How do I even begin to put into words my experience of trekking for four days in the jungle and mountains of Nepal during monsoon and leech season?!
For starters, it was physically the hardest, most uncomfortable, sweaty, wet four days of my life. We followed a river the first few hours, climbed straight up three different mountains, inched our way down ravines, and traversed foot over foot on muddy cliffs in the rain, all while carrying a pack much too heavy. That doesn’t even include the psychological torture of the leeches! Tiny, evil little things just waiting to latch on…I had two below my Chaco strap within the first 30 minutes!
The initial excitement quickly wore off as I realized the immense task ahead of me. Yes, it was hard. I wanted to quit multiple times. However, the reality is we did not do this for ourselves. We did it for the hope of sharing the good news of Jesus to people who may have never even heard his name before.
If it was in my own strength or for my own enjoyment, I would have turned back the first day. But the discomfort, pain, and exhaustion was all worth it in Jesus’ name. So, I pressed on. Pushed myself beyond what I thought possible. I continue to learn how to fully lean on Jesus, trusting that He will always provide His strength whether physical, mental, or spiritual when I choose to have faith that He is good and faithful and always with me.
We didn’t make it to our original destination: ministering to a group of cave people deep in the mountains. But I believe we did accomplished exactly what God intended for us as a team. We unexpectedly preached and sang at a church service in the middle of the mountains with a small group of believers. We prayed for the sick and saw a woman healed of fever. We overcame what seemed physically and mentally impossible, encouraging and supporting each other through every difficulty.
As a sweet bonus by the goodness of our Heavenly Father, I got to see and experience some of the most incredible views of pure creation. The landscape magical, mystical, seemingly untouched. The green of the trees so vibrant, the sound of rain coming through the trees so pure, clouds floating by like mystical smoke. I am thankful for fresh mountain water, rivers to cool off, the ever steady hand of local believers always willing to give a hand – thankful for enough food to eat and small mountain churches to sleep in.
THE Church of Jesus Christ is alive. Even in the most remote, seemingly untouched mountains of Nepal. For these Nepali believers, they trek straight up mountains to go to ‘fellowship’, what we would call a church service. There’s no lights, no instruments (except maybe a tambourine), no projector screens, no microphones. Just a small mud and rock building, a bamboo pulpit, and the people of God coming together to worship our Creator.
An original Nepali experience, most definitely. If asked to do it again, I would in a heartbeat. All for the privilege and responsibility of sharing hope and freedom in Jesus. Except with a third of the gear and quick dry clothes!
Yes, Jesus is always worth it.
Humbly and only for His glory, -Pamela
