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Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As you all know, the world is suffering from the Corona Virus, especially in India and Nepal. In this second wave, thousands of people have died and there are many who continue to suffer. This is very sad to see. Still, Nepal is fighting this virus and facing lockdown. People are suffering in various ways. I have gone through many trials and sufferings myself during this time.

On April 25 our local government announced the locked down. After the announcement, we are not able to meet for public worship. Everything was closed. On 29th April I felt a little bit weak and exhausted. Slowly and gradually I started feeling physically weak. On 2nd May I was totally gone to bed struggled with my body pain. My spinal cord was very painful. Brother Doug and Om requested me to go for the Covid test. On 5th May the result of my test came back positive. On 6th Ma, my wife and younger daughter tested positive. At that time my wife was one month pregnant. We were supposed to go for her pregnancy check-up, but unable to go because of her positive test. In the midst of all suffering God is still God and merciful God. Everything He allows in us for the good of His people Rom 8:28-29. This suffering was for my sanctification and for His glory. During that period of time, in India and Nepal Covid death rate was high. In Social media death reports were broadcasted constantly. I was on my bed thinking about death and the great eternal hope I have in Christ Jesus. I remembered that two weeks before lockdown, in a small Bible study group, I preached to our group that the Gospel is the great hope of our salvation. My statement was “We should be ready to die.” This truth was a great encouragement for me at that time. In Him alone is my great hope and the forgiveness of sin. God’s grace and peace comforted me during this time. God gave me boldness and strength during my suffering. Praise God! Many brothers and sisters prayed for me and my family and slowly we recovered from Covid.

After our Covid negative result, I took my wife to the hospital for her baby checkup. After having her ultrasound; we got a report that she miscarried. It was very hard to hear the report at that moment. It was a rush of pain for me and my wife. This is her second miscarriage. In all these suffering and difficulties, God is God and He is a loving and merciful God. He allows us to go through all the trials and suffering for the good of His people and for His glory.

This was followed by my brother contracting Covid, which concluded with all the family members testing positive. My brother was seriously sick. My sister-in-law also suffers from kidney failure. For two years now she has struggled with kidneys. Twice a week she goes in for dialysis. With everyone having Covid, there was no one there to help. It was very hard time for all of us what to do at the moment. We prayed and waited for God to open the door for us to travel. Since lockdown, it is very hard to travel the 7-hour drive. I went to the Central  District Office and submitted an application for travel. I showed them all the documents, and on June 2 I was able to travel.

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After I reached the hospital where my sister-in-law was admitted, but we decided to take her back home for treatment. I had gone through experiences with Covid on how to fight and use the medicine. I had already bought Covid medicine for my brother, sister-in-law, and their two children. Slowly I saw changes in their health and they started to eat more. Praise God. My sister-in-law was supposed to go in for her kidney dialysis, but the government hospital was very packed with Covid patients. We took her to a private hospital at night and was able to receive the treatment. At that time God gave me the opportunity to share the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ. I had the opportunity to speak about God and man’s deepest problem, God’s wrath, and the hope found in Christ Jesus. During this pandemic, many people are very scared to die. After I spoke to these two nurses, I challenged them with questions about death. These questions shocked them, and I was able to present to them the hope of the Gospel.  It was a wonderful privilege to share the Good News with them during these pandemic times. Praise God for this opportunity. Please pray for these two nurses that God open their hearts to trust in Him.

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On 6th June I again took my sister-in-law to the government hospital for her kidney dialysis again. At that time I got the opportunity to share the Good News with a caregiver nurse. She was listening very well. I also gave gospel tracts to her. I was also able to share the Gospel with one of my relatives who was admitted to the hospital. It was a good time to talk with him. When I was at the hospital I saw many faces with sadness, mourning, eyes that were full of tears, and pain. On this day I saw five dead bodies at the hospital because of Covid. The army was taking out the dead bodies. It was very sad to see with my own eyes the people who were dying without the hope of the Gospel. I was not able to keep silent. In my heart, God was encouraging me to GO, GO, GO and share the Good News. God gave me such a boldness to speak the truth. Praise the Lord! Please pray for these souls with whom I shared the gospel on that day.

On 9th June I visited my mother-in-law. I encouraged her from God’s Word to be bold in the Lord. She was very thankful for my visit. On the same day, I was able to visit a local church where my wife was raised. This is a traditional Baptist Church under the Nepal Baptist group. I was able to visit the newly appointed young pastor. Whenever I visit this area, I take the opportunity to visit this brother. I gave him Paul Washer’s recently translated book “The Gospel Power and Message.”  Slowly this brother is coming to a right understanding of the sound teaching, and the seriousness of his life, doctrine, and ministry. It was a very fruitful time to encouraged this brother in the Lord. There are many areas this local church needs to grow. This church is very shallow. My prayer is that the Lord would help this church with sound doctrine and biblical principles. Please pray for this local church. 

On 10th June I went back to the hospital for my sister-in-law’s dialysis. On this day I saw more dead bodies because of Covid. This pandemic has truly challenged many people about death. Life is uncertain, death is real and undeniable. People will die and there is no hope without Christ. Many have not known our Savior and Lord. They will face the second death, the eternal judgment of God. They need Christ to be saved. I always remember Romans 10: 14-15; “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!.” During the dialysis, I had the opportunity to share the gospel with a Covid patient for an hour. I had also the opportunity to share more with the caregiver nurse I met the first time. It was a good time to review these truths again with her. Praise God for this opportunity. Please pray that God would bring them in repentance and faith.

It was a very hard time for me. It was not easy, but in all the difficulties and suffering, God gave me an opportunity to serve people and share the hope of the gospel. Whether I live or die, let the Gospel be advanced. As the Apostle Paul says in Philippians 1:21, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” I am assured that you all are part of this gospel advance through your prayers and financial support. Thanks for your partnership in the Gospel work. Praise to our God Almighty!