Category Archives: 2023

Hope Thrives out of Cheetah Tragedy

In the early 1900’s Canadian Baptists brought the gospel to Gajapa, Odisha State in the beautiful tropical mountains of this region of India. There were challenges in bringing the gospel to the jungles. Sadly, a missionary was killed by a cheetah and the decision was made to move the mission to the village of Serango. The first church was established in 1917, and a bit later in 1928 an Eye Hospital was built and opened. The village of Serango was the setting of the 3rd Odisha Youth Advance Conference from May 16-19, 2023. As we journeyed from Bhubaneshwar out into the country and on into the beautiful mountain region, we were secretly hoping to see a bit of jungle wildlife like an elephant, cheetah or monkey. However, later we learned, that although at one time they were there, there are no longer any left. But there were beautiful rice paddies and water buffalo and misty mountains. As we arrived at the guest house at the New Hope Hospital compound, it felt as though we stepped back in time to the early 1900’s with peaceful echoes from the past welcoming us to continue the Lord’s work in this region of India.

“Community” – Interactive and interconnected

“If I would use one word to describe the people of western Nepal, I would choose the word “community”.   I have been to few places on the planet where the whole culture is so interactive and interconnected in daily living.  We could learn much from our brothers and sisters there!”

MTM to India, Himalayan Region Ministry

The Feature Photo is an MTM 2018 File Photo

“Pray ye therefore the Lord of harvest, that He will send forth laborer’s into His harvest.” Matt. 9:38
“Jaimasi!’ (This is the Christian greeting in this part of the world.) ‘Peace be unto you!’
When the invitation came from MTM to attend and participate in a teaching team to the State of Sikkim INDIA, I was intrigued. I asked our church if they would support the idea, which they did, so making plans began. My dear friend Truman Yoder was also planning to go if all the paperwork worked out.
After visas were granted, and plane tickets purchased, I started thinking about what God would have me to share with the youth & pastor at the conferences where we would be speaking.
The first week was filled with joy, teaching to a gentle kind group of Himalayan mountain people. We then left West Sikkim to go to East Sikkim for the pastor’s conference in Gangtok, the capital city of Sikkim State of India.