Month four in Nepal was challenging… Nepal is our first third-world country so far on the Race. We had to adjust to rough living conditions: cold water, no heat, daily power outages. For me it was a month of facing reality and embracing how I imagined the Race to be when I signed up. I hope this blog gives you a small glimpse into what I learned this month through the hardships.
MINISTRY:
This month was “manistry” month, meaning all the men on our squad did ministry together, and us women got to do….. women’s ministry!
In the mornings, we taught English to women rescued from or at risk for human trafficking. My group had about 6 ladies that we taught, and I really enjoyed getting to know them!
Then after English classes, we had an hour of prayer. This was our personal time with the Lord, and time to pray over the rest of the day. Then, in the afternoons, we went out to cabin restaurants and dance bars to minister to women in prostitution.
This was the hardest part of ministry for me. We brought gifts that we had wrapped (a scarf and gospel of John), and cards we had made. We always went out in three groups, two groups to visit the restaurants and one group to do intercessory prayer for the rest of us.
I didn’t know what to expect at first…. I’ve heard of human trafficking, but to actually be there and meet these girls is totally different. The restaurants we went to were tiny, hole-in-the-wall places, and if you were just going to look for food, you would have no idea what else went on there. We gave gifts to the girls who were working, and had short conversations with them. They were so happy to see us, and I realized for the first time that they’re just normal girls, who have hopes and dreams like me. It is really hard to comprehend the evil they are stuck in…
On the first day, one of the restaurants we went into was downstairs in a dark, sketchy room. There were 3 or 4 girls working, and our translator led us into the back to sit down and order some tea. Instead of tables, there were stalls. It was like going into a cave, dark and depressing. We sat down in one of the stalls and began talking with the girls. They were so happy to see us and talk with us! We asked how old they were, and they said 21, 22, etc. But they looked so young, like maybe 16 or 17 at the very oldest. They brought us tea, and sat with us for about a half hour. We asked about their families, and they said they are from villages, where their families still live. They came to Kathmandu to work and earn money for their families, and this is what they found.
Unfortunately, that is the reality for most young girls in villages: they hear about work in the city, and they get sold into the sex industry unknowingly.
It was really hard for me to process what I saw in the cabin restaurants. My mind didn’t want to accept the reality of human trafficking, and I didn’t know what to feel. I asked God to help me feel their pain, but then I also had to learn how to give the pain back to God and trust that He is greater than the evil in the world.
This month I also read a book that has been going around our squad called “Sold” (by Patricia McCormick) . It is the fictional story of a young Nepali girl sold by her family into prostitution. Its a hard book to read, but it gives a really good perspective on the reality that many girls face. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand more about human trafficking and what we faced this month. But be prepared – its not easy.
On a better note, another part of ministry that I really enjoyed was after-school tutoring with a girl named Juna! Her and her family just got rescued from the streets about 3 months ago, and are living with our ministry contact. Juna is 13 years old, and I got to help her with English, math, and even do some physical therapy exercises with her! She is such a sweet girl, and very eager to learn. Even though I only spent 3 days with her, it was one of my favorite parts of ministry this month!
CHRISTMAS IN NEPAL:
This year was my first Christmas away from home. It was a year away from all the lights, trees, decorations, and gifts, and I was forced to think about the real meaning of Christmas.
Most of my Christmas Eve was spent crammed in a bus. I went with some of my squad-mates to decorate the place where we would celebrate Christmas the next day… But what we didn’t realize is that it took 4 hours to get there! It was a rough day; some of us got sick, and public transportation is not the most fun way to spend the day.
On the last bus home, we were packed in like sardines. I felt claustrophobic, like even if I wanted to escape there was no way out. People blocked the aisle and the door, we were surrounded by traffic, and I wasn’t feeling well. But in the midst of all this, I closed my eyes and remembered that it was Christmas Eve…. and God gave me a new revelation:
The first Christmas when Jesus was born, there was nothing perfect about it. It wasn’t comfortable; it wasn’t spent at home with family sitting by a warm fire and looking at the Christmas tree lights. It wasn’t spent in a church service like many people go to. Mary and Joseph were far away from home, and they didn’t even have a room to stay in. Jesus was born in a stable with the animals. Here I am, half way around the world in Nepal, and I realized that the way we were spending Christmas here was closer to the reality of the first Christmas.
Jesus gave up His home and family in heaven to come to earth. He knows exactly how I feel when I miss my family. He entered a dark, cruel, sinful world to save us – and He knew it would be worth it in the end. He can relate to my homesickness, and to the poverty and darkness that is here.
On Christmas day, we celebrated with Nepali Christians who had lost their homes in the earthquake earlier this year. They live in a tiny community of metal huts in the mountains. Spending Christmas with them really put things into perspective for me; they lost their homes and even family members. I miss my family, but I still have family and a home to go back to. Thinking about all this, it made me so thankful for what I do have.
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Looking back on this month, I’m thankful for everything that I learned. Somehow living in poverty and hardship makes you focus more on the Lord and allows Him to do more in your life.
For me, this was a month of facing reality, and a month of processing everything God is doing in me. I began the process of “unpacking my bag”, both literally and spiritually. I went through all my belongings in my pack and got rid of everything I don’t need, mostly all my winter clothes (since the next 7 months will be hot!). I also spent time with the Lord, asking Him to show me what I need to leave behind spiritually, things like fear and comparison.
As 2016 is here, a lot of changes are coming along with it. Leadership is changing on our squad, and we have new teams. We’re heading away from comfort to India, then on to South East Asia. We’re moving into the next season of the Race – God has done a lot over the last 4 months, but I believe He has even more in store for the 7 months that lie ahead.
Lord, have your way!
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