I don’t think I have ever been this dirty in my life. I haven’t showered in maybe 5 days (you tend to loose count around here). My skin creases and pores are caked with dirt. When I blow my nose, it comes out black and brown. My hair is stuck in place and textured from all the dirt. I have also sweated more in the past two days than I knew was possible.
However, I don’t think I have ever felt more beautiful in my whole life. It just goes to show, that Jesus truly does make beautiful things out of dust and dirt.
I feel beautiful because as I write this blog/journal entry, I am sitting on an overcrowded bus (think of all the people you can fit one bus, and then add more….yeah) riding down a mountain, could fall off at any moment because the roads are so narrow, dirt flying in and much perspiration. There were also chickens and even a goat that were on the bus with us. Despite all this, I have so much joy within my heart. Its an indescribable, deep joy, that I feel the need to try and express to you. As I write this, we are making the journey home from the remote village we visited to share the gospel with, in hopes of a church being planted there. Our stay was cut short, to only one real day of ministry, but our host was worried about us getting sick from the food or water. Luckily, I felt fine for the time that we were there. It was the day before we left that I was so sick. I am talking sobbing on the floor kind of sick, hoping to die. I tried to hurl but couldn’t. So I went to sleep, in hopes it would subside by the morning, when we were leaving for the village. I woke up and ralphed finally, and felt a little better, so I had to make a quick decision, to leave for the village in an hour or stay, and miss out on the potential adventure of a lifetime. I prayed and decided to take my chances going and I’m so glad I did! I popped a few pills and headed out with the team, and the Lord helped my body heal. Thank you Jesus for your faithfulness.
I feel beautiful because during my stay at the village, I got to share the gospel with three young boys. They wandered over to where we were staying, to see the white people probably, but sat and listened eagerly as we shared with them. They wanted to accept, so we prayed for them. Whether or not they begin walking with the Lord now or later, a seed was planted, and they will never forget the day they heard about Jesus, and neither will I. They may hear the name of Jesus later in life and remember that and the seed gets watered and bears fruit. We also played The Jesus Film (a movie in Nepali for evangelism) for a large group of people that night and then Drew shared the gospel with them. Our host, Rajendra said its his hope to plant a church there, but that takes time, and this is a remote village that we took a 6-8 hr bus ride and 1 hour hike over a mountain to get to. But really, for Nepal, that’s not that bad.
I just feel beautiful because I am finding my place and purpose in life and doing what God has designed me to do…take His word, truth, and love to the unreached. We really have been on the adventure of a lifetime, going to that village. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn’t even mind the hiking so much. We had all month to practice for it 😉
On of the main lessons God has been teaching me the beauty in learning to be content in all circumstances.
“…for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.” Phillipians 4:11
“For godliness is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world and cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.” 1Timothy 6:6-8
My little excursion to the village was so neat. I got experience so many things, including a traditional Nepali wedding! We slept in a barn, we ate strange food, we did our business outside… I actually felt like a real, raw missionary and it was awesome. I got to meet and make some amazing new friends, Bhuwan, Aneil, and Sheila, three young Nepali students on fire for the Lord and eager to do work for the kingdom. It was such a blessing to get to know them, and hear some of their stories. Please pray for my friends back in Nepal, as life being a christian is not easy there. They are all about to graduate high school, so pray for them and what plans God wants to lead them into.
Lastly, I just feel beautiful because I am growing and becoming exactly who my father says I am, his lovely daughter, a warrior princess out here fighting death and darkness, and OVERCOMING!
