Nepal Update

Dear Nepal Mission Trip Participants and Parents,

You may be aware there was a story aired on the Today Show this morning about a missing American woman in Nepal. This woman (23) was on a trek through India and the Himalayan mountains. She was reported missing by her parents when she failed to contact them on a specified date. There is mass search for her in the area she was hiking in now. These situations are unfortunately a part of the world we live in. Traveling alone, anywhere, as a young female, has become unsafe. That is why we have the rules we do on all Royal Servants mission trips.

We are writing to ask you to please pray for this woman, her family, and the authorities search for her and to inform you of our safety protocols and situations so you can be at peace.

On all our trips, no student is allowed to go anywhere on their own. They are always in groups of three or more, and always with a staff discipler or male. Specifically in Nepal, our students have a very specific distance that they are allowed to go, typically in groups of five, and never at night. The only time our students are out at night is if the whole team is together.  Also, we are always accompanied by local translators who are also Christian men that serve in local churches. They have been working with us for at least 10 years and have a lot of experience from helping other groups all year round.

Although we do go on a five-hour trek while in Pokhara, it is not into the mountains, it is during the day, we go as an entire team, we don't ever split up, and we are accompanied.

It is true we cannot prevent all possibilities that may happen in any country, but we believe that the steps we take, our extensive experience and assessment of Nepal, and the Christian network we serve with, provide a trustworthy and safe environment. If there was any chance that we believed the team to be in any danger, we would not go.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us. You can contact Dave Eikenberry, the Nepal trip leader, or you can contact me in the office.

Blessings,
Margaret Fischer