Isaiah 52: 7-9
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion ‘Your God reigns!’ Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the Lord returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes. Burst into songs of joy together…”
My time in Nepal was many things. It was a time of growth. It was a time of darkness. It was difficult, frustrating, and sometimes annoying. I had no idea what to expect in Nepal. I had heard things from former racers, my squad leaders, and my squad mentor but i never really had a clear image. I had ideas and assumptions but they were way off. I had no idea how heavy Nepal is. Not just spiritually, but in every aspect of life there. However, Life the mountains is even more so. The guys and I spent a week in the Himalayas in village called Hindi that was at the epicenter of the second earthquake. It was a ministry i will never forget and from start to finish we struggled.
As soon as we got there guys started to get sick, myself included. We were supposed to hike to the different villages in the area and stay overnight in some. but our sicknesses were getting the better of us and we had to delay a day. I personally had no energy, i was feeling achy and sore, and i wasn’t eating for fear of what would happen later. I spent one whole day in my tent drinking water and trying to sleep when i could…. it was miserable. Not to mention that nights were bitterly cold. we woke up one morning with frost on our tents. when we were finally able to trek to some of the farther villages we couldn’t do much. just rest and and read our bibles. however the Nepali way of worship involved loud music and lots of dancing! and i mean lots of dancing…like hours worth of dancing…and then food….and then more dancing!!! one of us usually gave a message or our testimony wherever we went. On one hand it was really cool to see and experience that kind of worship and love for God but on the other it was irritating (because of sickness and all)
I could see that, regardless of who was sick or not, we were all tired. Exhausted actually. Each day we had a little less and a little less to give. We came to the end of ourselves. I honestly believe that we were able to hike as much as we did because the Lord empowered us. It was not something we could have accomplished under our own strength. Had it been up to us we would have been going back to Kathmandu 4 days early. Despite our hardship we ended the week strong with a church service and news that 2 people in the the last village we stayed in got saved.
I look back our time there…it amazes me the things that stand out now compared to when we were living it. I saw a people who had just experienced destruction and devastation. The loss of Homes, family, friends, and for some, their livelihoods. Many have moved on while others have nothing to move on to. A place that used to be so busy and full of life is now nothing more than a ghost town. But yet, they chose joy. Day by day they pick up the pieces and carry on. They aren’t bogged down by the bitterness and despair thinking of what they have and what they had. embraced it. They pressed into the Lord and found provision and strength to continue to live for Him. They carry the Gospel all over those mountains they call home every day. To see that kind of perseverance and faith was both humbling and inspiring. While we were in the thick of it, all we could focus on was how hard and desperate things were, for both them and us. It’s easy to focus on all the bad when we face hardship because it’s right there in front of you. it clouds our vision and we can’t see much past it. God, however, always has a much better and much more clear view of what’s going on. Habakkuk 1:5 says
“5 The Lord replied,“Look around at the nations; look and be amazed![a]For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it ”
As hard as it is to believe and accept ( and as cliche as it sounds) He is in control. There is a reason for everything. even though we don’t see it now it is still happening. Last month, 2 Corinthians 4 was very powerful for me especially 4: 8-12 which says:
8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. 12 So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.
Our eyes should not focus on the world or the things in it. We should not focus on the evil that plagues us daily. We live for something greater and so much more worthy of our attention. Eternity.
i hope this makes sense. (i felt as i typed this that my thoughts were all over the place)
peace and blessings
