My name is  Simon Thapa nearly 2009 May 14 th , I came to the US through World Relief, Atlanta.  Here is my story:

I was born in a Hindu family and my parents were farmers from Southern  part of Bhutan. My village had gentle slopes, and we enjoyed mild climate and simple way of life. I studied in the local village school and did not have big dreams, but satisfied to become a farmer like my parents. 

In the 1990s there was ethnic tension in my country Bhutan where we Bhutanese of Nepali ethnicity were seen as demographic and cultural threat. During the same year of political unrest another kind of unrest was going on in my heart. Hinduism was not able to answer the deepest needs of my heart. Despite coming from a Hindu family I came to know about Christ and had a growing desire to learn more about this new religion Christian.

In 1991 in the height of agitation, I decided to get baptized by Ps. KT Oman and AT Thomas and committed to become a Christian. My life dramatically changed and started to witness to my villagers about the new life  in Jesus.  As a result of my Testimony many came to the Lord and we started a house fellowship.  Some villagers did not like this and complained to my parents, demanding them to ostracize me and my family. Under pressure my parents evicted me my wife and two children Esther &,John from their home.  

Hindus consider Christians impure and of the lowest caste and by ostracizing me my parents were accepted back in the society.

I had no idea where to go, but thankfully I had made a chicken coop in our back yard which became my home for the next few years 1991 - 1993. I counted this as joy to be deprived of homely comfort for the sake of the gospel. I not only used it as living quarters but also welcomed other believers to come and have fellowship. I started a house fellowship with about five believers which later grew to about fifty.

In December 1992 during the Christmas gathering we were summon to a village headman and  government District office at Damphu Chirang Bhutan accused of proselytizing. Some of us were beaten and threatened not to meet for worship or gather together.  Such summons and threats kept happening from time to time, but we held on to our faith.  We were asked to either leave our faith or leave the country Bhutan.

At the end of 1992 there was growing fear that I and my family could be captured and put behind bars.  Every day and night we lived under this constant fear and eventually I decided to leave the country.  With very little knowledge of the outside world and financial constraints. I took my wife and two small children and dared to leave my village and Country Bhutan . I made few stops in neighboring towns Sharbhang , Gaylegphug, Phuntsholing and Jaigaon border of Bhutan and India. .  After  one and half month in Jaigaon i started my journey to Eastern Nepal and Join in Bhutanese Refugee Camp Nepal  Beldangee Redcross on March 18th 1993. 

Since 1993 March 18th until May 8th 2009 May  was last Refuge life we took shelter in the camps with UNHCR assistance. Our shelter was plastic roof, bamboo walls and mud floors.  We had to make our own bathroom by digging the earth and placing wood for flooring and plastic sheets as covers. Bedrooms and kitchen was the same space and mosquitoes were a menace during summers. The threat of snakes and wild animals elephant always was a possibility. Despite all this the joy of knowing Christ was the highlight at the end of the day.

In the camps we started a house Church and freely shared our testimony and many came to faith. It was very difficult to leave behind a group of believers when it was time for us to be resettled in the US through (IOM) International Organization for Migration  .  In May 2009 we started our new life in the Atlanta US.

We were met at the airport by our resettlement agency staff who spoke Nepali and taken to the apartment of our relatives where we enjoyed ethnic food. It was heartwarming to enter into our apartment where everything was set up for us and enjoy the space and privacy we were deprived for many years. Having our own toilet, bathroom and running water was such a luxury.  Back in the camps we had to live with the extreme cold of winter and the summer heat. Central heating system and the provision of all basic needs was overwhelming for my simple mind. World Relief assisted me and my family to apply for all documents ID , Social Security Card Employment Card Green Card and Medical transportation etc. I have 1st  job at Goodwill Roswell Alpharetta north Georgia on July 14th 2009. It was very difficult in the beginning to travel long hours by bus and train Marta to work,

I was change my job on 2011 November 26 at Chicken Compony Fieldale Farm Gainesville Georgia so i can attend Church Regularly .

My wife work other Chicken  Compony Perry Georgia.

Unfortunately on March 22th 2011 my wife accident on the way with 15 seater Van two people export death all thirteen people admitted Mecan Hospital . After 18 days she transport Dekalb Medical Center and Admitted he hospital after 8 days she discharge from hospital and came to apartment home after 25 days. 

I missed our young daughter Esther in 2012 May 5th  our heart broken but God saved me and my family my wife, son, daughter In Law,  After six months God provide us grandson Johnson on  November 20th 2012 and again God Gave other Grand Daughter Jelena December 31th  2014.

Now I have my own car i buy on 2012  and i have own home i buy 2014, it is hard to believe that this was just a dream few years ago.

Since I came to Atlanta US I started a Church on difficult time 2012 - January - August Home Fellowship.  On August 12 2012 Ps. Fred O Pitt, Dr. Jim. and Bryan.  provide a room for fellowship with about 13 members and now we are more than 100 and worshiper at Claremont Hill Baptist Church at Decatur.

Now the name change Brigepoint Church 

We start sister Church at   Lawrenceville area where 22 of us meet. from 2017 - 2020 due to Covid we stop at Lawrenceville GA. 

But still we are fellowship at Decatur from 2012 - 2024 ........

I have a 3rd Job at Covington Georgia Plating from 2023 - January 18,   It is humbling to be coming from a chicken coop to a nice home in the US and I am ever grateful to God for seeing me 

                     Thank you