In just a few days we will board a plane headed to Uganda, Africa. YEAH, UGANDA! I cannot wait to step foot back in the country that has had a piece of my heart for the past three and half years, even if is only for a short time. We’ll spend a week there for our 6-month debrief before heading to Rwanda for the month.
But, before that… let’s talk a little more about Nepal.
I don’t even know if I can accurately describe this month and all that it held. This month has been one of shivering, rice eating, coffee drinking, poor hygiene, close quarters, broken electronics, renewed vocal chords, beauty, laughing, crying, and increased intimacy with God.
Phew… where to start.
We’re in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal this month. We are staying in a two bedroom house with the family of our contact. We see their kids off to school in the morning, we eat breakfast, lunch and dinner with them, we worship with them every evening. Our lives are ingrained with theirs.. It’s been a completely different experience living this way.
We are working with an upcoming ministry “Light Nepal” as well as “Nepali Youth Ministry.” This month ministry looks a lot different. You see, we’re behind the scenes this month. While our squad mates are out serving in villages, we are sitting in a house making websites, editing photos, making videos, and writing teachings.
At times I’ve felt guilty. I mean, everyone else is in the field with the people of Nepal and we’re just sitting in a room on our computers. But God showed me that this is just as important. We are serving the people our squad mates are serving by getting the word out about the things that are going on in their lives. We are working to find relief and aid for the trafficking situation in South Nepal. We are writing teachings to educate the young Christians in those communities. Our service is of equal importance.
My heart has been broken for this country. Working from this side we see the need… we see the brokenness and the corruption. It’s overwhelming at times. I can recall one particular day, as I sat on the roof of our house praying, I thought… “How do I even begin to pray?” I felt the weight of all that is going on here… and I cried for this country. I cried for the young girls who are sold by their own parents. I cried for the women who are treated as if they have as much value as livestock. I cried for the mountaintop temple just a mile down the road where they annually sacrifice children. I cried for the village at the base of that mountain where parents offer their children to be the one who will bring honor to their village and to their family. I couldn’t fathom the injustice. The darkness. The deception.
I still can’t fathom it all. I don't think I'll ever understand.
But I serve a God who is just. I serve a God who is faithful; who loves and cares for His people. And I know that one day there will be no more pain. No more tears. No more trafficking. No more deception. No more murder. No more pollution. No more poverty. No more hate. No more darkness.
Soon and very soon…
And that’s what I rest in. That is what I trust in. I know my God. And though my heart is broken for this world and the darkness that resides here, I know He is good.
Amidst the heartache of this month, the Lord has drawn me closer to Himself than ever before. I’ve felt a connection with Him that I never have before. There have been days that each time I bowed my head in prayer, it was as if an electric current filled my body. I could do nothing but cry out to Him. And an uncontrollable smiled crossed my face every time I thought of Him.
But there have also been days that I've been tired and the last thing I wanted to do was to pray and to press into Him. And He repeatedly placed this scripture on my heart…
“to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night.” (Psalm 92:2)
Even when I don’t feel it… I cling to His love in the morning. I cling to His promises. And when I do that… it’s amazing that at the end of the day, as I look back on the day I see His faithfulness. Despite the circumstances of the day and despite my attitude or energy level, He pulled me through.
Oh, our God.. He is faithful.
