The trek continues! It was hard to know what our ministry there was going to look like. In many ways we went to serve and ended up being served. The next day started with a special church service. Nepali Christians typically worship on Saturday (In part because Hinduism is the dominant religion and they worship on Saturday. To my understanding, they have a one day weekend. For instance, children go to school 6 days a week.) Because we were there, they decided to have an additional welcome service.
The church didn’t have any seating, save a few plastic chairs for the pastors. Through our translator they welcomed us like royalty: giving each of us handmade necklaces of fresh wildflower petals and traditional woven sling bags. There welcome was moving, not only the gifts, or the way they try to repeat back our American names when we introduced ourselves, but because they apologized for not being able to welcome us better. It was the most welcomed we’d ever felt.
Some of the children from the first village
After a visibly rigorous day of trekking, our leader, Pastor Mithun, a small gentle spirited man decided it would be wise to abbreviate the mileage of the trek. Thursday we only trekked for about 3 hours. We went down the hill we were on, then up the one adjacent. By this point most everyone was boasting record blisters (size and total). The shortened hike was welcomed.
Pastor Sham and Pastor Mithun, our gracious guides.
During the down climb we had our first experience with leeches. Leeches. Cant say I understand why there are a ton of leeches scattered on those hills, but there are. Those bloodsuckers are ready and waiting to leave the trail and latch onto your unsuspecting foot. We didn’t have a lot of bites, but it’s still freaky to look down and find one chilling on the side of your toe.
We were in the Nepali mountain jungles. It’s a fun and interesting combo–mountain jungles. The Chepang grow corn on these visually stunning terraces that carve the mountainside into shelves. Right alongside the corn there are wild banana trees, fruit trees, and we even noticed some huge marijuana plants growing wild. Pastor Mithun said some of the local church pastors used to sell weed to support their struggling churches and families.
Mithun informed us that the Chepang had descended from a scavenging hill cave dwelling people. It wasn’t until the Gospel reached these remote areas that people began to emerge to plant crops, build homes, and take hold of a hope for a better life.
Sometime that afternoon we arrived at our next stop, a local pastors house. It was a two story mud, stone and wood home with a handmade slate/ stone roof. It had a neat second story overhanging veranda which was incredibly sturdy as it was the place where most of us crammed together and spent the night.
Our 15 yr old translator, Sameer “Sam”
They gave us space to rest and relax. At night, there was a small church service under a tiny tin roof on a hill (American hill) in the back yard. They sung the same three songs for worship as the morning service (Nepali version of ‘This is the Day’, another tune, and ‘Alleluia’ with a Nepali twist). One of our group members shared their testimony (as another did in the morning). We sang for them to close the service. As we were singing, I was struck with an idea: we needed to surround these people with encouraging love.
Before we left we had their people gather on the center of the mat and circling around them we prayed for them. We explained this was a symbol of what we’d be doing for them when we left.
Because this is a picture of the body of Christ.
Because the community surrounding them in prayer isn’t just us–you’re invited, too.
The pastor presented these three requests for prayer.
- An orphanage and care for their orphans.
- Education for their children
- Growth for the Church (Physical and Spiritually)
If you feel called, please join us in prayer for these people.
