Our time in the jungle of Nepal has been quite an adventure. As one teammate said, “Every day is like the next page of a National Geographic.” It is very true and I am so thankful that she said this because it has really helped with our perspective on our time here in the jungle. We get to go out to villages that are an hour or more walk away and come into contact with so many people that are at the ends of the earth. How many people get to say that they went to the ends of the earth of Nepal? Not many, but I am so thankful that we are seeing God’s will be done here.
We get to go to villages and preach the Gospel to so many people that normally would not have the chance to hear about Jesus and share the greatest news in the world! We get to love on people by going to see them, preaching the gospel and sharing God’s love, play soccer with the children or say hello to everyone we see. Some of the greatest memories that I have from going out to the villages are interacting with the children while we are preaching the gospel and when we are walking down the paths along the villages. The children all enjoy practicing their English by saying “Hi! Bye!” and run off laughing. There are some children that like to try more phrases that they have learned.
One particular day, a boy was walking down the path out of the village with us, along with a parade of laughing children. It was a beautiful atmosphere of joy and laughter. He spoke English pretty well and was helping me say different greetings in Nepali to the people we passed by. We started to have a conversation about how we were feeling, where we were from, where we were going and then he said something to me that struck me; I was so baffled, I didn’t know how to reply. He said, “I like you, black man.”
What?
Sam and I just started laughing. Sam said to me, “He must have just learned his colors and genders today.”
That just caused us to laugh even more.
Oh the joy of children.
Another joyful story was later at a different day of ministry in the villages. A teammate just finished preaching about God’s love and the Gospel when this girl with only a shirt on came into the circle of people. I looked over at her and smiled. I then made a face at her, seeing if she would play back (a lot of the children run off when you smile at them, they are really shy here!). She came over to me and just started laughing! So I smiled at her again and it just created another fit of laughter! This went on for a few minutes of us laughing until her older sister came over and put pants on her. I was so overwhelmed with her joy and how a simple smile caused a pure and joyful laugh.
I was so overcome with joy when she was laughing that it reminded me what childlike joy looks like. She may not have much, not even any pants for example, but she is joy. She is loved by Joy.
We are all loved by our Father and when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are filled with not only love, but joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23a).
The joy of the Lord is my strength (Nehemiah 8:10b).
I was able to say that because of this girl, I was able to continue on throughout the day and change my view on ministry here. I was so thankful for this little girl. This is how we should be when we are preaching the Gospel, when I wake up each morning, when I am dripping in sweat and when I am weak in my flesh. I can celebrate in all things and be joyful because my sweet Father is showering down His sweet love all the time and He lives in me.
Why not be joyful?
