This morning I woke up very rested in the beautiful city of Pokhara, Nepal. I felt refreshed and ready to start my day. I knew I had until worship at 10:30 to get in some breakfast and good Jesus time.
My original plan was to eat my delicious-looking apple and some peanut butter for a snack, then grab a coffee or something at a cozy lakeside spot where I could journal for a while.
The plan started to fail when I cut into my beautiful apple to find the inside completely brown. Yuck.
I quickly threw it away and set out to find a decent breakfast. Sadly, the little lakeside place I had my heart fixed on appeared to be vacant as I passed by, which propelled me to walk the dirt path along the water to find another cozy possibility.
After a couple minutes of soaking in the surroundings on my walk, a middle aged Nepali couple walked up to me. The man silently motioned to his mouth with his fingers pinched together, then asked quietly for some rupees.
“I won’t give you any money, but you can join me for breakfast if you want to.” The words came out of my mouth before I remembered I was looking for a place to journal and have my quiet time. I knew God was setting up something special when they said yes and followed me along the path.
A minute or two later, I saw a sign outside a little Nepali kitchen advertising a “simple breakfast” of toast, eggs, potatoes, and tea or coffee all for $1.50. It seemed perfect, so I entered the tiny indoor/outdoor cafe and sat down at a table for four.
The only other people at the place were two older foreigners and the owner. I could feel their blank stares and sense their confusion as my new friends followed me inside. The husband asked again for money so they could go eat rice, but I declined his request and told them if they didn’t want to stay it was okay.
I was slightly surprised the two of them stayed, but boy was I happy they did. I asked questions to find out more about them, and found out they had two children. Their son passed away six years ago, and a daughter was taken to some type of children’s home this year by an Australian man. I found out the husband was hit by a motorcycle and injured a while back, making it hard for him to find work.
Before our “simple breakfasts” arrived, I asked if I could share with them about Jesus. I knew God was leading me to tell them how much tremendous grace and love He has for them. I explained the Gospel with scripture, and was able to encourage them with words the Holy Spirit was giving me.
While we chatted over our breakfast, the owner came over and explained that the man was a drunk and begged for money every single day. “Do I look like I am drunk?” The man asked me, “that lady is mental.” He claimed. It wasn’t a surprise to hear this news, after all the stereotype of beggars is that many will spend money on drugs or alchohol. Even still, I was thrilled to have the two of them as my guests, and I hope they felt that.
I was able to pray strength, wisdom, and healing over the two of them, just before they set off to return to their begging.
Yes, it would have been miraculous if this Hindu couple would have accepted Jesus and stopped asking for food and money, but I wasn’t discouraged a bit. I know by now that I am simply called to be obedient in sharing and God will take it from there.
The story gets more interesting.
As I sat there filled with joy about what I had just been a part of, the two foreign men struck up a conversation with me (although it was very one-sided.)
“Life isn’t as simple as you thought it was is it?” One of the men said condescendingly. I didn’t really know how to respond and immediately felt judged.
He continued, “You know they have charities to help people like them that you can give to?” Then said something about how it wasn’t good to give them money and how they actually do quite well for themselves begging – like I didn’t know.
The man talked as if he was giving me a lecture about how to treat people who beg for things. I responded by saying that I wanted to get to know them and love on them over breakfast instead of ignoring them or giving money.
He went on to say that the owner didn’t appreciate my decision to bring them inside her restaurant, then asked how long I had been in Nepal. Holding back frustration, I told him two weeks.
With tears in my eyes I tried to process what was just said to me. I felt attacked and judged for doing something I knew I was called specifically to do, but attempted to show them compassion in my response.
After they left, I apologized to the owner and asked if I had offended her. She said no, and actually seemed glad to see them eating rather than drinking.
It was clear that the enemy was using his same tactic that he used in the garden with Adam and Eve.
“Did God really say?”
The enemy loves nothing more than for followers of Christ to question ourselves and question what we have heard from God. He wants us to have the hardest time discerning his voice from the Holy Spirit’s.
Satan was trying to get me to question my decision to invite the man and woman to breakfast. To question whether I was helping or hurting them. Satan brings shame and the Holy Spirit brings conviction. The men’s words brought only shame and condemnation, so I am confident that I heard correctly and did what I was called to do.
Looking back, I wish that I had actually responded to the man’s remarks instead of sitting their silently astonished.
I wish I would have said that charities are incredible, but such joy comes from personally pursuing those in need first hand. That life really is quite simple when I hear God’s voice and act on it.
Over and out,
Julia
