In late April/early May, Jamin spent 2 weeks in the Himalaya’s of northern India doing a “visa run” and to research possible ministry opportunities in the region. Since Jamin is on a tourist visa, he has to leave the country every few months. Tamara and the boys have a residence visa, so they do not have to do these visa runs. Our family visited the Indian Himalaya’s in late 2011 and had an amazing time there. There are numerous pockets of Tibetans spread across the south side of the Himalaya’s. Like Tibetans in Tibet, most Tibetans in India have had little or no access to the Gospel.
The political situation across much of the Tibetan Plateau, which covers over 25% of the land mass of China, has been tense for much of the past 5 years. Widespread riots in the spring of 2008 left hundreds dead officially (and thousands dead unofficially) and over 115 Tibetans have self-immolated (ie. lit themselves on fire in protest of the Chinese government) the past 2 years. It has been nearly impossible for foreigners to get permission to live and work in the interior regions of the Tibetan Plateau due to violence, unrest and self-immolation protests. Because of these restrictions, our family has been praying for over a year trying to determine if the Lord was wanting us to relocate to India and work among the Tibetan people there.
A woman of Tibetan descent in northwest India. Like most other Tibetans, she is spinning her prayer wheel and holding her prayer beads.
A Buddhist monk standing above the town of Leh (elevation 11,500 feet) with the Himalaya’s rising in the background.
The Himalaya’s rising above the Old Town of Leh, capital of Ladakh.
Jamin spent a full week in two opposite ends of the Indian Himalaya’s. The first region he went to was Ladakh in the far northwest part of India.This part of India is nearly identical to western Tibet as it is a high altitude desert that is sparsely populated. The culture, food, religion and language are all nearly identical to Tibet. The capital of Ladakh is the town of Leh, which has around 30,000 people. The town sits at 11,500 feet above sea level and is surrounded by snow-capped Himalayan peaks. With the natural beauty, many ministry opportunities and being an area that is much more open to foreigners, Jamin expected to hear clearly the Lord directing our family to move to this area. However, this didn’t happen. Not even close…..
The tea fields of Sikkim in the eastern Himalaya’s
A young Tibetan Buddhist monk in Sikkim
Kangchenjunga, the world’s 3rd highest peak, rising above the forests in northern Sikkim
After a week in Ladakh, Jamin spent a week in Sikkim in the eastern Himalaya’s of India. Sikkim is a beautiful region that is covered in alpine forests that give way to towering snow-capped peaks. The world’s 3rd highest peak, Kangchenjunga is found in Sikkim. Sikkim is also home to many unreached people groups who are followers of Tibetan Buddhism and share many of the same cultural traits as Tibetans. Jamin also expected to hear the Lord say the this was the area our family was to move to…..but it didn’t happen!
Halfway through his time in the Indian Himalaya’s, Jamin became quite discouraged. He thought that he would certainly hear direction from the Lord regarding India and future ministry plans. Jamin had an amazing time in India and saw many ministry opportunities, but just wasn’t sensing that now was the time for our family to move to India. When Jamin returned home to the Tibetan Plateau, Tamara also agreed that perhaps now wasn’t the time to go to India. Perhaps the Lord still has more plans for us among the people of the Tibetan Plateau!
Kangchenjunga, the world’s 3rd highest peak. Picture was taken shortly after sunset in northern Sikkim.
A Buddhist monk reciting mantras in Sikkim
Overlooking Leh, the capital town of Ladakh in the western Himalaya’s of India
A Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the Himalaya’s
Come back soon to hear what doors the Lord has opened for our family!
Blessings!