West Side Baptist Church

From September 24 to October 15 Pastors David and Dennis are undertaking a trip to Nepal to teach Nepali Pastors who have little to no Bible Training. Under the leadership of Pastor-teacher Bhim Darnal with his wife Prema our pastors are holding two 5 day conferences with some 10 pastors in each conference.

Pastor Bhim has labored hard to translate materials and then to arrainge all the conference details and is much to be commended. After meeting with him I can assure you this is a man and wife who love the Lord Jesus Christ and are laboring with great sacrifice in this beautiful but difficult field.

Hinduism and Buddhism are the dominate religions. The Christian witness is very confused and the need is real for a clear Message of Life and the other doctrinal truths of biblical Free Grace.

We arrived safely in Kathmandu about 8:15 in the evening their time after being up and traveling for some 34 hours.Keep coming back to this page for pictures and any updates.

Saturday 9/27/14

We went to church with Pastor Bhim where we had the most marvelous experience. The church sang praise to the Lord with enthusiasm. The children gave a special presentation of several songs. What a precious group they are . The house church.orphanage sits in the middle of a rice field so when your going down the path to the house you need to be sure-footed! Prema is a wonderful gracious hostess who served us in great honor.

Sunday 9/28/14

Sunday was the beginning of the first conferance. Pastor Bhim has planned everything and it went very, very well. The pastors are some of the finest men I have ever meet; their enthusiasm in singing and their attention to study is beyond expectations. The men are underdstanding both classes and their participation could not be better. In addition their warnth and friendliness is overwheling. Pastor Bhim is an excellent translator and easy to work with.

Monday 9/29/14

Another lively day of learning with singing and fellowhsip. The pastors are taking their responsibility to teach their people seriously and I know great things are in the future for them all. Pastor Bhim and Prema are wonderful servants of the Lord who inspire us though their service to the body of Christ.

Tuesday / Wednesday 9/30 - 10/1 2014

Two excellent and tiring days of intense study are behind us and tomorrow will be the final classes in the morning followed by communion and graduation. These men have captured my heart and ikt will be very, very difficult to bid our goodbyes. I am amazed at how hard these men are working at thjier studies and how intense they are in learning the word of God. They are learning the rules of interpretation well and have applied them in the group sessions. Free Grace doctrine has been seen in the Scriptures and accepted. They are taking turns drawing the top and bottom circles of spiritual rebound. We leave this hotel tomorrow AM and go to Pastor Bhim and Prema;s house for the evening and then it is off at 6:00 AM to Kathmandu and then a 9 hour bus ride to Chitwan for the next conference.

Thursday 10/2/14

Graduation Day! The pastors have completed the learning conference and today they received their certificates and Bibles. We shared on the Lord's Supper together before we had some closing words and prayer. It was hard to say goodbye but wew pray that we will be able to come again.

Friday 10/3/14

We left at 6:00 AM for Chitwan for the next conference. The trip through the mountains along the river was stunning to say the least. words cannot describe the beauty of Nepal. The driving on the roads is not like that in America! It really increases your prayer life as you have one near miss after the other on the road. Yet, these drivers are excellent for inspite of all the wild driving they rarely have a wreck and most vehicles don't even have dents! We arrived sooner than expected and the pastor was there to greet us. The hotel is nice and Pastor Bhim and Prema with their son Jonah are here also which makes things good. tomorrow we will be a a local church and Sunday the conference will begin.

Saturday 10/4/14

The ride to the church was on a small truck taxi with bench seats in the rear. It is an adventure! I think it is great to be this up and close to the Nepali people and ways for I can earn better. After the turn off the main road the truck bounces along a dirt "road" for miles going through the rural Nepali landscape. Here the poverty is most seen and the very basic living conditions are very real. Soome houses have a thatch roof and mud walls. Others are clock with a tin roof but still the living conditions are very primitive. The truck broke down about 15 minutes from the church so we walked the rest of the way. Two young girls on bicycles happened along and carried the backspacks for Pastor Dennis and I to the church. The church is a very basic structure built about six years ago by Koren christians. There are no places to sit except for the guests; all others sit on the floor in the basic Nepali pattern. When the service starts there are about 45 or so people in attendance. I am surprised to see mikes brought out and a praise team set up complete with a drum set. Later we discover this church has a lot of Pentacostal beliefs and they are speaking in tongues as they pray (Pastor Bhim informed me). He does not approve nor do we so if this is what we will be seeing in the conference it will be a real challenge to teach what God has given us to teach.

Sunday/Monday

The Chitwan conference has started and is going well so far. The tondues issue is only the problem of one pastor and has not come up yet. The students include some who are not pastors but want to learn including some women. The main issue in both conferences is the doctrine of eternal security. The false belief of salvation (phase one) insecurity is the most beleived. SOme think that the doctrine of eternal security is a new teaaching but it is not for that is exactly what the Apostles taught; the teaching of salvation insecurity is the new doctrine and is not biblical. But by day two people were looking carefully at the Scriptures and the promises of Jesus to give eternal life to all who will believe in Him alone for that life as well as the promise to raise the believer up on the last day. \as promise is a promise when Jesus (and God the Father) make the promise!

Tuesday / Wednesday

The conference continued with great success as the men and women began to learn how to study thier Bibles more effectively and trained in the doctrines of eternal security, the basics of the spiritual life, and eternal rewards. Different people did spiritual rebound and did it well. It is hard to believe but tomorrow is the gtraduation of this second class. It will be followed by a baptismal service for six believers in this church and Pastor David has been asked to perform the baptism. It will be in a river close to the church. Pastor bhim will be in the water also to translate. We have already met with three of the ones being baptized and discussed eternal life and the meaning of believer's baptism.

Thursday 10/9/14

We started classes early to allow time for the baptism. The final teaching was completed and most of the people have understood and accepted biblical Free Grace because they where shown by the Bible, properly interpreted, what the truth clearly is. With much joy we held the gtraduation where each persoan received their certificate and new Bible. We then shared communion and in both joy and sorrow we concluded the conference. Then we walked to the nearby river (in the intense sun and heat). There Pastor David had one of the greatest honors any pastor can extend to another by being able to baptize the new believers from his church. The baptism was in shallow water so it was more challenging than back home but we did it and we rejoice in these  who have believed and then followed the Lord Jesus Christ in believers baptism. Following baptism several of the new believers got some soap and took a bath with their clothes on! Then  right after baptism the water buffalo came in to take a dip in the cool water!

Friday 10/10/14

Today we relaxed and toured a little around Chitwan including some time in the Chitwan National Park. We saw elephant rides, water buffalo, and tourists taking trips down a river in skinny boats through the crockadile invested waters! Saturday we go to another local church to preach and then head back to Kathmandu.

Saturday 10/11/14

Saturday we had the hponor of preaching at the church of one of the pastors who graduated from the Chitwan conference. It was a blessed time to be with these precious believers in fellowship and learning. It struck me at how the Bibles of so many are in poor condition or they have no Bible at all. The distribution of Bibles is a major need in Nepal and Pastor Bhim and Prema do so whenever they can.

We must build support for Pastor Bhim so these believers can have Bibles and other materials distubuted freely.There is also the needs for the orphanage and ministry of the Bible Institute. We will present the need for financial soon but a person can donate for this support project at any time  by mailing a check to West Side and mark it simply "Nepal" and 100% of the funds will be passed on the Pastor Bhim. Our mailing addess is on the front page but we are praying for an immediate 30 people who can give a monthy pledge of $19 as this will provide the basic living needs; more is needed for the ministry, but the goal is to achieve this basic need first..

Later on Saturday we traveled back to Kathmandu. Once there we had a few days of sightseeing, relaxation, and planning for the future of the Free Grace ministry in Nepal.

Time to leave: Tuesday, October 14, 1024

Aftwe a long flight we arrived home in Pittsburgh on Wednesday afternoon. Glad and sad all at once!

The wall idol outside our door

The hotel courtyard with many idols

The first face-to-face meeting with Pastor Bhim and Prema

Patan City: The city of temples

Pastor Bhim Darnal and his wife Prem,a showing us the streets of the city

More of the city

A common street scene

on the busy streets of Patan City

The traffic is unbelievable

Pastor Bhim's house/orphanage/church. It sits in the middle of rice fields

A view from his home with the Himalayan mountains in the background. The path through the rice fields leads to his house.

another view

Pastor Bhim and Pastor David in the church room

Some of the church children give a special song

 More of the children singing

The church hears the Word of God From Pastor Dennis with Pastor Bhim translating. Pastor Dennis dicussed "Abiding" from John15. The cloth is a sign of honor given by Prema and Pastor Bhim

Pastor David teaches on spiritual rebound from 1 John 1:9

The church listens

more of the church with Pastor Bhim in the middle

more of the church. Pastor Bhim's mother is on the far left.

The children wating before church

Pastor David with the church

 Our taxi and the driver who is able to get us through to the church and back to the hotel safely and with great friendliness. The road through the rice fields is very challenging and rough.

Both Pasors David and Dennis recieve an warm welcome of honor from Prema Darnal

The very special Nepali meal prepared and served in Christian hospitality by Prema

Nepali Pastors getting ready to study

Some of the pastors pose with their Foundations Bible study guide

 Working, working, working in study

Pastor Bhim helping in answering questions. He knows the material and is able to explain it in Nepali beyond his interpretaion for the American pastors.

Pastor David teaching

Pastor Dennis teaching with Pastor Bhim translating

group photo time!

Prema is constantly serving us all and the young people serve with her. Feeding the orphans and all the pastors in the conference is a monumental task which she always does with a smile and genuine humility.

Two young Nepli boys at the gate if the motel. They posed for a tip!

Pastor Bhim Darnal, a mighty servant of the Lord Jesus Christ

Music is a regular part of the conference - and how they do sing with enthusiasm

Pastor Dennis prasing together with the other pastors

A little praise dance by a pastor gets everybody happy. This is pasotr Bhim's uncle whose first name is also Bhim

But study is what is is about - over eight hours a day

Praising the Lord Jesus Christ

Pastors David and Bhim join in

The meals that Prema and the helpers have been serving are wonderful and always served with a smile. She is not only fixing for the pastors but also the children in the home.  Some of the pastors at meal time.

mmmmm

Prema and helpers in the kitchen

The pastors learning to teach spiritual rebound

Prema serving with a smile

Pastors David and Dennis teaching on Wednesday

hard at work all day

tea time

The first Free Grace Bible Institute of Nepal in the Biblical Fundamental class studying Basic Bible Interpretation and the Great Truths of Free Grace

Pastor Bhim's son John (on the right) and two pastors enjoying a moment to relax

getting ready for the graduation

Pastor Dhan B.K.

Pastor Pastor Bel

Pastor Bhim B.K.

Pastor Mohan B.K.

Pastor Amber

Pastor Indra Giri

Pastor Ganesh Tamang

Pastor Purna Bahadur

Pastor Sagar Karki

Pastor Padam

Group graduation picture

Prema and the children from the orphanage join in on the celebrations

worship before communion

Communion elements of bread and juice

Pastor Dennis, Pastor Bhim, Prema, Pastor David

The bus ride from Kathmandu to Chitwan in southern Nepal

Pastor Bhi and Prema on the bus

A tourist rst stop / restaurant on the road to Chitwan

The rest stop sits on a river. The road trip to Chitwan followed this river most of the way.

This is a shot of a town with a Hotel named Rambo

Another street scene

The courtyard with the idol worhsip place at the Hotel Gangotri where we are staying in Chitwan.

Pastor Dennis on Skype with his wife Sharon on the balcony of the hotel. WIFI does not work in the rooms.

A view from the back of the hotel

A woman sweeping the courtyard of the hotel in typical Nepali fashion with a handbroom. It seems like back-breaking labor.

The truck-taxi broke down about 15 minutes from the church. Pastor Bhim and Prema with a woman from the church at the back of the taxi before we start walking.

the taxi driver's wife and the men start to work on the truck

The church at Chitwan and the location of the second Pastor training conference. The taxi ride is about 45 minutes in each direction. The name of the church is Padarnahna Baptist Church

The church service begins. Notice the men and women sit on differenct sides.

The pastor of the church

Prema got some pictures of the children's church in the building outside.

more of the children's meeting

Some of the young people gather after church for a time of fellowship, prayer, and singing

Prema and one of the ladies of the church

Pastor Bhim and Prema's son Jonah playing on the drum set at the church - he is good!

a view from the side door of the church at a house and farm next door

The view from the front on the church

A temporary goddess worship center set up on the roadside in the town in front of the hotel

The Chitwan conference

 Pastor David teaching with Pastor Bhim interpreting

Pastor Dennis teaching with Pastor Bhim doing double duty having to interpret for both Americans! He does get very tired but always keeps a smile and a positive attitude.

They are learning from Pastor Dennis how to properly interpret Scripture and then they apply the principles in the workshop times. These three pastors are hard at work.

The ladies join in with the pastors

Prema is able to join in the studies in this conference. Jonah, their youngest son, is seated next to her

Study time

The Chitwan class with their Foundations books

Preparing the meals in the church kitchen - cooked on an open fire on the ground. A pastor is doing much of the cooking.

Three of the young girls who help to serve everyday of the conference

teaching, teaching, teaching

Two students pose for the photo

Pastor Dennis and Pastor Bhim decide it was good to sit down when teaching from the Foundations book on day two of the conference

Jonah plaing the Napli drums for a song

A common store in Nepal. This is on the way to the church

Bananas for sale. They are less than half the size we are used to in the USA

Pastor Bhim at the hotel

Another scene from the conference church. That is the restrooms on the left

Pastor Bhim with his best friend Pastor Khardka

A typical Nepali store. This is a cloth shop on the way to the church

The church's childrens ministry building

Pastor David teaching

Studying the Word together

Preparing food for the conference by the church kitchen

Some of the girls of the church thought if funny tht the tall American had to scoot down to get in the picture

Study and more study

Pastor Bhim sweeping the church floor with the hand broom

Showing how to do spiritual rebound

Pastor Khardka

Another student teaching spiritual rebound

Pastor Bhim teaching on why "tongues" is not for the church today

Break time

A discussion group starts up at break time

Helping each other to learn

Out on the town for bottled water which is the only water safe to drink

This is the small street entrance into the hotel area

A street vendor fixing supper (but not for us)

A barber stops to pose - it is an open front store as most of the shops are

A friend in the tub of Pastor David's room.

Washing the lunch dishes at the church conference. That's Prema on the pump

The house across the street from the church where one of the church's young people live. It is a mud wall house.

A relaxing moment in the front of the church with one of the pastors attending the conference

A beutiful sunrise onver the mountains

A typical breakfast in Nepal served at the conference - beaten died rice and seasoned beans

One of the ladies of the church who attended the conference doing the circles of spiritual rebound.

A pastor doing the same in practice for his church

Study on the final day

study and study some more

three students hard at work

Following along with Pastor Dennis teaching in Foundations

Preparing for graduation

Graducation

Graduaction

Graduaction

Graduation

Graduation

Graduation

Graduation

Graduation for a young person

graduation for Prema Darnal

graduation

Graduation

graduation

The Chitwan graduating class of 2014

The West Side pastor's in the Hotel Goodwill restaurant (of course)

The last day sunrise over Chitwan with the mountains in the background

Sharing Communion after the Chitwan graduation

Pastor Bhim serving Communion

 Baptism followed the conference. Pastor David had the honor in performing the baptism for these new believers in Jesus Christ for eternal life.

Pastor David, the local church pastor, Pastor Bhim and others headed into the river

 Baptism

 Baptism

The five newly baptized believers one of whom has her hands raised in praise

The four pastors involved in the baptism.

The water buffalo entered the water just after the baptism

Picture time at the church

The Chitwan pastor and his wife

 Sightseeing in Chitwan

Religious syncretism at a cancer hospital - this is Buddha next to a crucifix with Christ on the cross. The following pictures are also in the same place and are Hndu gods.

Hindu gods

 Hindu monkey god

Visiting the Chitwan National Park. Our driver is on the right

a relaxing moment

Chitwan park: this long-nosed crockodile is common in the park. We did not see any live ones!

at the park tourist hotel area. This is a crocodile infested river

tourist taking a narrow boat down the river - with crocodiles in it??? Not for us!

the elepahnt ride - just pictures for us!

another shot

a typical store in Chitwan. These stores are in vast numbers as the people struggle to earn some money

more store fronts along the dusty city street

leavimng the Hotel Gongotri Highway before church on Saturday. This was our taxi for the five plus hour trip to Kathmandu. Pastor David, pastor Bhim, Prema and Jonah all got in the back seat - can you believe it?

Pastor David preaching in the last church in Chitwan on Saturday

The church pastor

The church meets

more of the church

the men's side of the church. Some men had to work the fields this day due to the rice harvest and so missed church

Pastor Dennis speaking

The church grounds

 the trip back to Kathamndu - a few pictures

 more

beautiful scenary

a brief stop for a cold drink at a shop run by the driver's sister - our driver is on the left

A stop for a light linch at a roadside restaurant

fish for lunch - heads and all. It really was good!

the back of a truck on the trip. It says "Shiva, father of the World." How many times have we ever in America seen a truck that says "Jesus Christ, Creator of the World and its Savior"?

a visit to the monket temple in Kathmandu, a Bhuddist site

monkeys are everywhere

more monkeys

monkeys, monkeys, monkeys

The pastors at the monkey temple

idols are everywhere

our wonderful room at the Pastor Bhim and Prema's home

some women passing the residence on their way to the fields with the head baskets to be filled with grass for their animals. the same is used for the rice harvest

Pastor Bhim with the camera purchasedfor him by the saints at West Side

The orphanage of Pastor Bhim and Prema - there are now 13 in residence

more of the orphanage - it is very simple but they are much loved, well cared for, and taught the truths of the Bible

more

the need for support is real and urgent for these children. These are the youngest children living here

Pastor Bhim in the orphanage

the shoes are off inside

Prema in the home/orphanage kitchen where she cooks for them all three times a day

The final goodbye meeting. The pastor's were honored with traditional Nepali hats and a ceremonial knife

 The final talk just before leaving - it was very difficult to say goodbye. Bhim and Prema's oldest son John is on the right

The last group picture of the orphanage children and the Darnal family.  Please consider supporting this valuable ministry of the orphanage and the Free Grace work in Nepal. We are praying for 30-50 people to support with a monthly contribution of just $19 a mionth. 30 people will provide the basic needs for the children and family; 50 will supply the ministry needs for pastoral training with the Free Grace Bible Institute of Nepal. Would you ask the Lord if maybe YOU are one of the people God would have be a supporter of this work in Nepal.

 Make all checks or money orders to West Side Baptist Church and mark it "Nepal." 100% of all funds will go directly to Pastor Bhim. Mail the checks to

West Side Baptist Church

17 East Main Street

Sharpsville, Pa. 16150

WIth a donation from West Side Prema was able to buy a washing machine so that she no longer has to wash everything for the orphangae and her family by hand in the river or a tub

 Please pray for these faithful and sacrificing servants of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Pastor Dennis at the Doha Airport in Qatar. His wife told him not to bring this big thing home!

A View from the room at the Hotel Good Will Patan City