Hello! In an effort to catch you up on the daily type of events/details from the 5 months on the field with S squad here is a recap on my February spent in Nepal. More updates to follow on the events of the following months in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, as well as an update on life now, and some of my personal takeaways from this journey God took me on so far this year.
Nepal: It was my second time in Nepal and we started the month off with a debrief in Kathmandu. Our coaches and mentor, Beka, joined us on the field and helped lead team sessions and squad talks. We entered into all squad month with a contact that encouraged the squad to start each day by putting on the armor of God (Check out Ephesians 6). I now have the motions memorized and I’m grateful for it.
We lived in a suburb of Kathmandu for the first half of the month, doing ministry in bars known for trafficking, sports ministry, prayer walks and treasure hunts, in which you ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to someone or something and direct the conversation. It was a month that stretched many on the squad and while it maybe wasn’t a favorite month for most, I loved that the squad was willing to be pushed out of their comfort zones or at least wrestle with it all.
Several of our squad members were sick during the first part of the month and required hospitalization for treatments. Tammy, Lo and I took turns on hospital duty. Twice on my way back from the hospital, I walked to a touristy area of town and went to my favorite coffee shop in Thamel for a honey latte and got some of the only true alone time I would have all month long. All squad months are equally my favorite and most draining months I’ve spent with squads.
The second half of the month, I traveled with half of the squad and our contact, Dilip to the mountains north west of Kathmandu. We stayed in his parents’ village and then in an area near a tourist destination, Pokhara, as a means to pray for and encourage the believers and pastors of the areas. I loved it. I loved having the hours to walk/hike alongside squad mates and get to know them better.
Dilip is a man of vision, joy, and humility. He led our teams so well and lovingly and it was a blessing to follow him for the ten days or so. We hiked many of the days and prayed over the country as we walked and it was amazing to see his passion and be moved to have a bigger passion for the country and nations out of seeing his heart for them.
Overall, I enjoyed my month there. I was able to repeat visit several of my favorite locations in the capital and spend time with many people on the squad that I had not yet spent much time. I saw the squad step into spiritual giftings with fervor, teams step into the difficulties of new ministries and God’s hand as freedom came in the form of deliverance. And I learned how to count, and speak very (can’t stress that very enough) basic Nepali. [From the title: Ek, Dui, Tin = 1,2,3]
Oh and my pal, dani, joined the squad for three months. Can’t forget about that bundle of joy and energy (Tammy, Lo, Me, and dani all squeezed into a taxi).
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