Arriving in Nepal was an almost eerie experience. We arrived in the airport and already we could see the after effects of the earthquake. As we walked from the tarmac to the arrivals, the sign for the airport was broken into pieces. After going through customs the power went out for a minute. As we picked our luggage up from the luggage carousel there were piles of boxes, bags, packages and luggage that were left unclaimed. It was easy to see that things weren’t quite right. But as we travelled to our home for the month I could see the beauty that is Nepal. It is such an interesting culture. Women wearing saris, houses and buildings with a European type of feel but it also reminds me of driving through Peru. I was so excited to finally be in Nepal. After the earthquake we didn’t know if we would even be able to come here. And there I was, in this beautifully devastated country. I was going to be able to watch this country slowly come back to life. We could see that it already was.
Since that day I have come to see even more beauty in this country. The people of Nepal are what truly make this country shine. They have so much love in their hearts for every one. As I serve these people who have lost so much I am amazed at how well they have been serving us in return. It is humbling to see people with so little be willing to give so much to others. The people I have served here are like the woman in Mark 12: 41-44.
The woman came to the temple. She had only a couple of coins in her pocket but she chose to give all of them to the Lord. Even though her offering was much less in worldly value, because she chose to give all that she had, holding nothing back, her offering was so much more precious to the Lord.
That is what I have seen here. People who are willing to use all the resources they have to serve others. Offering us tea when their houses are destroyed and they have lost so much, making sure we have a place to sit and they welcome us into their make-shift shelter beside their crumbling home.
As Christians in a 1st world country do we remember to do that? Do we give as Jesus did? Can we say that we would give it all as the woman in Mark 12? I would like to say that we would, but I honestly don’t know if that is true for many Christians in 1st world churches. I think we have lost the true givers heart. To give it all does NOT mean that it will always be comfortable. If we are always comfortable I wonder if we are truly sacrificing our lives to follow the Lord. No one ever said that following God would be easy. I want my walk with God to be rewarding and challenging, NOT the easy way out. I want to give as I have seen the people of Nepal give; with genuine love for others no matter the circumstances.
