Diary of a Nomad: 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: