Today was one of those days I hope I never forget. I woke up and walked up to the terrace that overlooks the Himalaya mountains. To say that the view is breathtaking is an understatement.
I listened to a sermon from my home church back in Georgia about how we serve an unexpected God. A God we find in the small quiet whispers. A God who deeply desires for us to slow down so that we can gain kingdom perspective. We serve an unhurried God who desires for us to have an intimate relationship with Him. “A God who sent His only son to die so that He could break the system to dismantle the power that has ruled the world to birth something new.”
In His weakness is the power of God manifest.
All of these qualities are so contrary to what our world tells us we should be. I always laugh when I go through life and experience one of these moments and say, “here’s that upside down kingdom thing again.” The world tells us to not slow down or we will miss out. The world tells us to be loud so you can be seen. Don’t show your weakness or you’ll be taken advantage of. But that is not what Jesus showed us. He showed us that He came into this world as a small, powerless, and vulnerable baby. He showed us that death actually gives us life.
Matthew 16:25
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.
After finishing my quiet time in the morning, our ministry host for the month sent two of their sons to come pick us up to meet as a leadership team. We were greeted with smiles and laughter. We walked through the streets of Kathmandu captivated by the mountains surrounding us. Once we got to our ministry, they quickly served us hot tea and egg sandwiches. Hospitality in Nepal is their highest priority, and it is very evident in the way they serve and love us. We were filled in on what ministry will look like this month. We will be visiting slums daily and working with the street kids as well as praying house to house. Other days we will be working with a women’s center that helps women who have come out of the trafficking industry. As our ministry host was describing each program, you could feel the deep love and devotion him and his family have for Nepal.
Once our meeting finished we walked over to the ministry’s ashram. The second I heard that the ministry had an ashram, I lit up. Five years ago, I was introduced to the idea of an ashram, which can be described as “a monastic community or other place of religious retreat.” If I’m being honest with you, a lot of my joy over this ashram had to do with the movie Eat, Pray, Love. After watching that movie, I said I would do something like that one day. God placed a desire in my heart to find a deeper meaning in this world and to do so by stepping out of my comfort zone and by experiencing Him through different cultures and people around the world.
“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive”
After our daily hour of prayer at the ashram as a team, we were off to the slums. 15 of us crammed onto a Nepali bus. Liz and I looked at each other with sweat on our faces and smiles confirming, “yup we are back on the race.” As we got off the bus we walked a little ways and made it to the slums.
I was quickly hit with heartbreak looking around at these families’ living conditions. My immediate observation was pollution surrounding us, making it hard to breathe, and smells from the lack of available sewage systems all around us. However, I was quickly reminded that we are called to be child like. Beautiful little faces ran towards us, excited to show us how far they could throw a rock into the water or how well they could draw a flower on my hand. Their desire to be seen reminds me of my two nieces, Olivia and Avery. “Hey watch me do this! Watch me twirl! Hold me! Let me show you how far I can throw this!” It is so innately implanted in each of us to be seen and loved. For a few hours, I got to show these kids that they were worth being seen and receiving attention.
A few us walked up to where their houses were (small concrete walls and tin roofs) to see if anyone needed prayer. We were quickly asked to have a seat and pray for healing over a man’s eyes. After that, we walked a few feet away and prayed healing over a man with leprosy. To pray in faith and trust that it is a part of God’s will to heal His beloved children can be both challenging and humbling.
After leaving the slums, we had a couple hours to rest before we went back to the ashram to spend time with the ministry staff and have a time of fellowship.
I mentioned earlier my desire to spend an extended amount of time in an ashram. Originally this desire stemmed from the devotion and discipline I observed from people in India. Instead, I found myself in Nepal at an ashram. Isn’t it so like God to make that original desire so much better than you could have imagined? I continue to learn God wants to give you the desires of your heart, and when you have open hands with those dreams and surrender them to Him, He will far exceed your original dream.
To say this ashram is a “religious retreat” doesn’t even begin to explain what this place is. This place is a safe haven for women who have been helped out of the trafficking industry. This place is a sacred place of prayer and worship that guides the ministry as a whole. After only one night there, my soul was restored with joy and immense gratitude.
Our ministry host gave a message about how we need to remember and guard the sabbath. We often forget the significance of that day. The deep need reminds us of who our creator is, who our redeemer is, and therefore who our Owner is. Following his message, the World Race team gave a message, shared a testimony, and had a time of worship. Tears began to fall from my eyes as we all worshipped together as a unified body.
Another glimpse of heaven was experienced today.
Thank you for your continued love and support by staying updated on my journey! I am still currently $2000 away from my fundraising goal! If you feel led to partner with me, you can do so through prayer and donation!
