Going into Nepal, I didn’t know what to expect because the only thing I knew about the beautiful country is that it is covered in some of the most stunning views of mountaintops. Our team stayed in an area called Thamel in Kathmandu, Nepal. It is an area that has a lot of tourist in and out but it is also home to a red light district and a large homeless population. We had the opportunity to work with an organization that was started by a family from the states. They go by the name of Iris Ministries and they are doing some amazing things around the city of Kathmandu.
Every Tuesday and Thursday they provided a huge lunch for the homeless in the area. Under a covered patio, homeless men, women, and children would come through for a good meal and maybe even a change of clothes. We also provided free medical help with bandages, infections, and weekly check ins. Of course they have no access to medical care so some of the needs were pretty dire. The first week we were there, I was put on washing dishes and got the chance to chat with some of the people who are consistently there. I saw their heart for the people who come through and noticed how they knew almost everyone who came in. They were almost fluent in Nepalese and they knew all of the different personalities in that little covered patio.
The second week I was on hand washing duty. When someone comes in for lunch I was there to greet them with a smile and help them wash their hands over a bucket as I poured water out on their hands. Your perception of the people who sit on the side of the street changes when you look them in the eyes and smile. When you greet them and welcome them into your space you notice things you’ve may not have noticed before. You notice cuts on someone’s arms that look like self harm. You notice that the little boy is wearing shoes that are meant for little girls and probably two sizes too small for him. You notice the friendships that some of the people share and can see the camaraderie in the conversations that they carry in a language that you don’t understand. It’s when you look them in the eye that you see pain, joy, anger, or even defeat. It is when you look someone in the eye that you see life. And the day that I spent washing the hands of the men, women, and children that came through the gate, was the day that my heart grew for the people that came for lunch every week.
I saw the value of the friendships that the people shared their. I saw the different personalities shine as they gave great big smiles or didn’t want to look me in the eye. The longer our team was there, the more people there got comfortable with us and used a lot of hand gestures to try and communicate the best they could to us without the translator walking around. Our final week working with Iris Ministry banquet house, we received some really sad news that they were being kicked out of the house that they had for the lunches after 6 years. They were being forced to move out within the next week so things needed to move fast. The whole team was surprised and that was something that was very unexpected for Iris. They knew that things needed to keep moving forward, so they were trying to get rid of all the donations they had in clothes and books to make moving easier. I was glad that God called us to stay there and help on this last week as they prepared to move out.
We brought out huge piles of clothes and tried to sort them as best we could by gender, size, and season but hands were coming from all over trying to see the new clothes that they could have. I have to say that as crazy as it was, this was my favorite day at the banquet house. I got to play dress up with some of the men and women that came through. I looked at the clothes that they were wearing and helped upgrade their wardrobe. They would walk away with a big smile on their face and an excitement in their new outfit. It didn’t matter if they were wearing men or women’s clothing, they were so excited to show off what they found. They were taking fashion risks with new wide brim hats and bright stand out colors. I couldn’t help but laugh at some of their choices but they were so proud of what they would pick out. People would walk away with big smiles on their faces and bags full of food or clothes for later.
On our last day with volunteering at the banquet house we got the chance to give more of the clothes away and even give some kids some new shoes and summer clothes. We had some new people come through as word spread that we had lunch and clothes for them. The atmosphere was busy but I could feel the sadness through some of the volunteers. Our team got the chance to ask them what they were going to do next and they were praying into the next steps. They had no immediate place to move their lunches so they were waiting to see what was in store but the lunches were at a stand still for the homeless that frequented. Before they left for the last time they gathered for a group picture to celebrate the place that they had served with and the amazing testimonies that had been cultivated there.
We got the chance to pray over them as a team one last time before we said goodbye and I left full of joy for their future. On top of the banquet house, we were able to serve with Iris ministries in weekly prayer walks and a children’s home that they run. Please join me in praying for their transition as they move forward from this move. I pray that the people who went every week, that they find a new way of getting a filling meal twice a week. I pray for provision in not only material things but in conversational connection with those around them. The prayers that we prayed over them when it comes to physical healing and knowing who Jesus is will be answered. I am so thankful for my time to see these beautiful people twice a week throughout our month in Nepal. The chance to play with the children who came through and giving them new clothes. The chance to see the same smiling faces twice a week as I helped them wash their hands. The chance to get a fresh pair of eyes for the homeless no matter where I go. Sometimes it is easy to forget, but they are human too and they are loved by God therefore you need to love them even stronger.
