Day 1. (North-East South Asia Staff Gathering)

By Martin Gonzalez;

More than 300 YWAMers from all of Nepal, North East India and Bhutan came with excitement to the celebration.

After a great time of worship, Dilli Ram Paudel, Nepal National Director, gave an opening message about this being a year of jubilee for YWAM. We heard how as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of YWAM, we expect to get back dreams, visions and places that we've lost or where we have not yet gone. This 50th year is a year of new and greater release of visions and teams to all of the Omega Zones of the world and our region.

Day 2.  (NESA Staff Gathering & start of Founders’ 50th Anniversary Event)

The second day started in the cold of the Kathmandu Valley with breakfast and fellowship. What a great time of meeting old friends and meeting new members of our family in many new and old places!

We heard a message by Sukadev Giri, Chitwan Base Director. He spoke about a key word for us as YWAM:  “Go!” We reflected on going to new places and spheres of society in different ways and manners and through different ministries; even when they are not the traditional way in which we have been doing things.

The 18 bases in the North-East South Asia Region told what God has done in their areas and what we expect to see in the future.

In the afternoon we welcomed our founders, and co-workers and spiritual parents in the mission: Loren and Darlene Cunningham in the Nepali, Bhutanese and Northeast India style: with songs, dances and jubilation. We received their greetings and Loren welcomed us to Nepal! At least all of us who were born in Nepal or came to Nepal after 1963 as that‘s when he came to Nepal first!

We heard how God started YWAM Bhutan and how He continues to move through evangelism, training and mercy ministries in that nation.

Loren spoke to us about how the flame of God goes forward on earth. It started with Jesus and has been passed since from person to person until it reached us. We received a challenge to pass the flame to others so it can continue to continue to go forward.

Day 3.

We heard what God has done through our family in the North East of India and what He is doing now. We enjoyed a nice song by our Mizo (from the Indian State of Mizoram) YWAMers in the region.

Darlene shared with us words of encouragement and words of a mother to YWAMers. She encouraged us to focus on God and serve Him and others with our gifts and abilities.

The counsel she gave to all of us present there was: "The gifts that we have were given by God and the ones we do not have are part of His plan for us."  We all made the Jubilee Covenant with God and one another and we all signed our names.

For the rest of this day we were joined by dozens of pastors and leaders from the area. They were thanked by the Nepal YWAM family for their support and friendship.

Nepal Report: We saw a presentation about the history and work of YWAM in Nepal and heard how YWAM Nepal has committed to see at least one permanent long term team or ministry in each of all of the 41 Omega Zones of Nepal within the next 10 years.  After the report we enjoyed a Magar (Nepali) dance that was joined by the first Nepali YWAMer, Kishor Rana.

Loren spoke to us about transforming nations taking examples from Korea and Norway. We heard a very significant message for our region about transforming our nations through love, service and the teaching of truth instead of using violent means. We heard how the world has been transformed and continues to be transformed by the people of God and saw what has been our part as a YWAM family in many places and regions.

We had a photo session with Loren and Darlene with the Bhutan, Nepal and North East India YWAMers and with the visitors and guests. Right after this, Loren and Darlene left and went directly to the airport to travel to Bangladesh.

After a deep and meaningful time of worship, our NESA regional director, Ben Rex, spoke about how we can continue to take the flame forward if we focus on God and in our tasks ahead .  We finished with a long time of vibrant praise and worship that lasted for the rest of the day, culminating in a time of jumping, dancing and rejoicing.