Jay Nepal = Victory to Nepal. This can be used as a greeting in place of Namaste
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To compare last month and this month is like night and day. On the surface, it’s odd. They’re very similar countries with the same needs. Both countries with heavy Hindu influence and idol worship.
However, the ministry host and culture of Nepal made all of the difference.
For those of you who don’t follow me on social media 1) You should. Here is my Facebook Link and Here is my Instagram Link. 2)There have been a few changes over the past month.
For starters, I was asked to be a Squad Leader for our squad for the remainder of The Race. This means that I’m not on a team like I was last time, however I will lead with the 3 other squad leaders pictured below. We are Team SOAR, although we won’t be together much.
Our team verse is Isaiah 40:31 “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”
^*Team SOAR! From left to right: Kelly, Madison, JonB, Kristen*
Our responsibilities include planning and leading our monthly debriefs, performing teachings, spending the month with a different team each month and being overall resources to continue to guide the squad to success and foster a healthy Christian community! In addition, we stay in constant contact with the Squad’s Team Leaders as well as leadership back at Adventures in Mission in The States.
I am excited to see what God has to teach me in this season of my life. I am sad to not be a part of a team that I will spend each and every month with, however, I am looking forward to spending time with many different teams and walking with them through all of the ups and downs of life.
It is for this especially that I could use prayer for. Prayers to lead well and do whatever it is that God has in store for me! Thank you.
With new teams came a new month! This month I was in Kathmandu with a ministry I will leave unnamed at their request. There were 2 co-ed teams that I was with and it was a beautiful month. There were a variety of ministries that we were able to take part in and our days were FULL (and for once, there was no manual labor ;)).
In the mornings we would wake up at 6:30 to leave by 7. Two groups would go to the slums to teach Bible lessons, sing songs, play games, etc. Essentially, the goal was to show them the same love that Jesus shows us. The slums were full of halfway built shacks where these people lived. It is technically government property they are allowed to stay on until the government moves them to another. However, if these people begin to start selling on this property, the government comes down with an iron fist. Unfortunately, on our third day, we arrived to see bulldozers in full force tearing down one of the butcher shops. When they find out they’re trying to make money from living on this land, they shut it down.
^*Officials watch as the butcher shop is torn down*
While two teams went to the slums, another team went to help a group of children with their school work. From 7-9 am, we would teach and help them with all of their studies- especially with English. *English appears to be the favorite subject of every Nepali and Indian child I’ve met so far*
After all 3 teams finished their work, we would head to the women’s center. From 10-12 we would teach English to these women whose stories vary. One woman was learning English so that her daughter in law would let her talk to her children. Another was so that she would be respected by those younger than her. I could go on and on about their stories and situations, but I won’t.
We were even able to have an English Mela (fair) one day at the women’s center. We created 6 stations that tested the English of these women and taught them a variety of information. Thanks to Em Blomberg and Anna Casserino, our fearless teacher leaders, we put on one of the most organized and efficient fairs that I’ve ever been a part of. There were prizes for those who did the best and recognition for those individuals as well. (No participation trophies, sorry world :/)
From 12-3 every day we had a “break”. However, this was used for lunch and team times. For those of you unaware, we have team times every day that last anywhere from 1 hour to a few hours. I sat in on team Deepa’s team times this month, as that was the specific team I was assigned to. Once team time was finished, it was usually close to 3 and during 3-4 we would have a group quiet time reserved for reading our Bibles, praying, etc. Essentially it was just a space to spend time with The Lord. From 4pm onward, it depended on the day. Some days we would tutor more kids and help them with their homework after school from 4-6 and then the day would be done. Sometimes we would do this and then spend 6-8 playing futsal in alliance with another local ministry whose name I will also leave out. Their ministry was to provide a type of rec center for impoverished kids in the neighborhood. This rec center also provides tutoring, youth groups, help for parents, counseling, and MUCH more.
This was a typical day in our lives this month. Waking up around 6:30 and finishing ministry around 8 or so, only to get home around an hour later to eat dinner. It was a full month full of love and kindness. It was draining and refreshing all at the same time.
In addition to the work described above, we also were able to spend a day sprucing up the ministry rec center I mentioned. It was a full work day of painting, cleaning, fixing, etc.
To conclude our ministry this month, a group of us went to a village 6 hours away to do village ministry for a few days. We spent time in “houses” in the village listening to their stories and praying over them. We even met a man who used to be a witch doctor and through a healing encounter with The Lord, turned from his ways and declared Jesus Christ as his savior (16 years ago). We preached, taught kids, prayed, and hung out with the people in the village.
^*Our group prays over villagers that requested prayer after church*
It was a beautiful month full of new opportunities, new experiences and new responsibilities. This Thursday, May 30, we head to Rwanda. I will be in Kigali working with Church of Hope, doing evangelism, village ministry, and working with the church with our only all guys team- Olive Tree.
I want to thank each and every one of you for the continued support and encouragement that you show me. I know I’m busy and WiFi is bad so I don’t respond immediately sometimes. However, there are few things that make me as happy as it does when you all reach out to me! I love talking about what is going on with me and over here and I also LOVE to hear about what is going on back home with you and everyone in the States. So PLEASE, if you have some free time and are genuinely interested in ministry over here, how I’m doing or anything like that, I would love for you to shoot me a Groupme message, Facebook message, email at [email protected] or Instagram DM.
I love you all and can’t wait to let you in on what God does in Rwanda.
Jay Nepal!
(and always, God Bless The United States of America)
