Greetings from Myanmar.
Last month my team, Edge was paired with another team, Lighthouse. Our two teams molded together seamlessly. We blended and became one team, Ledge. Over the course of roughly three weeks Ledge had the opportunity to experience many things. We arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal and the very next day we are on a bus heading to a small village six hours away called Chitwan. In Chitwan, our team went to several homes of believers. During our visit we would share a word of encouragement, sing a couple songs in English, listen to a Nepali song sung by our translators and the people whose home we were in. Afterwards, the host or hostess would typically bring out tea and cookies for us. While in Chitwan, we also hiked to homes that were farther away from the main village near the Nature Preserve in Chitwan. We were able to walk in the Nature Preserve and saw several native animals to the area such as elephants, black rhinos, and water buffalos. After spending a week in Chitwan, we loaded up on a bus and headed back to Kathmandu.
While in Kathmandu our team had the chance to go to local temples and see firsthand just how others, around the world, worship false idols and gods. For as long as I can remember I wanted to go to Kathmandu and visit the Monkey Temple. Well, last month, that dream finally came to fruition. As we arrived at the Monkey Temple, I couldn’t for the life of me remember why I wanted to visit this temple so much. As we began to walk around the temple, seeing people worship these false gods and spinning prayer wheels in hopes that their prayers are heard and answered. My heart was breaking for these people. If they only knew the true God, they wouldn’t bothering coming to temple, spinning the wheels, or sacrificing animals to appease for their sins. I walked around that temple with a very heavy heart. I witnessed firsthand just how strong the influence of a culture can be. How believers are persecuted. I saw true persecution when my team went to a leper colony. We had to take two buses to get to the village and walk up this massive hill to reach the colony. This leper colony is where I felt God the strongest and was encouraged most. Arriving at the leper colony I didn’t quiet know what to expect. I’ve read about lepers in the Bible many times before but actually visiting and meeting people who suffer with ancient disease scarred me. It’s an irrational fear, but I had a decision to make. I could either let this irrational fear keep me from loving and encouraging those around me or I could love like Jesus did and hug those who are afflicted. I chose to love the afflicted. I hugged and talked to members of this colony not because it was required of me but because I walk in the love of Christ Jesus. I’m protected by His blood. As we left the colony my spirit was ignited again, upon hearing the stories of those who were healed from leprosy and how they came to know Christ reawaken my spirit for His children. We walked back up the hills and to the village to catch the bus in silence. We listened to what the Lord was telling each of us about those we had come in contact with that day. My heart was weeping and breaking. These people were separated all because a disease they used to have. All too often, we separate ourselves from others simply because we’re different. That’s not what we’re called to do, our job is to be the BODY. We grow together. We need to stop separating ourselves and learn to lean on those around us.
During last month we also had the opportunity to go trekking. Stay tuned for another blog telling you all about that experience. Several of my team and squad mates are still fundraising. Please help them become fully funded before we go home. Please pray and consider donating to one of my wonderful friends who have become family.
Much love,
Jamie
