farewell

The last time I walked the Khardung La with a cross, it was known as the world’s highest motorable pass. Since, the Indian Border Roads Organization (BRO) have made a higher one, the mighty Umling La (19,024). We walked it a week or so ago.

I would very much appreciate your prayers. Tomorrow morning, very early, we begin the long haul over the Himlaya and back to Delhi. Lord willing, we’ll arrive back in Montana next Thursday. I’m sorry the updates have petered out. I’ve been pretty sick the past couple of days, and it’s just been so busy here on the front lines.

It’s bittersweet to leave Ladakh after such a fruitful time and to bid farewell to our dear brethren here. So much material has gone out, more so than with any prior Team Yeshua. I simply cannot believe it’s almost over. By God’s grace, we have had 156 encounters with lost sheep from the House of Israel, far exceeding all previous Team Yeshua summers. We have witnessed to Gentiles from 26 foreign countries. 17 English Bibles have gone out.  And, the Lord was gracious to us in His own special way …

For several days, we have been praying to break the Team Yeshua record for number of Hebrew New Testaments put into Jewish hands. That record of 28 was set here in Ladakh back in 2016. We tied the record a few days ago, but then ran into consistent refusal. About 30 minutes prior to meeting up with brethren for a farewell dinner this evening, it seemed as if we would have to settle for tying that record. But then everything changed. While Jamie, Josiah, and I were witnessing to my Kashmiri Muslim friend of 19 years down on Fort Road, the rest of the crew ran into a very open Israeli young man named Edan who was so happy to receive a copy of the New Testament. Record broken!  After bidding farewell to my Muslim friend, we navigated a series of narrow alleyways to rendezvous with the rest of the team at a particular restaurant. We literally walked up on them speaking to an Israeli couple who had been wandering those same alleyways.  Jephthah and Hagal, too, were very open and gladly received a Hebrew/English New Testament. That makes 30. The last two encounters were two of the most fruitful of our entire time here. Praise the Lord.

One last Israeli encounter right outside of the gate of the restaurant where we reserved a table for a nice farewell dinner! Hebrew New Testament #30

When it comes to lost sheep from the House of Israel, 30 copies of the New Testament is A LOT. The Lord is good.

En route to Keylong tomorrow, the place we crumbed our first Buddhist gompa back in July, we’ll walk with the cross over three more high mountain passes. Heretofore, we’ve carried it over 8 such passes ranging from 15,260-19,024 feet. And these walks have all resulted in a lot of material going out in Hindi, Urdu, Ladakhi, and Nepali. We’d like to see the same happen tomorrow on the Lachulung La (16,616 ft.), Nakee La (15,547 ft.), and Baralacha La (16,040 ft.) passes.  As for gompas, we have crumbed a total of 20. At the last one, we were discovered and an angry monk told us to leave. Good times.

Christ Jesus has authority over all these high places and over all the gods and devils worshipped upon these mountains. He is Lord of All. Jaya Yeshu Prabhu!

Bactrian Camels in the Nubra Valley

A great farewell dinner with a great view!

I’m going to miss the Old Enflield.

From Keylong, we’ll go back to Manali for a couple days and then make the long drive to Delhi. In Delhi, we’ll part ways with Carter & Bethany. They will fly back up to Ladakh for another couple of weeks to continue the work here as the Israeli season winds down. Back in Montana, we’ll have a couple of days on the ground before a special church service on Sunday, August 31st brings the summer to an official close. At that point, our volunteers will return home, and I’ll have to figure out how I am going to get back to North Carolina.

It’s been an incredible summer of missions. Our theme verse has been Psalm 90:17. Truly, the God of Israel has established the work of our hands. Thank you for all your prayers and support. These are some fine young people who have given up an entire summer to serve in some difficult places. It will be hard to see them go.

My Kashmiri friend of 19 years paid me an incredible compliment today. We spent a few hours together today in his shop. I shared with him about walking across America, about the terrorist attack in Madison County, Montana, etc. I gave him one of my Rotten at Heart books, explaining how and why America is rotten at heart. I then said, “Ali, after all these years, you know I am a Man of the Book.” Before I could finish my sentence, he interrupted: “Oh I know, Jesse is indeed a Man of the Book.” This time, I gave him an English Injil (i.e. New Testament). Years ago, I gave him an Urdu Bible, along with various Gospel tracts over the years. And yet, he continues to refer to a crazy American preacher as “my friend,” one who “is indeed a Man of the Book.” I really am humbled by such a compliment.

Hanging out with an old Kashmiri friend we first met here back in 2006.

As Christians, let us strive to be known by those in the world as PEOPLE OF THE BOOK.

I gotta get some sleep. The van is picking us up at 6:00am.  Goodnight from a literal end of the earth.