A US team of volunteers has returned from extremely remote villages high in the Himalayan Mountains of Nepal, where they delivered and installed two dozen water filters, enabling villagers to have clean drinking water for the first time. The water filters were provided by Global Outreach International (GO International), a San Diego based Christian organization.
19 men and women from Hawaii, California and Oregon, along with men and women from Kathmandu, Nepal trekked to the most remote villages in the Langtang Region of Nepal to deliver and install the water filters. They were accompanied by three recovering lepers, who hope to be the first lepers to reach the summit of Mt. Everest within the next few years as a testimony to the hope and healing found in their Christian faith in this Hindu nation.
As a part of their preparation, the lepers climbed to the summit of Yala Peak, nearly 19,000’ high, with the expedition leader and affiliate of GO International, David Courson. Mr. Courson became the oldest person to ever reach the summit of this challenging climb. “It’s a privilege and honor to not only reach the summit, but more importantly to partner with dedicated Christian men and women from the US and Nepal in providing clean drinking water to these people who have been suffering from life-threatening diseases from drinking polluted water” stated Courson, who has been leading Christian relief teams to remote villages and refugee camps around the world for over thirty-five years.
This ambitious project was two years in the planning, and was a collaborative effort of several Christian organizations, including GO International. Some of the Nepalese villagers were so impressed by the Christian testimony of the Nepali lepers, that they asked how they could become Christians. Volunteers were happy to explain how they could enjoy not only clean drinking water, but more importantly the “water of life” by accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord. History was made when for the first time in recorded history people living in this remote area of Nepal placed their trust in Jesus Christ.
GO International will be sending another team of volunteers to Nepal in 2012. For additional information on becoming a volunteer with GO International to Nepal or how to assist in providing resources to those in need, call Dr. David Bray, President of GO International at (808) 463-7771 or David Courson at (808) 298-7145. There are still some openings for those who would want to be one this once in a lifetime Mission.
Cost per person $4,150 (all inclusive)
