I was raised in a liberal Hindu culture. I more strongly held to Communism and Marxism. I trained in martial arts to the level of Shito Ryu Karate black belt. I finished middle school at age 14, and at 16, I joined the Maoist guerrillas, becoming a political commissar in my province. When I went to Tribhuvan University, I was elected to serve on the free student union in 2003. I was beaten by police, being accused of being a Maoist terrorist – nearly killed and thrown in a garbage container. When found by the garbage collector the next day, my ‘body’ was taken to the hospital. The doctor found I was alive, though paralysed, and I was hospitalised for 7 months. Amazingly, I recovered, and was eventually able to walk again, though slowly.

I escaped to Cyprus to preserve my life. There, my room-mate cheated me, stealing all my money and going to Canada. It was just my 3rd day in Cyprus, and now no money. New society and language, no work, and because of my disabilities, unable to work in construction as others did. I went to Polis and lived in the public toilets for 4 days and 3 nights, without food and clean water, and without cigarettes (I was a chain smoker) or beer. Somehow, I found a job in a petrol station, which I could do easily, just filling cars with petrol. My boss, Josef was a kind man.

That’s where I first met Michael Wright, a missionary from Northern Ireland, when filling his car with petrol. We became good friends in a very short time and I went regularly to the Upper Room where the local Church meets together. After 3 or 4 months, I became bored and lost interest in these things, because everything was completely new for me and also, it was questioning the way I was living.

Michael visited my house every single week, sometimes twice a week. One time, I told him that I was a Shito Ryu Karate player. Michael prayed and stood up and said “God bless you my friend. Jesus loves you” and he stepped out of the door. He came along the next day with a book that was written by Tony Anthony, “Taming the Tiger.” He said, “This is my friend and he is a 3 time world champion!” It was now September 2005, and I read part of the book. Michael kept asking me how I felt, when I read the book.

Michael never gave up visiting me, even when I was nasty to him. He taught me about God’s love, forgiveness, and grace, and His purpose to create me. He led me to the person of Christ. I understood and was convinced that, by the Grace of God, my sins could be forgiven. Eventually, one night when I was reading the Bible in Psalm 91, I just bowed to Jesus. I trusted in Christ. I started to share the Gospel amongst Nepalese and others in Cyprus.

I felt I should go back to Nepal and share the Gospel to the people of Nepal, even though I now had a good job, good money, good boss, and good fellowship. But my heart blows towards Nepal. I wanted God’s will, and talking with Michael, I felt that God was leading me to return to Nepal. Finally, some months later, Jesus made the way for me to go back to Nepal, now with a different attitude and motive, with the determination that I must seek to share the Gospel here in Nepal.

I have since managed to translate the book “Taming the Tiger” with the permission of the author Tony Anthony. My wife Santa and I, having committed ourselves as full-time servants of God, are happy to be worthy of being the servants of the Most High God. We rejoice in our service to Him and His calling. We never feel persecution or any disturbance from family and society since I returned.

Suddenly, my father died in May 2014 May and then I felt quite different. I have been forced to get involved or to leave home. I choose to leave, so then I was beaten and I escaped to Tamghas, whilst my wife Santa and son, Caleb (1.5 year) were forced out from our home in the middle of the night.

Santa and I still experience numerous persecutions but we praise our Lord for His endless love and for keeping us safe and happy even in the midst of the storm and various difficulties. We are more eager to serve Him boldly.

We ask you to pray for us. God Bless.

With prayer and love – Karna and Santa Pandey