SEND magazine First Quarter 2007: A Lama Chooses Life
A Lama Chooses Life
When a Gospel for Asia women's team reached Panchu's home for the first time, he was touched that they made the five-hour uphill climb to visit him.
"We told him that we had come to see how they were doing," remembers team leader Manmaya. "They were very happy to know that we took all the trouble of walking up to see them."
The women's visit that day was the start of a beautiful friendship with Panchu and his family, and the team members began to regularly make the trek up the mountains to his home.
"We started sharing the Gospel with him," says Manmaya, "and he became very friendly to all of us."
But while he welcomed their visits, he could not become a Christian, Panchu told them, for his family had been Buddhist for generations.
'A Beggar and a Robber'
At his parents' urging, Panchu began serving in the local Buddhist monastery at age 16. He worked his way up to become a lama, or religious teacher, which elevated him to a more respected and "enlightened" status in his religion. But as time went on, Panchu grew increasingly disillusioned with his beliefs.
When visiting the home of someone who suffered from sickness, he would listen as a more experienced lama read from the sacred texts and chanted mantras for the appeasement of the spirit gods. Often one visit would last several days. Panchu knew it only took four to five hours to recite the mantras, but the longer the senior lama stayed, the more food and rice beer he received from his unsuspecting hosts, many of whom were poor with little or no education. At the end of the visit, this lama would also receive some money and a plate of rice. If he didn't feel the sum of money was enough, he would start to grumble.
"It used to be quite embarrassing," Panchu remembers, adding, "Seeing all this, I was so discouraged that I wanted to quit. It seemed to me that to be a lama is to live the life of a beggar as well as a robber."
Due to his many responsibilities in the monastery and the heavy influence of Buddhism in his village, Panchu found himself trapped between intense community pressure and a highly unfulfilling belief system—with no apparent way of escape.
"I used to think, 'Buddhism has never given me peace of mind,' " Panchu recalls. "There was nothing that really benefited my soul, no matter what I did or gave."
Removing the Barriers
Hearing that the GFA women's team had started a residential school in their village, Panchu enrolled his daughter Sarika and his youngest son, Chudan. Both children enjoyed the love and nurture they received there, as well as the Bible stories and songs that were taught them.
But Panchu's heart was troubled by his daughter Sarika's strange illness, which caused her to fall unconscious and water to constantly drip from her head. He tried to use his powers as a lama but was unable to cure her. Although he sought the help of other lamas and even witch doctors, his daughter's condition remained the same.
Seeing Sarika's condition and discerning that she was afflicted by demonic forces, the women's team prayed earnestly and with compassion for her healing and deliverance-and the Lord completely restored her. Sarika responded with heartfelt faith in Jesus. Chudan also received Christ.
Panchu could not deny that his daughter's healing must be a miracle, but still he did not choose to trust in Christ. The incident did help him see how deeply the women's team cared for his family.
Meanwhile, Panchu was also suffering from his own mysterious illness: His legs hurt badly, his knees swelled up, he suffered from asthma and his skin was turning darker. Doctors could find no medical explanation for his condition. He tried the rituals, ceremonies and magic arts he had learned, but all his efforts were in vain. Finally, he consulted a senior lama in hopes of a favorable outcome, but instead the man prophesied that Panchu would die within three months. The prognosis disturbed Panchu and only added to his growing disillusionment with the Buddhist faith.
"From now on, I will call the Christians and ask them to pray for me," Panchu remembers angrily telling the senior lama.
Manmaya and the women's team continued to visit frequently and pray earnestly for Panchu's healing and salvation. They told him their God had the power to heal, and their words gave him reason to hope.
The team members also made arrangements for a GFA mobile team to visit Panchu's village and show a film on the life of Christ. The love of Jesus he saw on the screen and in the lives of these young women was softening his heart and removing the barriers to faith in Christ.
Then one day, Panchu discovered to his joy that the Lord had healed him completely, and within the next few days, both Panchu and his wife put their trust in Christ.
Following a God Who Loves
A fellowship group now meets regularly in Panchu's home to worship and study God's Word—a light to the community and a source of great encouragement for new believers. Panchu would like to donate some of his property for a church building, and he has a vibrant passion to see his village reached for Christ.
Panchu is amazed at how the Lord has changed his life and met his deepest needs.
"My family deities that I worshipped didn't heal me; rather, they were angry with me. So instead of dying, I chose to live by following a God who loves and gives healing to me."
And Panchu is deeply grateful for the team of young women whom the Lord used to start it all—who faithfully climbed the mountain path to his village and pointed him and his family to eternal life.
Learn more about Panchu's transformation here.
