Well
with the changing of continents came once again a change in teammates only this
time it wasnt just my team changing it is every team on our squad. Due to a few
more squadmates heading home to America a few teams were left with too few
people, also our amazing squad leaders really felt that God was calling our
squad to a higher level than we’d reached yet. They felt that God had even
greater things to teach us all through deeper intimacy with one another and
through being uncomfortable. For many teams they had become comfortable after
spending 7 months together on The Race and this opportunity provided them a
chance to rely on the Lord in a new way on dependency.
With this change I was asked once again to return to a leadership position with
my new team which I was thrilled about. It was neat to see how God was
preparing me for this position the month before because I felt the Lord
speaking to me that He may be calling me back into leadership again (I had no
idea it would be so soon after He spoke though). I am so honored to be back in
this position and my new team is really wonderful! My new teammates are Chris
Garcia, Bethany Dragon, and Chelsea Hoffman. All of us came from different
teams so we’re loving the chance to get to know each other on a deeper level
for the remaining 4 months on The Race.
This month we are in Kathmandu, Nepal. If I’m being perfectly honest, I knew
nothing about Nepal (other than it was the home of Mt. Everest) before coming
here. I didnt know that the currency was called ‘Ruppies”, that the
Nepalese are some of the most beautiful and kindest people I have ever met. I
had no idea that we would have the incredible honor of eating strawberries and
using a washer and dryer for our clothing (which honestly smells cleaner than
it has since I left America….no joke I sat on my bed and smelled my shirts
for about 10minutes). I had no idea what a heart for these people I would have
upon entering this incredible country. Yesterday we visited famous monkey
temple and it was absolutely heartbreaking to see the people offering worship
and sacrifices to pieces of metal….we got the awesome opportunity to walk and
pray for so many people while we were there.
God is working in amazing ways through our contact Reuben Rai. Check out his
website: Churches Network Nepal Even though we have only been here a few days we already feel like family. While in Kathmandu we have been working with Reuben to encourage his sports ministry called Church Boys United. The Church Boys have a soccer team and are an incredible team, they are the only Christian team in their division and its really inspiring to see the witness they are having in their community for Christ.
Tomorrow we will be traveling on a 10hr bus ride to a village called Kali Daha and will be doing ministry there with Reuben’s close friends. While in Kali Daha we should have the opportunity to work in many areas including help build a church and play with street kids. After being in Kali Daha for 1 week we will be traveling to the mountains of Ilam with Reuben and encouraging many churches and Christians along the way. It looks to be a very busy but very wonderful next few weeks loving the country of Nepal!
Keep praying for my new team we are still praying about a new team name and Chelsea is recovering from having Typhoid but is doing much better now. Thanks again for all the prayers and encouragement from friends and family back home. we should have very little internet access for the next 2 weeks but I will get on when possible. Blessings!
