the grief of heart. The Friday night meeting was good. Dow prayed for release and I found myself uncontrollably sobbing in front of everyone, but also found release and healing and a new beginning. It’s His work and I will trust Him…..Saturday Dad and mom left. They are simply beautiful people.”

August 4: Ken Pike spoke in chapel about “the people from Nepal who are hurting” – to believe His creativity and plan in this all—a new beginning—not just a good ending. While he was talking the Lord showed me more of His pain in Gethsemane—knowing He was leaving His disciples and leaving them without power. He was just beginning to see His love working out in them—and then they are cut off. And so it is with our life. I can see it for the Tharus. It naturally seems we should stay. But it is God working and He always brings life from death.

August 6: I took Jon and Jenny to a park yesterday morning. Jon fell from a slide and lost his breath and turned white and then cried and cried. I again committed him to the Lord and he was fine. We’re not avoiding accidents but god is healing us all up. Tis mercy all, immense and free.

But I’m missing Bill so much—longing for the hour of his return. Activities at SIL have slowed down—everything but Jon and Jenny, these 2 precious gifts. We all need Daddy, our head in Christ.

August 9: Still no Bill, but it’s good to be here in Jim and Penny’s lovely home. Jon and Jenny seem more settled here than in the dorms. I woke up praying this morning, giving Him the concern of my heart for Bill. Really thought he’d be here by now.
The kids have settled down here. They’ve really enjoyed being on this “farm” with goats, chickens, rabbits, dogs, cats, and this morning had a horse ride and played with a calf. Great Fun!

The church in Norman gave us $300—a real surprise and gift of love. Overwhelming—all their love has been, His lovely body. He is glorified there.

August 12: Still no Bill or letter and some wild dreams. Jenny dreamed that she and daddy were in 2 rocket ships and Daddy’s crashed (and he died) and hers didn’t. Ethan did this picture and said there was a meteor crashing into Daddy's rocket. J is for Jenny's and D is for Daddy's rocket.

I dreamed that Bill and Dave Watters were fighting deadly snakes. Jon dreamed he and I were being captured by pirates. I think the enemy’s trying to discourage in so many ways.

I keep needing to re-commit my thots, especially when I wake in the middle of the night and start churning the possibilities of Bill’s whereabouts. It’s like I’m not married anymore. But I just trust the Lord to work His work in us at this time. I have a tremendous burden in praying for all those still there in Nepal working. His work is building the kingdom. The Lord said, “All this is good preparation for what is to come. If you can’t trust Me now, you won’t be able to later. Relax and put your hand in Mine and I will act.”

August 16: That day a phone call and the next day Bill arrived! We’re all rejoicing to be together again. The airlines lost his suitcase, but the rest of his trip was OK. We’ve just been relaxing, eating, sleeping, reading, and being thankful. God is so good, hallelujah.

[From an August 14 letter to Bill’s parents, from me] We expect to arrive in California around the 30th and would like to stay with you a day or two while we try to find a house to rent-- a 2 bedroom house in Santa Ana. Jon’s been accepted for 1st grade at Calvary’s church school and Bill wants to settle in the area for sure.

[Later that day from Bill] Hi ! My turn. It’s good to be back and will be even nicer to see you. Just to clarify the housing situation: what we’re looking for is a 2 bedroom house with a yard. But mainly right now we want to know what might be available. We’d like a place with a bit of a yard for the kids’ sake. We’re planning to arrive in Santa Ana on about the 30th or 31st depending on exact schedule and carrier. Will let you know more definitely later. Well, we’re looking forward very much to seeing you all. Love, Bill & Dotty.

At last we were all together in one place….on our way to California and then what? Bill Gothard talks about Death To A Vision. This certainly was our first one. Our whole world was just turned upside down and we didn’t know what it would look like when it turned right side up, just that He would be there, holding us, and keeping us in the center of His love-care and provision.

Below is a copy of our letter to friends and supporters after this eventful change in our lives.

 

The concluding picture is six year old Joshua's drawing of Bill returning on the plane and us welcoming him with open arms. He said my feet aren't touching the ground because I was jumping up and down I was so excited to see him!

6 Eventful Days: Kathmandu to Delhi to Oxford, England

The following was written from Oxford, England, while staying in the home of Ron and Sue Trudinger. Yes, this all really happened. I marvel at God’s faithfulness to each of us. You also may want to know that health care was free for us in England, so all that you are about to read cost us nothing ... except time for us and dear Sue Trudinger ... and gas to the hospitals.

July 23, 1976: It seems like a month since we left Nepal a few days ago. It was a good departure (July 20, 1976). I kept the tears til I got in the inspection booth—numb with pain by the time we boarded the plane. Nancy (Watters) too. We were silent companions, sharing together in His suffering, death and resurrection.

New Delhi was hot and the Diplomat hotel really took us and tried to way overcharge us. It was a bad night’s sleep too as I was afraid of missing the alarm and the plane.

We had good plane trips all the way, but a thorough investigation by passport and customs officials. I got singled out and they went through our suitcases. Finally it hit me and I asked with unbelief, “Are you looking for narcotics?” Indeed they were. It really kind of shook me when they said yes, especially after the long flight. I was so glad to see Sue waiting for us. She took us home and we all went to bed early.

I woke up at 3 a.m. and tried to find the bathroom but I missed the hall, tried to walk the stairway and fell and crashed into the opposite window ledge, crushing my rib cage. I felt sure they were broken. So much pain. I spent the next day at the hospital with X-rays and all they found was severe bruising (later I learned they were cracked, not broken). I can’t move too well, but feel healing is progressing too fast to be human. 

Then this morning Jon was on one of their scooters and ran into their parked car, smashing into the top layer of teeth. When I got home at 4, his whole face was grossly swollen and already black and blue. So back to the hospital we went for X-rays and doctors and today a dental surgeon who says the teeth will soon turn black and fall out and the permanent teeth will probably be damaged and need later care (all of this was true later in Jonathan’s life). Nothing else can be done at this point. It hurts so to see him looking like he does and makes me a more tender parent anyway. Lord, for your healing I ask.

It seems like we almost lost our covering when we left Bill in Nepal. But we haven’t lost Jesus and I am casting my cares on Him. Help me, Lord. Ps. 93.

July 26: We’re a complete family. Jenny fell on a window ledge and banged her forehead now with a large black and blue lump. Jon came down with bronchitis and I’ve got him on penicillin tablets (I brought extra meds we had left over in Nepal). I couldn’t bring myself to ask Sue to take us to a doctor again. Jon is still black and blue, but the swelling is down. My chest still hurts, but is definitely on the mend.

We had good visits from both Molly Heath and dear friend Julie. (Both these ladies spent time with us in the village.) Blessed times of fellowship. We also had a good afternoon visit with Dr. Martin Gray, out walking in the English countryside, really lovely.

The service yesterday at church broke me down to tears—so many mixed emotions, such a heavy hurting burden and the Lord spoke over the confusion from Jacob’s life and the wrestling and broken ribs instead of thigh and the promise to us and me from Genesis 28:14-15. The Lord’s goodness is all over and yet I am so very tired.

This promise in Genesis 28:14-15 God has fulfilled through several visits back to Nepal, and by surrounding us with Nepali friends wherever we have lived: Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.

So many memories flooded our hearts and minds in the days following our departure, as in the pictures below. The drawing in the middle is of a Tharu woman. How grateful I am for how Father has cared for us and blessed us in so many ways at so many times.

Happenings in October, 1974: Landslides and Cow Attacks

Just found this older stuff. The following two things were posted in Newswalla, the monthly update on SIL workers in Nepal. The first is Roger Harrison's report of Bill's exciting trip.

LEAL - Bill Leal and Roger Harrison set out for Bill's village to check things out and take Leal's barrels and generator out. It was Bill's first visit since furlough. Roger gave this report:

"Planes aren't the only things that cancel out. We had bus tickets and the bus cancelled out. We managed to get a ride on one bus and it was terrible - I was sick after 2 hours out. It was raining on the way and when we got within 5 kilometers of Hetauda (bus changing town), we found trucks, etc. backed up and were told that the road was washed out further up.

"We walked down to see. No traffic had been going west and there was no chance of going on, so we stored the barrels and generator and slept the night on a cement floor.

"Next day we set off to walk and catch the bus going back to Kathmandu. After walking about 5 kilometers a big rainstorm came so we stopped at a teashop. A little later a VW went past. We knew it couldn't get through and hoped for a ride back with it. When it return it had no petrol to go on. There were 5 adults and 2 kids in it. Then later another carload came, so we had "wall to wall" people that night.

"Next day we covered about 16 miles, through rain, and that night slept on a tiny bench. Altogether we walked a total of 65 kilometers and there were 75 landslides on the Rajpath. We were covered with mud and leeches from going across the ride paddies. I developed knee troouble, which cleared up again. Then Bill had hip grouble. We were thankful to finally catch a landrover for the last 10 kilometers back to Kathmandu. When we arrived we were pretty shot and could hardly walk (which accounts for the slippers Bill had to wear on his return, to rest his blistered feet).

I really have a better appreciation of the airplane now."Roger was one of our pilots so that meant a lot! I remember when Bill go home that I picked numerous leeches off his legs. I was just glad to have him safely home. Continuing Newswalla:

LITERACY

"A special Literacy Seminar was held at T. U . on October 7. Dotty Leal spoke about the latest trends in literacy as taught to her at the recent Literacy Courses she attended in the States. She also explained the uses of Experience Charts and Story Charts in pre-literacy, and taught a sample class using one of these."
 

	I live in Kathmandu.
	Cows live in Kathmandu.
	Sometimes cows hit me.
	I live in Kathmandu anyway.

The "funny" part of this story is that I really had recently been the target for one of the horned cows that freely wandered the streets of Nepal's streets (remember, cows are sacred there). We were walking on one side of the street and the cow on the other. Then, all of a sudden, the cow just walked across the street and hit me in my left thigh with one of his horns. It hurt horribly, but Bill got me home. I ended up with a black blue spot around the thigh that was at least 6 inches round and ugly for months.

Expelled From Nepal, "Letting Goods and Kindred Go" -- Nomads Again

The memory is still tender, so first I will just give you my journal entries of our last days in Nepal. (In parentheses I'll explain a few things you wouldn't know.) Then in a separate blog I'll put the articles published about this happening, including being accused of being CIA agents.

6-3-76: It was yesterday that Dick told us as a group that visas are not being renewed and that the government plans to terminate our SIL work in Nepal. Dick and David [SIL director and administrator respectively for our Nepal branch of about 100 workers in close to 30 language groups] see the Vice-Chancellor today at 12 while we fast and pray. We were prepared that the plane would be refused, but not everything. Our visas all expire on August 28 -- 3 months to end a life-time work. Last night we gathered for prayer at Hugoniot's. My heart was low as we prayed--until the Lord showed me a picture of Him with us all, Tharus too, gathered around Him in worship. He will do it, without us, or with, but HE will do it.

2:30 p.m.: I didn't sleep much last night and was was up early about 4-5 a.m. John 16:20: "Your sorrow shall be turned to joy." The word was given: 3 months maximum, out by the end of August. No appeals. It's unreal. Am really in a state of shock, and exhaustion. We prayed and sang from 11 to 2, knowing God's plans are far larger than ours. So many thoughts swimming in my head. Dick cried as we prayed for him. Bill and I had just heard a message (by Bob Mumford) about running to meet the bulldozer. God's will is goodness.

Christian activity, and for our Christian witness, we are called to suffer for His Name....leaving my lovely Nepali and Tharu brothers and sisters here.

6-4-76: June 2, Daily Light from Exodus 12:11: "Up! Be gone! This is no more your land and home. This world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven." Somehow it seems like years since yesterday. It was just yesterday that Bill shared Christ with Damda, and He received Him. Bill has also shared Him with our dear malidai (faithful gardener, shopper, and general handyman for five years) and with our landlord this morning.

At long last the restraints are lifted and we can shout His praise. (We were not allowed to share our faith with anyone and "no proselytizing." That was part of the agreement SIL had. We knew that God's Word would be enough without our spoken words). This morning I went over and helped EBE (another mission organization) pack up their book exhibition as they too were told to leave. Mr. Sharma told us that the country is in a crisis now.

6-6-76: Thank you, Lord, for everything. Yesterday morning we had a meeting at TU (Tribuhuvan University, with whom we had the agreement to study and analyze the languages of Nepal) to discuss close-up details. When they announced no on could return to their village, my heart broke. I got out of the room before the tears spilled. My emotions have caught up with the reality, but not the truth of His control. It will come. He is Lord of lords and King of kings.

We had a good meeting last night at Shepherd's. Today Bill took Damda to Ganeshwar, (the Nepali church), where he took communion, after a warning and exhortation from Bill. He fully considers himself a Christian. May God work it though and through.

I still haven't been able to write letters. Tears are always close to the surface. Isaiah 55 has been a lovely promise. At tonight's meeting it's Bill's turn to speak. What a time! He will speak on forgiveness.

Such a turmoil in selling all our stuff. Just doesn't seem real or possible. Wish we could leave it all somehow. It's a strange feeling. I don't feel we've got as much time as it seems.

6-13-76: What a week. But for His goodness and faithfulness--impossible. We've sold nearly everything, and then had 500 rupees stolen, plus some of our stuff.

Nepali people of course want to argue and bargain till I've burst into tears. They don't believe in fixed prices. It's demoralizing to live in an empty house. Jon and Jenny have been better.

Bill and I had a good exit interview with Dick, though plans keep changing. First I was to go to the Philippines and wait one month for Bill. Now I'll fly with Nancy (Watters) and Sandy (Gordon) to London with our 8 kids and we will hopefully stay with friends Ron and Sue Trudinger a bit.

Then we'll fly on to Oklahoma to be with Bill's folks, and our prayer group there with Dow and Lois. Maybe we'll wait for Bill there. We move out to TU in 2 weeks. Bill will stay there and hopefully Kissan will come too. They're checking through Mark now. John 14-21 has been my reading and feasting this week--so much of His death and life in this all, and then Jesus' question: "Lovest thou me more than these?" More tears.

6-21-76: For the next few weeks I'm being trained to take Joan's place burning plates for our Ricoh offset press. (We had set up an around the clock printing of Scripture as it was being finished.) Am thankful to have this part in the work. Such good lessons on possessions and friendship and LOVE.

6-30: Thoroughly enjoying doing the Ricoh press. Feel so privileged to be a part of what's going on, so exciting to know He's going to bless abundantly His Word as it goes forth. So tired--hours long--to 10 every evening. Bill finished checking Mark today. Yet there are moments of real encouragement, knowing people are praying. The joy of promise outweighs all sorrow.

7-5-76: Such long days, but not long enough. Nights to midnight now. Good night out with Dick and Edie, and Dave and Nancy last Friday. Everyone is working hard and are tired. Jon's been uptight, feeling our tiredness. Forgive me, Lord, and heal us all.

7-14: Time is going so quickly. Days continue long, and yet the thrill of being part of god's place in this just keeps increasing in my heart. I praise Him for this encouragement. I'm now training Maria and Marlena (single women because all the women with kids were to leave first--men and single women stayed til the end) to take my Ricoh job when we leave. Everyone is obviously under pressure these days and everyone is obviously being kept and upheld by the power of God. It's exciting and a joyful thing to behold.

The book of Mark is almost photo-ready and we hope to see it off the press by the end of the week, and I hope to take one with us when we go. The kids have been so good lately too. I took Jon to see the Biola King's Players two nights ago and it left him really thinking.

7-17: Tharu Mark is done!!!!! Praise God. Soon His Word will sound to every village. God is faithful. Things are getting busier and busier. My last night was good and I felt encouraged to believe Him for His care on this trip--a removal of fear.

Many are so tired and wearing down and on edge (now many working round the clock to print translations). But it's Glory to love each other in spite of these things, and see His blessing in each other's lives. As Roma, a dear friend said, "It's been worth 15 years with Wycliffe to be here this last month." She echoes the cry of my heart too.

The next blog entry will be July 23, from England. I would not see Bill again until the middle of next month. This I didn't know since communication was not instant like these days. Even getting a phone connection out of the country was often impossible. Letters were the only way we communicated and those often took three weeks.

This quote by Bilbo Baggins, in The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, expresses my heart then and all the years to come, here on earth, and beyond: "The greatest adventure is what lies ahead." 

Song: Matt Redman, "It is Well with My Soul" -- I love the new verses he has written in. Weeping may come for a night, but joy comes in the morning: It Is Well with My Soul

This poem by Amy Carmichael, in Roses from Briers, expresses my heart (with most of the thee and thou words changed to you):

You have not THAT, My child, but you have ME;
And am not I alone enough for thee?
I know it all, know how your heart was set
Upon this joy which is not given yet.

I know it all: but from your brier shall blow
a rose for others. If it were not so
I would have told you. Come, then, say to me:
My Lord, my Love, I am content with Thee.

Here is the last photo that I have of our SIL/Wycliffe group taken in 1975. We represented many different countries. Bill and I are in the first two rows, second from the left end, surrounded by friends who served, suffered, and loved with us.

Expelled from Nepal: Publications, Implications, Tribulations, and Reflections

 

There were many important documents regarding our abrupt departure from Nepal. Above, there's an article I wrote that was published in Wycliffe’s monthly magazine, In Other Words in May,1977, titled His Word-Our Plan of Action. It is similar to my journal entries, but includes more reflections and information. It tells how everyone helped and how children as young as “Jonathan helped fold pages of the books of Scripture as they came off the newly-arrived press.”

Then, in contrast are the newspaper publications below. (1) All the major Indian newspapers carried the story, some on the front page, and there was international coverage as well. But Nepal was silent. As you will read below, we were accused of being CIA agents (2) (of course no one checked our missionary bank accounts). Later we received a letter from the Vice Chancellor apologizing, below (3), and saying we had nothing to do with the CIA. The real accusations, which we denied, were: “proselytizing, preaching, and engaging in anti-government activities.”

Later, we received a letter of thanks (4) for our contribution to Nepal from the office of the His Majesty the King, also below.

Another important document was the lengthy three-month phase-out report describing what happened. It also lists what Scripture had been completed and printed for each language group before leaving in August. Chitwan Tharu was listed as:

Genesis 1:1-25:11 300 copies 9% of New Testament
Mark 300 copies 8.1% of the NT

Other language teams who had been there several years longer than us had much more, up to 60% of the New Testament. And as you will later learn, since then, many translations have been completed and distributed to groups of thriving churches and followers of Jesus.

The product of those three months were so many portions of Scripture in so many different languages. Here are a couple pages of the final ready to print Gospel of Mark in Tharu that Bill finished checking before leaving. This the end of chapter 14 and beginning of 15.

So why didn’t we fight the decision more? We wanted to leave graciously. It was also made very clear that the decision was non-negotiable. We tried to get a one year closing date instead of three months, but three months was the maximum they would give. And officials and members of the royal family were too busy to see Dick or David. Most Nepali people and other people serving in Nepal were shocked at what was happening and offered all kinds of help, which was greatly needed and appreciated.

As members, many of us realized we would face separation from one another. For Bill and I it was nearly a month. For others who left even earlier, it was two months. It was difficult for all of us in too many ways to mention. Those who were abroad on furlough when the announcement came, were asked not to return. Wrapping things up with grace and peace was paramount. And there was a deep confidence in the sovereignty of God to complete the work He began.

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(1) Newspaper coverage outside the country:

(2) CIA Involvement

(3) Letter from the Vice-Chancellor

(4) Letter from the King, signed by his private secretary

Our Photo Op in the Yeti, RNAC's In-flight Magazine: A "Typical" Family Vacation in Pokhara Followed by Almost Losing Bill

We have another funny story about how we got published in the Yeti Flight Tales, the in-flight magazine that was in the back of every seat on all RNAC's planes. But first let me tell you about our first few days in Pokhara, a beautiful town on a lake where you can see the Annapurna range with Fishtail, or Machapuchari, as it is called in Nepal. Fishtail is on the left in this photo -- sticking straight up in the air. But the whole Annapurna range is spectacular to view.

From my journal:

5 days in Pokhara--not exactly a vacation, but definitely interesting. We played musical hotels. We spent the first night at Crystel--expensive and depressing. Then we moved to Fewa the next night. It was on the lake. Lovely lake, dirty hotel. Finally Bill took us to Shining Hospital, another mission outpost, who graciously took us in for a few nights. We also were able to arrange for more medical supplies for some of the other SIL / Wycliffe teams working in other people groups. 

The next day we took a canoe trip on the lake and had a picnic lunch. We went on the lake the next day too. Then we moved to the Annapurna hotel, the best of the lot, and promply got asked to be the subjects for a magazine article- the RNAC in-flight magazine about a "typical" family vacation in Pokhara. Dozens of photos shot. We never realized it would take the whole day traveling from place to place. Jon and Jenny weren't too excited about this, but they got to ride a donkey, catch a pretend fish, eat a little food from the picnic lunch."

Below are the pictures the RNAC couple took of us and used in the magazine, and then the article. Jon became "John" in the story and the "we" was not written by us! Again, we experienced editorial prerogatives. Hope you enjoy the photos! The cover of the mag is at the end of this blog.

The next day, after the RNAC day photo-op, Jenny got dangerously ill with a high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and bad tummy cramps. We took her to Shining hospital and the doctor saw her, took a specimen and said she had amoebic dysentary, so she's back on Flagyl. [Amoebic dysentery was something we all 4 dealt without throughout out stay in Nepal.]

On our trip back to Kathmandu we took 3 doctors and a mechanic from Shining hospital. It was great to get to know some colleagues from other mission posts. What a great time we had--before we came back to the news that our aviation program may end. It was a call  to prayer. *** are you leaving this hanging? what happened next? ***

When in Kathmandu, we continued attending some wonderful meetings and times of prayer, both with our SIL colleagues as well as the ecumenical one we were a part of. We came to love two Jesuit Catholic priests, Fathers Lud Stiller and Jim Dressman. It was a new and good experience for us to find this kind of fellowship across doctrinal lines. It was God's Spirit and His Presence that joined us as we worshiped the One we all loved and served.

We made one other trip in May that was pretty significant because we almost lost Bill in the undercurrent of a river. We were on an outing and arrived at a river for a picnic.

There was a small island in the river and Bill went upstream and swam to the island. As he swam back, he was caught in a whirlpool and began to be sucked under. Meanwhile, the children and I were watching all this from the shore. As he hit the whirlpool, I gathered Jonathan and Jenny and started to pray. Bill doesn't remember much of what happened next, but the next thing we knew, he was on the shore. Perhaps he found something to grab a hold of? Or more likely, an angel pulled him out.

Then on May 21 we made a trip to the hospital for three of us. Jenny had tonsillitis, I was treated for tapeworm and Bill was treated for amoebic dysentery. That doesn't list all the things that God healed when we asked, like Jonathan's boil and Jenny's sty. We are grateful for any healing, direct or through doctors and medicine.

This was followed by another trip to the hospital. This time it was me, with "a little bronchial pneumonia." It was very painful and it meant another round of antibiotics. How good to have friends who bring meals.....and then share them with you.

All this was not long after my ectopic pregnancy. What with that and two C-sections, we needed to make a decision. We wanted a large family, with lots of kids, but our Father had other ways of fulfilling this desire.

Another trip to the hospital.....We had made one of the hardest decisions of our marriage. Bill and I had a necessary and lovely time talking about a vasectomy.  So very hard, but now I feel the Lord will bless this as we've sought His direction. It's been a difficult experience but good for us each. Thank You, Lord. There is peace and rest in His Presence, though accusations come in my thoughts. Having done all, STAND firm. 

June 2, 1976: Monsoon arrived yesterday. I'm still feeling weak and been calling to Him for help, physically and emotionally. Still pains in chest 
from the pneumonia. Yet will I rejoice in the Lord. I've really felt Bill's prayers for me. Thank You, Lord, for a loving and compassionate husband.

But more tears and pain were to come, more than we could imagine. Next to come was the day that changed our lives forever.....

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 The cover from the in-flight magazine that had the article about us.