Nepal has won my heart for sure. The people, the mountains, the city, it is all amazing. I could go on and on about how much I love it but I want to focus on ministry and what has been happening while here in Nepal.
The first day of ministry was amazing, we got the opportunity to meet the mother Theresa of Nepal. She has a few homes and we visited the woman’s home. The women she meets and cares for are just so full of love and kindness. We had the opportunity to talk to a few of them and it amazes me how far some of these women have come. Later that evening we went on a prayer walk around the monkey temple. We usually just split up into small groups and pray around these strongholds where people worship false idols. We have also gone to 3 different prayer walks in the past week. My quiet times have been super beneficial and rewarding lately. I have been trying to read the bible more which is a struggle of mine and It really is amazing. I have been selfishly praying for the patience and calm mind to sit and read. Just being able to focus on God and focus on his heart has definitely been amazing. I continue to learn and grow more and more each day. Another cool part of ministry was hiking to a leper colony. We had the opportunity to talk to these people (most being believers) and just hear their stories. We had the opportunity to speak truth and reassure that things will be okay. It was heartbreaking to know most of the people there were thrown out of their homes because they had leprosy. I couldn’t imagine being kicked out of my family and never being able to return.
This brings me to my next topic.
The people of Nepal were raised worshiping false idols, never hearing the name of Jesus. Just the culture throws out family who are sick or dont practice the beliefs that the family does. It is most certainly hard for christians to evangelize because of stubborness and fear. I have grown such a huge heart for the people of Nepal and it breaks my heart to see millions of people putting their faith and time on false idols.
Most of the Christians I have met and talked to have converted from their old religion because they were broken and in search of a savior. Whether it was someone with leprosy who was kicked from their home and found family and comfort in God, or a homeless woman who saw the love of God through someone who brought her into a home, or even a man who found truth within the Lord and ran with it knowing he would not be able to go home, they were all at rock bottom at one point in their life.
No matter how far you may think you are from the Lord, he is always in arms reach to pick you up when you fall, and ready to accept you.
Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
I will be going to Chitwan for 6 days and I am not sure about wifi while I am gone. I will update in around a week from now about how it was and then the day after that I go on a big hiking trip into the Himalayas to talk to unreached people groups. God is moving and I love it. I am growing closer and closer with my teammates, as well as my squad mates. I can only be thankful for the things that have happened and I continue to be in awe with what God has been showing me, as well as teaching me.
Thank you to everyone for the endless amounts of support and love.
-Rodrigo
