While in Kathmandu we spent our afternoons visiting a slum. One team would spend time in a ‘school’ with the children from the slum while the other team would go on a prayer walk in the area.
One afternoon it was our turn to go on the prayer walk. The previous time I had been on a walk in that slum the water was so high after so much rain in the monsoon season. Water was lapping at the top of the wall which was supposed to protect the people living there. People had settled their shacks as close as three feet from the wall, water was creating puddles dangerously close to their homes. That day we spoke to a lot of the people close to the wall.
By the time we returned the water had receded. It had left quite a bit of debris in its absence. While we made our way through the maze of homes we came upon a gentleman sitting in the dirt with a bloody bandage on his foot. He had stepped on something which had clearly injured him. He wasn’t wearing shoes on the either foot and as I looked around realized that very few people were wearing shoes of any kind. Our ministry host visited with him for a moment, got the story of the bandage, asked a few other questions about the man’s family and then invited us to pray for him. On this particular day there were five of us total. One of my teammates, a couple from India that is relocating to Kathmandu for ministry and our host. We began to pray for this man. I prayed for healing! provision and strength. I couldn’t hear or understand the language the others were praying in so when I felt I had finished praying I looked at the man.
He was weeping. Tears streaming down his face.
I began to think about what it must feel like to have complete strangers from different nations find you in a time of need and offer help from their God. How overwhelming that must be! Did he feel chosen or special?
When I think about the problems with my furnace at home, about missing my nephew’s confirmation, missing family camp, missing my family reunion or not having a job, I often find myself feeling the need to defend my choice to do this race. I realize that to some people this seems such a reckless, crazy thing to do. Especially for someone my age. I’ve made great friends. I’ve loved children who needed it. I’ve prayed for a man who wept. I’ve seen and experienced things that have made me weep. These things and more confirm that I am where I am supposed to be and the stress and fundraising and whatever else is going on at home is all worth it.
Last summer when I was in Kathmandu I saw our host tear up on our first day. He was thanking us for coming to help. While in Nepal I learned that the work we did on that trip would’ve cost the family several thousand dollars. That trip was worth it. The conversations that happened on that trip led me to do this trip and this trip is worth it too.
He wept because he is overwhelmed with the love of Jesus.
I am overwhelmed and grateful when I think about how God has placed people in my life to get to me to this point. The prayers and well wishes and financial support throughout this journey are overwhelming.
I pray you know what this feels like, this overwhelming love.
Updates
Remember all those names of people on the squad who were still in need of funds?! This month they have all been fully funded!!! A parent of one of the squamates finished off that fundraising for them. Now they are able to rest in that provision for the last two or so months of the race! Also, we are all still here! All 33 of us that launched in January are still on the field! This is amazing considering every other squad that launched with us has had people go home for one reason or another. We are believing that God will keep us all together until the end. Praying against injuries, illnesses and doubt. Please pray with us.
My home is in need of several repairs that need to be tended to before I return. If you would like to help out you can go to www.gofundme.com/atworldrace
