I am a clipboard. I’ve always known this, but it is funny to think of myself in terms of beach balls or clipboards. That’s how my new teammate Amber describes me anyways. She says there are two types of people in the world…clipboards and beach balls. I find satisfaction in making lists and crossing things off as I go. She took one look at my closely detailed daily planner and she freaked. These things make her feel like pulling her hair out.
I sometimes wish I were more beach ball-ish and didn’t need life to be so structured and scheduled. For example, I had a day off today and what do I feel obligated to do…make up my own schedule with allotted times to do the things I feel I should be doing. That makes me feel like I didn’t waste the day away. Funny the tendencies we have. Blogging is one of those things that is always sitting on my shoulder–tapping me and whispering, ‘Write one’. So here goes…
Thought I would give you a glimpse into life here in Nepal. Right now I am sitting on our table bed listening to blaring music and children laughing in the distance. Through the screen windows I see an endless sea of farmland, goats, and grass huts. This may very well be the hottest place we have been yet. Thankfully, there have been quite a few rainstorms that have helped to cool down things every few days or so. Otherwise, we take showers to cool off. I just had quite the time taking one. As I was mid shower, the water stream turned into a slow drip. Then, the pants I had hanging on the door fell off onto the ground outside. I was left with my too small towel that barely wraps all the way around me to step outside and quickly grab them before anyone saw me. All I could do was laugh. Thankfully no one was in sight!
Pastor Achut and Pooja
We are living on the grounds of a church and school. The pastor, Achut, and his wife are taking good care of us. We also have a translator living with us named Pooja. She is 18 and has been helping us communicate and speak to the locals. Our days have been spent walking great distances to hand out tracts and preach the gospel to people in distant villages. Many of them have never heard anything about Jesus before. The scenery here is quite beautiful. It has been fun to see different areas of Nepal. One day, when we were about an hour away, we ran into a woman we had been on the bus with from Kathmandu. She recognized us and called us to her home. We got to meet her family and share the reason why we were there. It definitely felt like a divine appointment.
Other than evangelizing we are all adjusting to being on a new team and in a new community. I personally am enjoying the changes. I certainly miss my old teammates, but I am loving my new ones as well. We are getting along well and learning more about one another with each passing day. Amber and I share a mutual love for Beth Moore and Audrey Assad. She cracks me up and is an amazing storyteller. Tiffany is also from California and has a knack for capturing everyone at their worst in pictures. She also has a great sense of humor.
Both Kelsie and Katie were on my old team. I am so thankful I get to finish the race with them by my side. Kelsie is my new team leader, and I get to work beside her as the person in charge of our team’s finances. She is from Georgia and we will end up being the only two people on the squad who will complete the entire race together. I think we make a good team. Katie is from Kansas and I have to agree with my old teammate Samara who remarked, “She’s good at everything she touches.” She can sing, dance, play guitar and piano, speak French, etc. What I love most about her though is how passionate she is and how excited she gets about the things she loves.
So these are the girls I spend pretty much every waking moment with. Think of a question, we’ve probably already asked it of one another. You have to get creative out here to keep yourself entertained. We have about a week left before heading back to Kathmandu. From there, we will be flying to Ukraine. I think we all have mixed feelings knowing our time on the race is coming to a close. I imagine it will get harder with each passing day to stay present and focused on where we are currently.
In the meantime, I hope you are all well and know that I am counting the days till I get to see your beautiful faces again. Much love!!
