I celebrated my 23rd birthday in the countryside of Nepal.
We were told that our last full week in Nepal, we were going into the jungle but I think we ended up just driving through the jungle to get to our destination. We ended up in a town called Urlabari that was in the countryside and had farms all around. We left Kathmandu the day before my birthday and drove all day (16 hours altogether) to get there.
On the morning of February 28th, I woke up on the floor with 20 other girls in a room on the second floor of a building where church service is held on Saturday mornings.
One of my squad mates, Allison, gave me the gift of being my personal photographer for the morning as we walked about 30 minutes…
…to a home in a village to gather with some believers to worship and share a sermon with the Nepalis. First, the Nepali people sang some songs in Nepali and then we sang in English.
One thing I love about the World Race is worshipping with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world because it gives me a small glimpse of what Heaven is going to be like. All tribes, all nations, in every language… Revelation 7:9
Then Jacob shared a sermon based on 2 Kings 5 where Naaman is healed of leprosy. In the words of Bipin, our translator who traveled with us from Kathmandu, it was FIRE!
Bipin was such a joy to have with us. He is full of wisdom, passion for the Lord, and child-like faith. His favorite word is FIRE! (don’t worry he’s not a pyromaniac, just very passionate about the Holy Spirit)
On our way back from the village, he wished me a happy birthday and asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I turned around, thinking “I don’t need anything” but out of my mouth came “Chocolate!”
Needless to say we went on an adventure to get chocolate. Its one of the things I’m going to remember most about my birthday in Nepal. This Nepali man going out of his way to make my birthday a little bit more special. We actually had multiple birthdays during that week and for each person Bipin did something special. His generosity spoke volumes to us all.
My team treated me to my favorite Nepali snack… CHEESEBALLS! And they were so kind to check up on me throughout the day to make sure I was having a good birthday and if there was anything else that would make it better.
It was simple but it was special. I mean, it was “just another day” on the World Race but I had this renewed awareness and thankfulness of the enormity of where I get to be and what I get to do this year.
I’m so thankful of the life I get to live with Jesus by my side!
And thank you to everyone back home who wished me a happy birthday which I received when I returned to wifi a week later. All your messages were so appreciated and I felt so loved! I’m so thankful for all the people God has placed in my life over the past 23 years.
