A beautiful scene of tree-covered mountains surrounded us as our airplane landed in Bhutan. As we stepped out of the plane, the air was fresh and crisp against our skin. People greeted us wearing the unique clothing of this culture—something like kilts for men, and heavy, brightly colored wrap skirts for women. I marveled at the untouched beauty of this land, excited to think how God would open the doors for His work in Bhutan.
Bhutan is a country of approximately 700,000 people, primarily Buddhists. They seem to be quite devout. The homes we entered had entire rooms dedicated to worship. Prayer wheels in stupas dot roadsides. Often, the prayer wheels are kept turning constantly by a flow of water. Bhutan seems to be a place filled with worship, and we pray it is ripe for the Gospel.
I was interested to learn that Bhutan is a monarchy, and its current king is only 35 years old. The people love him dearly and speak very highly of his kindness. His picture is everywhere.
We were overwhelmed by the genuine hospitality and kindness of Bhutanese people as they opened their homes to us and freely shared of themselves. I am a question-asker, and the more I asked, the more they engaged with me.
We did some treks in Bhutan and encountered huge statues of Buddha, large monasteries on hilltops and cliff sides, and fortresses that encompassed government offices and areas of worship. We also saw several takins, the national animal of Bhutan, which the locals describe as a combination of moose and pig.
Please pray that God will provide a way for missionaries to live among these unreached people in this beautiful land and light it on fire with the love of Jesus!
