Bhutan

The "Land of the Thunder Dragon", as the Kingdom of Bhutan is called, is located in the eastern Himalayas, wedged between India and China. It is bordered on the west, south, and east by India, and on the north by the Tibetan part of China. With dense forests and fresh mountain air, Bhutan's two million people are surrounded by natural beauty.

According to legend, a Buddhist monk was looking for land on which to build a monastery. When he found the right spot, he heard thunder and thought it was the bellow of a dragon. So he named the monastery Druk, or "thunder dragon".

Bhutan's main language is Dzongkha, with 14 other languages spoken there as well. One of those is Nepali, used by the Nepalese minority (30%). The main people group is the Drukpa (63%), most of whom live in northwest Bhutan. They believe in leading a virtuous life to ensure happiness in the next.

The economy of Bhutan is largely subsistence-based, with 90 percent of the population involved in agriculture. Main crops include rice, millet, wheat, barley, corn, potatoes, oranges and apples. Many people are also engaged in livestock farming—breeding yaks, cattle, horses and donkeys. Because the rugged terrain makes travel difficult, people may walk hours or even days to the nearest market. During the torrential monsoon rains, landslides can easily interrupt transportation and communication.

Mahayana Buddhism, which has occult undercurrents, is the official religion of Bhutan and is practiced by around 72 percent of the people. Buddhist monks—often seen dancing in their dragon-masks at festivals—hold great moral and spiritual influence over the people. Bhutan is 23 percent Hindu and 4 percent Muslim.

Less than one percent of Bhutan's population is Christian, and anti-Christian sentiment runs strong. Those who do profess Christ face the possibility of being expelled from the country, stripped of their citizenship or harassed in other ways.

Though they regularly face opposition, missionaries with Gospel for Asia persevere with joy to see the Good News take root in one of the world's least evangelized countries.