There are some moments in life when you are acutely aware of your purpose—scratch that—of the Lord’s purpose in creating you, in walking with you through the life you’ve led. For some, these moments happen as you across a stage in cap and gown. For others, these moments sit atop the horizon, as you chase them full-force across a finish line. They happen when a parent tucks his or her kids in at night, or swings a toddler up onto their shoulders to the sound of pure laughter. These moments happen in busy offices and in quiet conversations. And for me, I scooted forward on a bamboo mat, looked around to a panoramic view of the Himalayas and realized I was in the middle of one of these very moments.
Our last few days in Nepal were spent trekking in the Annapurna region of the Himalayas, with the intent of bringing the Gospel to the unreached people of the villages there.
{For more information on the definition of “unreached” people groups and resources about serving them, visit https://joshuaproject.net/ }
We left Kathmandu on the 15th for Chitwan, and did ministry there for about five days, leading small bible studies, encouraging believers, discussing the Gospel, and speaking in church services. On the 20th, we headed to Pokhara, where we met up with some squadmates who had been doing ministry there for the month.
In order to go trekking, we raised extra support during the first two weeks of ministry in Nepal. The two teams placed with our ministry host, (my team: Selah, and Team Eve), posted on social media and reached out to our individual support networks to raise the funds for lodging, food, guides, and bibles that we could distribute while in the Annapurna range.
For trekking, most of us brought only our daypacks, which we filled with toiletries, toilet paper, cameras, personal bibles/journals, electronics, new bibles to give away, lots of layers, sleeping bags, and some very warm socks. Thankfully, we stayed in homestays or trekker lodges that provided beds and heavy blankets, but you know I was bundled up in my sleeping bag underneath that 5-pound comforter anyways.
Some of my squadmates looking real cute in their sleeping bags
The hike wasn’t the most challenging I’ve experienced, but it included a LOT of stairs. It was enough to feel the burn as we lugged our packs around and took in views of Fishtail and the surrounding mountains.
There were also times when our guides decided the trail was not getting our adrenaline pumping enough (speak for yourself, am I right?) and we ended up holding onto tree limbs and trying to find the lease precarious patch of dirt to step on as we made our way back toward the trail. I suppose we are called Adventures in Missions, after all…
We reached our lodge for the night and had some milk tea, of course. That evening, we ate noodles and heard the testimonies of our guides (which were incredible, by the way). We also celebrated Alison’s birthday, complete with chocolate and candles!
One of the craziest things about this trip was the temperature change. During the day, we were chugging water and stripping down to shorts and T-shirts. As soon as the sun dipped below that mountain ridge, though, we were piling on our beanies and deciding whether it was more beneficial to wear gloves or to clasp our hands around metal cups of hot tea instead.
The next morning, this was my quiet time view.
Wow. Are we kidding?! These photos don’t even do it justice. I was reading Isaiah and honestly it was so difficult to keep my eyes on the page when THIS was just beyond the spine of my bible. But I kept reading and came to this:
It shall come to pass in the latter days
that the mountain of the house of the LORD
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be lifted up above the hills;
and all the nations shall flow to it,
and many peoples shall come, and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.” ISAIAH 2:2-3
All the majesty on that mountainside, all the people who supported my World Race and this add-on ministry-adventure, all the words that I have ever built myself up on, and God is always higher. He is always more. To Him the nations flow, the people come. In His paths we walk, whether or not the way is paved.
I sat, struck by everything around me and within me, feeling so far above–and yet so deeply at—Home. And I haven’t even gotten to that moment of pure purpose yet…
More to come RE: my time trekking for ministry in Nepal! I’m posting these as part of my challenge to myself to post every day during the month of April, which you can read about here.
