“Are you ready to hear where you all are going?“, Stacy asked as we were finishing up debrief. We all sat, some of us literally on the edge of our seats, as she prepared to tell us where we’d be spending the month of May.
We never imagined the words, “You’re heading to Nepal“, to come out of her mouth. Especially at a time like this. Nearly a week before this announcement, the massive 7.8 earthquake at rocked the country of Nepal. It happened 2 days before our original scheduled arrival to Kathmandu for debrief. Obviously, it was not possible at the time, to travel for debrief. So our stay was extended in India for a short amount of time. As we were told the news, Stacy explained each contact has been in touch with AIM, and they want us to come. They need help on the ground.
I know I wasn’t alone in thinking, “how could we possibly be of help“? So many emotions came over each of us. Some of excitement, some of slight anxiety. Many of us imagined going to Nepal, at some point maybe even in a few months with a re-route elsewhere. But no. God had a plan all along, and He decided the time is now.
One of the main things we hope to do while we’re here is simply love on the people and pray with them. The people of Nepal have been greatly hurt emotionally, spiritually, and some physically.
This past week we’ve passed out water and snacks throughout some of the neighborhoods more effected in Kathmandu. Many of my teammates have had beautiful opportunities to pray with these beautifully strong people. Amongst the rubble, there is a sense of hope. In the process we’ve prayed over some of the temples here as well (Buddhist & Hindu). One day, we visited a brickyard. That is where a few of us met a young girl. The brick yard we were told, was much higher before the earthquake. Bricks stacked as high as the one tower that remains. But now, it’s a huge pile of bricks. As we shared some biscuits and water with her, we briefly shared about Jesus. I prayed silently as my dear friend, Rose told of our amazing friend Jesus.
“Jesus loves you so much. He’s a living God.”
As we prayed with her, we weren’t sure if she fully understood what we were doing, or why we were so interested in her. As we walked away, I prayed “God, I don’t know if she understood any of that. But you’re God. And it’s not me who changes anyone’s heart. It’s not any of our words that were spoken. They were yours.”
So pray for this community, as they continue to recover and rebuild. They are broken. But they are also beginning to rebuild. There is hope. It may be painful. But there is hope.
(I’ll insert photos when I can.)
One of my teammates, Eva, received this passage when we were praying over Nepal:
61 TheSpirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;a]”>[a]
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;b]”>[b]
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord‘s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.c]”>[c]
4 They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
