Christ’s Light in a Land of Many Idols | Shared by D K Sarkar serving in India

The following report comes from our missionary, D K Sarkar in Kolkata, West Bengal. October was filled with many Hindu festivals across the region, times that bring both challenge and opportunity for believers. Please pray for our brothers and sisters who face pressure during these celebrations and who continue to share the hope of Christ with their neighbors.

I am sending you an update about the Hindu festivals in West Bengal. These celebrations often bring challenges for us. Local festival committees sometimes insist that we contribute money toward the events, and at times the situation becomes very difficult. During these festivals, we organize camps and prayer meetings to encourage and strengthen our new believers. Please continue to pray for us.

The month of October was filled with Hindu celebrations focused on idol worship. People become deeply devoted to these idols, following traditions passed down from their ancestors. They often do not know much about the idols themselves but simply continue the customs they have received.

Many different idols are worshiped, each believed to hold its own kind of power. These idols have no real existence, yet priests and holy men have promoted their worship for generations. Below are a few of the main idols celebrated in West Bengal.

• Ganesh – Considered the god of wealth. Many people believe that if they worship Ganesh, they will gain financial prosperity. This worship began mainly in Mumbai but later spread to Bengal as people desired the same material success.
• Biswakarma – Regarded as the maker or architect of the world. People worship him, believing he will help them in building and improving their homes.
• Durga – Durga Puja is the biggest Hindu festival in West Bengal. She is considered the powerful goddess who killed the demon Ashur (Devil). Depicted with ten hands holding weapons, she is worshiped for four days during a time when schools, colleges, and offices close for the celebration. Her festival attracts many people, even some Christians come to watch the events
• Lakshmi – The goddess of wealth. Hindus believe that worshiping Lakshmi will bring them prosperity and abundance.
• Kali – Known as the goddess of destruction. She is depicted as dark, standing on the chest of her husband, with a garland of human heads around her neck. Her worship takes place at night and involves blood sacrifices, often from male goats.

We are enlightened by the blood of Jesus. We know all these idol worships are fake. Only the blood of Jesus can cleanse of our sins. We are called to tell these people about the truth. Please pray for us.

D K Sarkar, EFM Kolkata

Please pray:

• For our strength and protection as we face difficulties and demands during the Hindu festival season.
• For steadfast faith among new believers who may feel isolated or pressured during these celebrations.
• For open hearts among those devoted to idol worship, that they may come to know the truth and freedom found in Jesus Christ.
• For fruitful ministry as we hold camps and prayer meetings to share the gospel and encourage believers in West Bengal.

The post November 2025 Prayer Letter first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Actualización del Ministerio EFC-Nepal | Compartido por el Pastor Amen y la Familia EFC-N

La oración como fundamento
La oración sigue siendo el motor de nuestro ministerio. En Katmandú, los creyentes se reunieron para orar en cadena, oración de toda la noche, ayuno y oración, caminatas de oración, oración en la montaña y oración de avivamiento. Estos tiempos de búsqueda de Dios mantienen a la Iglesia viva y activa en su misión. También se realizaron Campamentos Regionales de Oración en diferentes distritos, y estamos presenciando el fruto de estas oraciones en vidas transformadas e iglesias en crecimiento.

Seminario y Ordenación de Pastores y Líderes
En la región de Nawalpur, la Iglesia de los Amigos de Magarkot organizó un seminario de tres días para fortalecer a pastores y líderes en la Palabra de Dios. El último día, celebramos un servicio de ordenación de nuevos pastores, ancianos y diáconos que se comprometieron a servir fielmente. 

Desarrollo de habilidades y negocios para el Ministerio
Seguimos animando a pastores, líderes y creyentes a considerar los negocios como una misión, una oportunidad para sustentar a sus familias y al mismo tiempo promover el evangelio.

El pastor Ramesh y su esposa, Binu, ahora administran una tienda de comestibles y una granja de pollos para apoyar su ministerio. El pastor Bijay y su esposa, Salomé, completaron su capacitación en soldadura y costura; Bijay ya ha construido iglesias y casas con sus habilidades. El pastor Adam comenzó a criar cabras después de recibir capacitación gubernamental, imaginando su granja como un modelo para otras iglesias y pastores.

Un día de dedicación y celebración
En Sindhuli, la Iglesia Evangélica de los Amigos de Khurahari inauguró un nuevo edificio por la mañana y más tarde ese mismo día, celebró la boda de su pastor, Bijay, y su esposa, Som Maya (Salomé). Ambos son graduados de nuestro Instituto Bíblico FSTCL y continúan sirviendo fielmente.

Aspectos destacados regionales

• En Chitwan, más de 300 personas escucharon el evangelio, varias fueron bautizadas y otras experimentaron sanación, entre ellas un brujo que se convirtió a Cristo después de orar y una mujer hindú que fue liberada de un demonio, lo que llevó a toda su familia a la fe.
• En Bardiya, 38 nuevos creyentes se están preparando para el testimonio público del bautismo en agua, y se ha establecido una nueva comunidad en el distrito de Surkhet.
• En Pokhara (provincia de Gandaki), después de más de una década de oración, se ha fundado una nueva Iglesia de los Amigos con un salón de culto para 60 personas. Una miembra, Gita, que quedó paralizada mientras trabajaba en el extranjero, se convirtió a Cristo, se bautizó y ahora dirige el culto con la ayuda de terapia. Ella y su hijo pequeño aún necesitan apoyo, pero su fe es un testimonio de la gracia de Dios.

Agradecemos a Dios por su fidelidad, por sus oraciones y apoyo. Juntos, presenciamos la expansión del evangelio por todo Nepal, impactando vidas, construyendo comunidades y avanzando el reino de Dios.

Gracias. Dios le bendiga.
Pastor Amen y la familia de EFC-N

Por favor oren:

• Por la provisión de terrenos y edificios para iglesias en lugares clave y por el crecimiento tanto numérico como espiritual de nuestras iglesias.
• Por la bendición de Dios sobre la próxima conferencia provincial, el seminario de parejas para pastores y sus familias, y el retiro de líderes, para que cada uno pueda tener un impacto duradero, ánimo, guianza y renovación.
• Por un nuevo movimiento de plantación de nuevas iglesias en todo Nepal.

The post Carta de Oración octubre 2025 first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

EFC-Nepal Ministry Update | Shared by Pastor Amen and the EFC-N Family

Prayer continues to be the heartbeat of our ministry. In Kathmandu, believers gathered for chain prayer, all-night prayer, fasting prayer, prayer walks, mountain prayer, and revival prayer. These times of seeking God keep the Church alive and active in its mission. Regional Prayer Camps were also held in different districts, and we are witnessing the fruit of these prayers in transformed lives and growing churches.

Pastors & Leaders Seminar and Ordination

In the Nawalpur Region, Magarkot Friends Church hosted a three-day seminar to strengthen pastors and leaders in God’s Word. On the final day, we celebrated an ordination service for new pastors, elders, and deacons who committed themselves to serve faithfully.

Skills and Business Development for Ministry

We continue to encourage pastors, leaders, and believers to view business as mission, an opportunity to sustain their families while also advancing the gospel.

Pastor Ramesh and his wife, Binu, now run a grocery store and chicken farm to support their ministry. Pastor Bijay and his wife, Salome, completed training in welding and sewing; Bijay has already built church buildings and homes with his skills. Pastor Adam began raising goats after government training, envisioning his farm as a model for other churches and pastors.

A Day of Dedication and Celebration

In Sindhuli, the Khurahari Evangelical Friends Church dedicated a new church building in the morning and, later that same day, celebrated the wedding of their pastor, Bijay, and his wife, Som Maya (Salome). Both are graduates of our FSTCL Bible College and continue to serve faithfully.

Regional Highlights

• In Chitwan, more than 300 people heard the gospel, several were baptized, and others experienced healing, including a witch doctor who came to Christ after prayer and a Hindu woman freed from a demon, leading her whole family to faith.
• In Bardiya, 38 new believers are preparing for public testimony of water baptism, and a new fellowship has been planted in Surkhet District.
• In Pokhara (Gandaki Province), after more than a decade of prayer, a new Friends Church has been planted with a worship hall for 60 people. One member, Gita, who became paralyzed while working abroad, has come to Christ, been baptized, and now leads worship with the help of therapy. She and her young son still need support, but her faith is a testimony to God’s grace.

We thank God for His faithfulness and for your prayers and support. Together, we are witnessing the gospel spread throughout Nepal, touching lives, building communities, and advancing God’s kingdom.

Thank you. God bless.
Pastor Amen and EFC-N Family

Please pray:

• For the provision of land and church buildings in key locations, and for both numerical and spiritual growth in our churches.
• For God’s blessing on the upcoming provincial conference, the couples seminar for pastors and their families, and the leadership retreat, that each may bring lasting impact, encouragement, guidance, and renewal.
• For a fresh movement of new church planting across Nepal.

The post October 2025 Prayer Letter first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Ranjana has a family of five; her husband (Dal), three daughters (Reshma, Roshani, and Ritisha), and a nephew, Rohan, who was adopted as a child.

Ranjana is a friend of Balkumari, a member of RCCLC. At the beginning of 2021, Balkumari invited Ranjana to Cha’pur Church and helped introduce her and her daughters to Christ. We welcomed them into our church family with love and care. We shared about God’s love and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for their sins. Ranjana and her daughters felt great peace after being in our church service. At that time, her husband was abroad for a job. Her husband didn’t know that she had started going to church, as they were Hindus, and so when she told him, he shouted over the phone and angrily instructed them not to go anymore. But they continued to come…

In the middle of 2022, her husband came back home and angrily instructed them not to go to church or associate with Christians. So they stopped coming to our Saturday church fellowship for a while. One day, Ranjana came to us and asked for prayer because her husband had strictly instructed them not to go to church services and other activities. We prayed for them and encouraged them not to leave their newfound faith in Christ, and made them understand that they have to wait for God’s provision. Although they didn’t have permission from their father to come to church, Roshani and Rohan used to read the Bible and spend time in prayer, hiding from their father, Dal’s, sight. Many times their father caught them reading the Bible, and angrily shouted, took the Bible from them, and asked them to leave the house. Often, he tortured his wife, as he thought it was because of Ranjana that the children were going that way.

Last year, in August, Dal, after drinking a lot of alcohol, beat up his wife and shouted and abused her throughout the day. In the evening, he had a fall from the first floor of his house, and his backbone was fractured, and he couldn’t get up. Immediately, Ranjana took her husband to the hospital to get treatment. Now, because of paralysis from the waist down, caused by a fractured spine, Dal can’t sit, stand, or walk. He needed support and had to rest in bed most of the time. Rohan, the adopted son, helps his father to sit and move around with the help of a wheelchair.

Ranjana and her daughter Roshani came to us and asked for prayer for the situation they are living in. Even in this situation, Dal shouts at his wife (Ranjana) and children (Roshsani and Rohan) for believing and accepting Jesus.

After some time, Asha (Suleman’s wife) visited Ranjana’s house with her women’s prayer team to pray and encourage them. Asha shared God’s unconditional love for them and some other stories of miraculous healing, as well as how our Lord God heals and loves people. After a long discussion, Asha asked him to believe in Jesus and prayed for Dal Bahadur.

The next day, we heard that Dal Bahadur could sit by himself and could get up from bed. Not only that, but we have also heard that Dal Bahadur has shown some positive signs toward this newfound faith. Although there had been some positivity, Dal Bahadur still didn’t allow them to attend church activities. But Roshani and Rohan still attended church services without informing their father.

On the day of public testimonies of baptism (April 6, 2025), Roshani and Rohan came to make their testimony at the Bagmati river without informing their father. Ranjana also attended the public testimony of baptism program without informing her husband. After taking baptism, tears flowed from Roshani’s eyes. She said it is the tears of joy and happiness.

After a week and much prayer, we arranged a house fellowship at Ranjana’s home. Asha, our church leaders, and other believers attended, and we had a time of fellowship and prayed with the family and for Dal’s healing. Because of God’s grace, positivity and belief are seen growing in Dal Bahadur’s heart for Christ.

Last week, we again met with this family and encouraged them by sharing a few messages and praying for Dal’s health. After prayer, Dal said to us, “Please do continue to visit and pray for us.”

Shalom!

Samson and Priscilla

EFM Nepal

The post Samson and Priscilla Retnaraj | Quarter 2 Update first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

“…present your bodies as a living exercise, holy, acceptable to God, this is your spiritual act of service (worship).”  (Rom 12:1)

We are living in difficult and turbulent times…… There are reports that many who have testified about their newfound faith and accepting Jesus as their Savior in this lovely land have been accused of becoming enemies among their own people and are being hounded and driven to accept compromises and revert back to their original faith and beliefs… by threats! Strange forces are rising up among the people, some being faith-based and some political origins from within the country and across the borders. In fact, there is a huge undercurrent that the monarchy might be ushered back, backed by politico-religious groups in and outside the country.

Faced with such a fearful situation, we have succeeded in getting our work on CLCs (Community Learning Centers) approved by the local government in Chitwan and Rautahat (which is an official platform to conduct our CHE and Small Business trainings), and also recognized by the Social Welfare Council of the land finally. There were many delays, and our people had to endure unfriendly attitudes and some very frustrating days – but ultimately, they were registered (and renewed) with the stamp of authority! We praise God for giving our people the strength and endurance as they went through many discouraging moments. This has been the highlight of our work during the first three months of the year 2025, as they presented their bodies as a living exercise … to reach their goal. Now, the next challenge is to get some land and build a small training center, which then will need to be adequately furnished with appropriate furniture and training equipment to allow them to work smoothly in the communities they serve, providing various trainings according to the needs of the community. In the third area, we faced setbacks with our CHE Trainer’s poor health status after his near-fatal motorbike accident. It has been nearly two years now since the accident, but we praise God that he is slowly regaining function of his once crushed upper limb, having undergone two major surgeries to restore a semblance of function and shape. Here again, our trainer (and we all)  experienced the amazing power of healing, which can happen only supernaturally and not by any surgical skills. This was with the help of all your prayers interceding for him.

Also, during these months, I have experienced grace in abundance when I had the opportunity to visit with my older children in various parts of the world and attend and be involved with my grandchildren’s needs and lives as they grow up in their own circumstances. God has a purpose in each of their and our lives and our prayer was and will continue to be that His name will be lifted high through our ways and each other’s support.

I want to thank each one of you, who I know is closely following our work in CHE ministry for the wonderful support by your prayers and finances. Please pray that we continue to “……. present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service”

Shalom!

Samson and Priscilla

EFM Nepal

The post Retnaraj Quarter One Ministry Update first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Samson y Priscilla Retnaraj | Sirviendo en Nepal

A medida que el año llega a su fin y estamos casi en la semana de Navidad, nuestros corazones están rebosantes de alabanza a nuestro Señor Dios, y estamos muy agradecidos de aprovechar la oportunidad para saludar a nuestros amigos, a los que nos apoyan y familiares en la celebracion de la Navidad y dar la bienvenida al nuevo año 2025 con alegría en nuestros corazones. Comenzó con mucha confusión, y muchos de nosotros en la familia estábamos enfrentando enfermedades y sintiéndonos inseguros y perdidos debido a estar separados unos de otros por un par de años. Nuestro hijo Prateek también enfrentó algunos problemas de salud difíciles, pero los superó todos cuando finalmente se graduó en abril y consiguió un trabajo para seguir su sueño de ser consejero. Recibió un amplio apoyo de las becas de EFM y de las fervientes oraciones de todos ustedes. Tuvimos una gran fiesta para celebrar su graduación con la presencia de personas muy estimadas en Newberg.

Durante la mayor parte de la primera parte del año, nos tomamos un año sabático y trabajamos en diputaciones en los EE. UU. Cuando regresamos a nuestro trabajo y responsabilidades, estuvimos agradecidos de que nos hayan dado otro período de extensión. Nuestros capacitadores de CHE trabajaron duro y dos de nuestros lugares de trabajo (Chitwan y Rautahat) han iniciado centros de aprendizaje comunitarios, que nos dieron una base legal para nuestro trabajo de CHE a través del cual ahora se pueden establecer confraternidades y “comités” en estos distritos. Gradualmente, estos líderes, con sus comités, han asumido la responsabilidad del trabajo en el futuro y están en las etapas finales de tener un centro bien equipado físicamente para ayudarlos a integrarse con la comunidad.

Nuestro entrenador de CHE en Aurahi, el Sr. Arun Mandal, enfrentó muchas dificultades inicialmente debido al accidente en el que casi perdió la vida y, posteriormente, su recuperación se ralentizó debido a complicaciones en el proceso de curación física y mental. Pero estamos contentos de compartir que esto simplemente fortaleció su fe en Dios y, por gracia, milagrosamente, su

trabajo creció a lo largo de los meses de este año. Se sometió a una cirugía nuevamente para quitar los implantes y volver a insertar una placa ósea porque la curación fue lenta.

Miramos hacia el nuevo año sin temor y confiados en que “el que comenzó en vosotros la buena obra, la perfeccionará hasta el día de Cristo Jesús”. Estamos agradecidos a todos por mostrarnos tan maravillosamente su amor al apoyarnos con sus oraciones y cuidado.

¡SHALOM!

Samson y Priscilla Retnaraj

Nepal

Descargue la carta de oración de este mes aquí…

“Te alabaré entre los pueblos, oh Señor; cantaré de ti entre las naciones.” Salmos 59

The post Carta de Oración enero 2025 first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Samson and Priscilla Retnaraj | Serving in Nepal

As the year comes to an end and we are almost into the Christmas week, our hearts are brimming with praise to our Lord God, and we’re so grateful to make use of the opportunity to greet our friends, supporters, and family on the occasion of Christmas and welcome the new year 2025 with joy in our hearts. It started off with a lot of confusion, and many of us in the family were facing illnesses and feeling insecure and lost due to being apart from each other for a couple of years. Our son Prateek also faced some difficult health issues but overcame it all when he finally graduated in April and got a job to pursue his dream of being a counselor. He was amply supported by EFM scholarships and your fervent prayers. We had a grand party to celebrate his graduation with very esteemed people in attendance in Newberg.

For most of the early part of the year, we went on a Sabbatical leave and deputation work in the US. As we returned to our work and responsibilities, we are grateful that we were given another term on extension. Our CHE Trainers worked hard, and two of our workplaces (Chitwan & Rautahat) have started Community Learning Centers, which gave us a legal basis for our CHE work through which house fellowships and ‘committees’ can now be established in these districts. Gradually, these leaders, with their committees, have taken responsibility for the work in the future and are in the final stages of having a well-equipped Centre physically to help them integrate with the community.

Our CHE Trainer in Aurahi – Mr. Arun Mandal, faced a lot of difficulties initially with the accident in which he almost lost his life, and subsequently, his recovery was slowed because of complications in the healing process physically and mentally. But we are glad to share that it just strengthened his faith in God, and by grace, miraculously, his work grew over the months this year. He underwent surgery again to remove the implants and re-insert a bone plate because the healing was slow.

We look to the new year fearlessly and confident that “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” We are grateful to all of you for so wonderfully showing your love by supporting us through your prayers and care.

SHALOM!

Samson & Priscilla Retnaraj

Nepal

I will Praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to you among the nations….” Psalms 57: 9

Download this month’s full prayer letter here…

The post January 2025 Prayer Letter first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Before we embarked on the next leg of our deputation, we first visited West Chehalem Friends Church in the Newberg area of Oregon on Sunday, April 28, and presented an update of our CHE ministry in Nepal to the church. From there we flew on April 29 to Wabash, Indiana to be with our friends and supporters there for a week-long time of sharing and presentations, sometimes three times a day with different groups and being introduced to the Pastorate committee as well as other lay leaders of the church. We were so glad that we were invited to a meeting of the IYM (Indiana Yearly Meeting) leaders at Wabash. A very significant meeting was held with Tim Albright who oversees the Small Business Development training and activities for Global Disciples. We also had the opportunity to visit White’s institution which was started by Josiah White for juvenile boys and girls with behavioral issues and substance abuse. Students here are provided support, and also a high school education and correction in a very Christian atmosphere.  Josiah White was a Quaker businessman from Pennsylvania himself, who worked through trial and hardship, amassing significant wealth through successfully revolutionizing the canal and coal industries.  With his success, he desired to leave a legacy of helping others.  In his will, he left funds to purchase what is now Josiah White’s property in Wabash, Indiana to begin serving “the most deserted of children.”

After the Sunday worship service at Wabash Friends Church, where we presented a brief report about our CHE and Small Business training activities, we left for an evening gathering of Friends at Farmland Friends  Church in Indiana and met with Pastor Keith and Kevin Barcus. This was our first visit to this Friends church in Indiana.

We then departed to visit Hughesville Friends church in Pennsylvania. This was also our first visit to this community, and they are an important community of Friends in EFC-ER led by Pastor Dan Hale. A standout of this trip was our visit to the local public school at the request of the school administration to talk about Nepal and our work as missionaries to 14 and 15 year old school kids (7^th and 8^th graders) for five hours during their official school hours for a geography class. Also, very significant during this visit was our interaction with their Missions committee and the opportunity to introduce our CHE ministry in Nepal to them.

From Pennsylvania, we flew to Wichita, Kansas, and gave an update about CHE at Bethel Friends Church Hugoton for a Sunday worship service. They have been providing very strong support for our CHE ministry for many years. I also got the opportunity to visit the Pastoral team of Northridge Friends Church in Wichita on the evening of May 10 (Friday) and presented our strategy for the next few years to the leaders of this church. During our stay in Kansas, we enjoyed the hospitality shown by Dr. Kevin Hoppock and Matt Macy and spent some rare moments of relaxation with their families.

We next moved to Phoenix, Arizona where we participated in the International Wholistic Missions conference organized by Global CHE Network from May 13-17. Priscilla could also attend the Women’s Cycle of Life pre-conference and I had the opportunity to attend the Transform Poverty workshop, much of which we were already practicing in our CHE ministry in Nepal in some communities. Many leaders from developing countries of Africa and Asia (where CHE is used as a simple tool for church planting) participated and shared their experiences and discussions were held on being a part of a “Million Village Challenge” all over the world.

We were physically and mentally tired after our extensive travels for meetings as well as presentations. We finally went on Friday, May 17 to Hanover Friends Church in Mechanicsville Virginia of the EFC-ER and again enjoyed sharing about our CHE ministry with their Missions Committee and spoke to the church on Sunday during worship service which culminated with a potluck lunch being served. The same day we left for Portland and Newberg and are now in Newberg preparing for our long journey back to Nepal and India planned for May 23.

We are so grateful to all the churches and Missions committees for patiently hearing and being updated about our CHE Ministry in Nepal. Many individuals reached out to us with questions, and suggestions and prayed for us while we traveled to their communities. We are also grateful to EFM officers and administrative staff who went to great lengths to ensure that our logistical support for travels, visits, and meetings went well. We were also grateful for the EFM car provided so that we could get to many places during our sabbatical leave, in January and February 2024, and subsequently for our deputation work with churches in various yearly meetings. We were provided with ample amounts of material like prayer cards, thank you cards, and other EFM stationary materials needed for our visits. We have been overwhelmed by the loving support we received from Jan Cammack by providing us with a place in Newberg, Oregon to use as a base, and for the many trips she made to Portland airport and some other places in Oregon ferrying us in and out for our “missions”. She got a taste of India as we stayed for so long in her house and she shared our cooking skills. We thank God for keeping us safe and healthy during this longer visit (almost six months) and making our trip a memorable deputation. To God be all Glory.

Shalom!

Samson & Priscilla Retnaraj

The post Retnaraj Deputation Update #4 first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

We traveled in the EFM car from Metolius, Oregon to Southern California where again we were welcomed warmly in the churches we visited i.e. Glendora Friends, Brea Friends, and Rose Drive Friends for Sunday worship services. We had the opportunity to stay in a house with people who understood missions and were very encouraging and accepted our Asian ways of living. For the latter part of our stay, it was a totally unique experience staying at the Rowntree Gardens which is a retirement community and assisted living facility. It almost gives us a good glimpse of our future status as we look forward to times after our retirement! On our last day (Sunday) in California, it was special to meet up with our coach Gregg Prickett who helped introduce us in church and the adult  Sunday School classes where we had a very attentive and encouraging group of listeners and supporters.

During these three weeks, we also got to meet pastors and leaders of Fullerton and Gateway Friends churches and met and discussed with the young “future” EFM missionaries who are stationed in California and under a senior mentor. It also was a pleasure to meet and talk with Stan Leach (Executive Director EFM) and his wife Sandi and enjoy an Indian meal with them!

We traveled back to Newberg by road in the EFM car and got back safely. Thank you, all our friends and supporters, for praying for our well-being and safety. We have been very encouraged by the response and understanding of our CHE ministry by individuals, churches, and mission committees about the strategy we will follow in the next few years. Many individuals and churches have pledged to continue and even increase their support by prayers and finances for our CHE ministry and for us as a family. We have traveled 3,800 miles by road in the last two months of March and April so far and have experienced the grace of God in abundance. We give him all the glory and honor for providing us with the strength and endurance needed for these miles traveled and the people and communities we met and shared.

Shalom!

Drs. Samson and Priscilla Retnaraj

EFM Missionaries in Nepal

The post Retnaraj Deputation Update #2 first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

We are so happy to report on our deputation activities.

We started on March 1 and traveled by car. As of March 31, we have covered approximately 2700 miles in the Ford Fusion we are borrowing from EFM and been to Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. In Idaho we visited the following churches: Post Falls (North Idaho), Woodland Friends (in Kamaiah), Homedale Friends, Greenleaf Friends, the Hispanic Friends Group at Greenleaf Friends, Caldwell Friends, Melba Friends, Meridian Friends, Star Community Church, Whitney Friends, and Boise Friends. In Oregon we visited Newberg Friends, Metolius Friends, and Bend Friends. We also visited Vancouver Friends in Washington.

We also had several visits with individuals on our support list and new contacts wanting to know about our CHE ministry in Nepal. Overall, we were very encouraged by the discussions and renewal of commitments that took place in several churches and during the mid-week meetings. We were able to show a PowerPoint presentation with pictures to update on our work in Nepal and we also distributed our latest prayer card. We also got to share a beautifully designed weekly prayer plan for our ministry with all our friends and churches, this prayer guide introduces our CHE Trainers, their activities, and families.

Please pray for our visits in April to the following places and the church communities who have asked us to visit them to update them on the progress we are making especially with regards to the Community Learning Centers and the Small Business Development work in our communities. Here is our schedule for the next month:
• April 7 – Glendora Friends Church
• April 14 – Friends Community Church Brea
• April 21 – Rose Drive Friends Church
• April 25-27 – Attending Prateek’s graduation ceremony at George Fox University in Newberg
• April 28 – West Chehalem Friends
• April 29 – Traveling to Indiana to visit Wabash Friends Church and small groups until May 6

It has been a joy for us to share with churches and individuals in the last month of March and we request your prayers as we continue our travels and meetings in April.

Sincerely,
Samson & Priscilla

We currently have 937 prayer partners and have a goal of raising it to 1,200. If you know anyone who would like to pray for our ministry, please forward this form to them. We are currently at 88% of our ongoing monthly need. If you are a current monthly supporter, thank you. It is important to let EFM know that you plan to continue or increase your giving. If you are not currently giving, please pra         yerfully consider supporting our ministry in Nepal. There are four ways to partner with us financially: Online. Visit https://catalog.friendsmission.com/retnaraj. You’ll be given the opportunity to indicate whether you are making a recurring or one-time gift. Credit Card. This may be given online (as stated above) or by calling the EFM office (303-421-8100) to give your information to a live person. Automatic Bank Transfer. Download the form aquí and email it Debby McElroy (EFM Bookkeeper) at debby@friendsmission.com. Please note that ACH payments are processed on the 10th or 25th of the month. Check. Mail a check to EFM, P.O. Box 771139, Wichita, KS 67277. Make sure to mark your check “Retnaraj Support” and note if you will be giving on a recurring basis (monthly, quarterly, etc.). Pay to the order of “EFM.”

The post Retnaraj Deputation Update #1 first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.