home again

Greetings, friends and beloved brethen, in the matchless name of the Great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Though all should fade and much be lost in these dark times, “Yet will I rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:18). The finished work of Christ alone is cause for rejoicing!

It has been six weeks since my daughter and I met up with Bishnu in Pennsylvania and headed north. A little over three weeks ago, we rendezvoused with my wife and remaining children in Canada’s Maritimes. A few short days ago, having added 6,692 miles to my vehicle’s odometer (900 miles of which were on gravel road), the Lord brought us safely home. Though hot and humid here in North Carolina, it’s good to be home. And, it’s sweet to reflect upon what the Lord has done and how He has answered your prayers and mine regarding another missionary journey to the end of the road, to uttermost corners.

I apologize for the lull in communication. I had hoped to get an email update out from the road, but there simply wasn’t opportunity. We found ourselves very busy in the labor of the Gospel. Nevertheless, rejoice with us! The Gospel of Jesus Christ has gone forth up the north shore of the St. Lawrence and the Manicouagan Valley in Quebec; across the Labrador; in North America’s easternmost settlements (i.e. remote fishing villages on the Labrador Coast); down the west coast of Newfoundland; around Cape Breton; on the streets of Halifax, Charlottetown, and a couple of New England cities; and in the homes of Nepali-speaking Bhutanese refugees on Prince Edward Island.

The latter, my friends, was most gratifying and an amazing testimony to the sovereign hand of a mighty God. Three years ago, I was kicked out of Bhutan for sharing the Gospel in that place and meeting with other believers. The families with whom we fellowshipped on PEI were likewise kicked out of Bhutan because of their language, culture, and status as second-class citizens. Having spent time in a refugee camp in Nepal, they were eventually relocated by the United Nations to PEI. With the help of a local church that has developed a love for these people, Bishnu and I were able to get into their homes and clearly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to these refugees in their own language. And, the best part was that the corrupt, persecuting Buddhist government of Bhutan couldn’t do a darn thing about it. Over a ten-day period, we shared many a Nepali meal together, were able to enter into ten homes, answered a bunch of questions about the Gospel, did a whole lot of preaching, and distributed Project Jagerna Scripture portions and Gospel tracts that we had printed in Kathmandu. It was a good time in the Lord with precious people that needed to hear the truth and were very open to it. Please pray for their salvation and the salvation of their extended families still in Nepal and/or Bhutan.

Alas, there is so much to write and little time in the present to do it. In the coming days, I foresee a series of two updates that will retrace our steps and hopefully give you cause for rejoicing and conviction in the Lord. Stay tuned, and please be patient with me. A plethora of thoughts, contemplations, and journal entries have yet to be organized in my head, much less on paper.

The main purpose of this update is to announce that we have returned and to again thank you for all your prayers. The Lord provided in mighty ways as He has always done, and He used some of you to do it. Thank-you.

Notwithstanding, we continue to covet your prayers, as does Bishnu. Presently, my Nepali national partner is in New York City working with a Nepali local church in Queens. They have been going out on the streets together, getting into the homes of Nepali-speaking people, and Bishnu has been training the believers there in the work of evangelism. On July 3rd, he will be heading over to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to hook up with another Nepali fellowship to do more of the same. In fact, on July 4th, there will be a large gathering in Harrisburg’s Nepali-speaking community to celebrate America’s Independence. Cultural programs, food, and Nepali Christian music will be capped off with the preaching of the Gospel. Bishnu has been invited as the “Guest Speaker” and has been asked to preach with boldness. It is estimated that a few hundred people could be in attendance; and it is expected that many copies of our Project Jagerna John/Romans will be freely distributed. Please commit this amazing opportunity to prayer.

After Harrisburg, Bishnu will be bussing down to Jacksonville, NC to again rendezvous with us. We will be down on the coast with Jamie’s family trying to enjoy some much-needed vacation. Lord willing, he’ll meet us there, get to enjoy the ocean for a couple of days; and then we will all return to Hickory, NC where he will be with us for a week. From there, it’s back to New York City for Bishnu and then on to Kathmandu. Please pray for traveling mercies in all these endeavors.

It has been so good to be with my national partner again, and I am amazed at how the Lord allowed him to join me on the Labrador and in ministry to the Nepali-speaking people on Prince Edward Island. Much has been happening for the cause of the Gospel in Nepal under his leadership, and umpteen miles of driving up north allotted time to hear many a story of how and where Project Jagerna Scripture portions have gone out. In Nepal’s far west, a remote area has been saturated with the Scriptures and some people have come to Christ. Now, we believe, ‘tis time to specifically labor toward planting a church in that place. What is therefore most apparent is that my family and I need to get back to Nepal, for Bishnu needs our help. Please pray that the Lord will bring this to pass before the end of the year.

For this to happen, we will need God’s provision. Right now, things are very tight for Full Proof Gospel Ministries. We had planned to journey out West this summer to visit some churches, fellowship with other believers, and engage in the work of evangelism. Unfortunately, we have all but canceled these plans as the money simply isn’t there. Moreover, what we do have needs to go toward getting a family of five back to South Asia. Indian visas alone, a necessary possession for foreigners in an unstable Nepal, will cost us close to a thousand dollars; and the cost of plane tickets makes my head swim. We’ll also have to find a place to live in Kathmandu. I am hoping to try and work as much as possible this summer to save up for Nepal, but I fear that I will soon be losing my job. Just pray for discernment in all of this, provision from the Lord, and clear direction. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, to day, and for ever” has never failed us (Hebrews 13:8).

Well, I better sign off for now. I have some packing to do for the beach and am so excited to have some down-time with my family next week. Stay tuned for more detailed recap from our Labrador and PEI missionary journey. I will also be posting some video and photos to the website as soon as I can get around to it.

Peace be with you all in the Lord Jesus Christ,

Jesse Boyd Full Proof Gospel Ministries