changtang
Cross-Walking & Distributing Fresh Socks along with the Word of God to Tibetan Nomads on the Changan Plateau (16,000 ft+)
Greetings, beloved brethren. It was a long but fruitful journey out to the remote Changtang Plateau. We returned safely to Leh yesterday evening, and I was blessed (or cursed) to drive the big Tempo down the Indus River canyon back into town. The water is very high this year and dangerously close to the road in a few spots, moving swift.
What a blessing to break in the new cross! We logged 12 walking miles, claiming three high motroable passes—the Taglung La (17,482 ft.), the remote Yar La (16,240 ft.), and the Polongko La (16,305 ft.) We also walked the cross through a nomad camp, from the high point at their mani stone shrine down to the main highway. Every tent in that camp got a copy of John 3 in the Ladakhi language. And, we distributed fresh pairs of socks. These were much appreciated by the nomads. Every one of the miles walked was at an altitude higher than any mountain in the contiguous United States. Josiah helped me carry that cross, and many tracts were given out by the team along the route. Almost every passing vehicle would stop, and there were road workers and Indian Army soldiers at different points. The Word went out in Hindi, Ladakhi, English, and Nepali. There were also encounters with folks from Zimbabwe, Italy, Australia, and Poland.
In the nomad camps, we had our share of yak butter tea, and we sung songs about the Lord, a concert of sorts. Carter had his guitar and I banged on my Kandu. We trust the Lord used it. One family was especially precious, an older man and wife with a handicapped son, carrying a spirit of infirmity, like the woman Jesus healed in Luke 13. He was so thankful for a pair of socks and just followed us around the camp, making strange noises. We prayed over Changchuk, asking the LORD to loose him from that bondage. In his family’s tent, he sat quietly listening to us play and praise the Lord. It was as if the music had the same quieting effect upon him as young David’s harp did upon King Saul. Please pray for Changchuk’s deliverance and for his family’s salvation. I left them a Bible.
There was another Ladakhi couple, Tsepel and his wife. They hosted us for two nights in a village off the main highway after we failed to locate the nomad camps on Monday night (they had moved from where we expected them to be). This couple was very precious. We had clean rooms, and they cooked dinner and breakfast for us … all at a very reasonable price. Tsepel’s wife has an ailment and went to see the Buddhist shaman for help while we were there. I gave Tsepel a Bible and spoke with him about my Lord, the Lord of all Creation. Please pray for their salvation. The hospitality of these toward strangers indeed put many American Christians to shame.
Late one night, under a gorgeous moon, we climbed up to almost 16,000 feet and crumbed a Buddhist gompa. We also gave out tracts in two villages. The altitude was a struggle for some of the team members, but all were good sports and labored as unto the Lord. Caleb, Nemo, and Josiah lodged in a Ladakhi tent for two nights, and a freak rainstorm made for a rivulet flowing right through their tent. All their stuff got soaked. Thankfully, things dry out quick in this high desert, and these young men handled the trial very well.
A freak rainstorm on the high desert brought a small flash flood to these guys’ tent.
Like Israel in the Old Testament, the peoples of this land set up shrines atop the high places, associating them with the spirits and all sorts of superstition. There is hardly a closed contour or a high pass in these parts not covered in Buddhist prayer flags. Walking with a cross over these high places while putting out and giving out the Word of God is actually a very visible and powerful testimony of Christ’s authority over these spirits. It’s a powerful testimony to both man and principality of the loud truth of Colossians 2:15. Lord willing, we will be doing more of this cross-walking in the coming weeks.
Team Yeshua atop the Polongko La (16,305 ft)
Our time here is flying by. Only 3 weeks remain, and we shall be very busy with much overland travel. Your continued prayers are greatly appreciated. We have had 88 encounters with lost sheep from the House of Israel. 13 Hebrew New Testaments have gone out, as well as 6 English Bibles. We have witnessed to Gentiles from 17 foreign countries. Many Nepali Scripture portions have gone out, as have many materials in Hindi, Ladakhi, and Urdu. Moreover, 9 Buddhist monasteries have been crumbed. It’s been a fruitful time, and the Lord has watched over this team in many ways. I do believe these volunteers have gotten a good taste of frontline Great Commission work at an uttermost end of the earth.
Tonight, we are hosting 5 Israelis for dinner. The team has been busy all day cleaning and cooking. Please pray for open doors and that more copies of God’s Word in Hebrew will be received. Last week, we hosted 7 Israeli travelers for dinner. All heard about the Messiah of Israel and glady received Hebrew New Testaments. I continue to get messages from those who see our Hebrew signs posted around town. I better sign off … tonight’s group should be arriving soon.
It was a blessing to host these 7 Israeli travelers last week in our home away from home, and to speak with them about the things of the Lord.
Thanks for following this work and for praying.