My definition of happiness used to be me getting what I wanted. It was all about me and my selfish desires. It was about what I could get out of life and how I could best live for myself. This self-centered living got me nothing but a want for more things, more stuff that I thought could make me happier. More was never enough. My happiness was dependent upon my situations and my circumstances.
Being here at Asha House in Kathmandu these past few days have really opened up my eyes to a new definition of happiness. As I have written before, the women, men, and children, all come from pasts of human trafficking, slavery, abuse and neglect, or HIV-AIDS. They were rescued and brought to Asha House, which is a part of Nepali Youth Ministry. There are so many stories here that have yet to be told; so many lives reflect a life of prosperity, contentment, and happiness.
Happiness is the woman here at Asha House who has been through more in her life than any person should have to deal with, yet she is still able to love and trust people around her. Happiness is what her heart emanates when she sees someone she knows, opens her arms into a giant hug, and says “I love you” through a smile that covers her face.
Happiness is the little girl with HIV who can’t go to school with the other children because if she starts bleeding while she’s at school, she won’t know what to do to keep herself alive, but how she is able to love people so deeply nonetheless. Happiness is when she plays bananagrams and is able to spell a big word, pronounce it, and proceed to win the game. Happiness is when she is able to be treated as a normal little girl who is loved by those around her.
Happiness is the women who put in so much time to prepare food for us here at Asha House. These women are all infected with HIV, and in Nepal, it’s taboo to eat food that someone prepared if they have HIV. It’s common knowledge to Nepali citizens that if you do eat their food, it’s very likely that you too will catch it. They have been rejected by “Christian” pastors and are generally avoided by all society. Happiness is sharing a meal with these women and learning about their lives. Happiness is preparing a meal with them and sharing smiles.
Nepali Youth Ministry is working with World Race right now to come out with a brand new advertising video. One was made for them about three years ago, but they want a new one that goes deeper. The World Race team that has spent the past month here has been working with the people who live at Asha House to make this video. In the short, 15 minute clip, there are interviews, testimonies, and calls for help. Michael, from team Doulos, along with some others, has been working on a new website for Nepali Youth Ministries. It should be up in the next couple of days. I’d really encourage you to check it out.
Being here at Asha House, my team has partnered with the World Race team that is here in prayer. We are lifting up Asha House so that God will work through Nepali Youth Ministries even more. Bhuvan, the director, is in need of funding, staff, and more ministry partners. These men, women, and children are here learning about Jesus, they attend Bible studies in the morning, and are around missionaries all the time. God is using Asha House to bring glory to His name, and I know that happiness has been birthed more times than I have even seen because of Bhuvan and this amazing ministry.
