There are many descriptive and beautiful words that could be used to describe my experience in Nepal, but the only word that continues to come to mind is WOW! This country has given me laughter, humility, love, strength, and tears. The rigorous trek through the foothills of the Himalayan mountains was just the beginning of this months lessons. Since we have gotten back from the trek we have painted walls at a school for slum children, played soccer with the slum kids, talked and shared the gospel with street kids and slum kids, taught at the slum children’s school, ministered to women in cabin restaurants (brothels), and just really build good relationships with our ministry host and the people involved with the ministry. the daily schedule for our ministry this past week has been, go to either the slum school and teach or go to a woman’s school (both of which are amazing), come back to our house at 1pm for an hour of prayer, then go to outreach. Outreach consists of 3 different groups that go to either the cabin restaurants, talk with street kids, or go into the slum areas. I got to experience something amazing at the cabin restaurant, but that is a whole blog in itself that will be coming very soon! There has been so many stories from all of our teams here in Nepal, from our team encountering a witch doctor and him trying to summon demons, to another team praying over a woman for 3 straight hours to cast out a demon! This country has so much brokenness to it, but it is also has such a strong Christian community that is on fire for God. We luckily got to be teamed up with some of those people. Our ministry hosts Brian and Reshma, who run Agape ministries are truly amazing people who are doing gigantic things here in Nepal. It was an absolute blessing to be able to get to work with them. They are raising 4 incredible young boys who, at such a young age, are doing such big and bold things. one thing that I have learned from this month is the importance of pouring in to the long term missionaries here. We still will/are building relationships with the other people that we meet, but we can’t expect to just come in and change the whole cities heart in one month, so encouraging and building up the full time workers here will only help in them building long term relationships with the Los people of these countries.
This 11 month journey is going to be absolutely amazing, even in the tough times. Even though we are treated to amazing views and new experiences, we are still surrounded by some very dark places that are screaming for love and help. Even though we are at peace when we have the love and mercy of God, we are still surrounded by prostitution, sex trafficking, starvation, drug/alcohol addiction, lack of basic needs, and just flat out brokenness. We are at peace with God in a time of war on earth and it will be hard to fight this battle at times, but God can only fill us when we are emptied. In a way, I look forward to being emptied, because that just means being refilled and replenished with the Spirit of God. Month 2, BRING IT ON!! God is ready to show Himself to you India!! Thank you Nepal. Soul shaking!!
