Hello from Nepal! We just wrapped up our month in India, time with Team Two, and month four of the Race. India was a full and interesting month with a lot of different things going on. Here is a bit of an overview of the things we did!
We started the month with orientation and prayer ministry in different villages. Then we had an event called the Awakening, where we met with another World Race squad that also left in January. The Awakening was a three day seminar where members of each squad could share about what they’ve learned over the past few months.
After the Awakening, my team and I took a 22 hour train ride from Hyderabad to Delhi. It was not as bad as it sounds though. We had beds, AC, and meals served to us! From Delhi, we got to do a day trip to the Taj Mahal, which was amazing. Then we went to our city, where we would stay for the next couple of weeks.
Our city was a beautiful town in the mountains along the Ganges River. While we were there, we made friends with people at our hostel. We got to share our beliefs as many people approached us and asked questions like, “Why are you reading the Bible?” One of the things I loved about India was everyones’ willingness to initiate and engage in spiritual conversations, unlike in America where it is typically taboo.
Throughout our time there, we went into town and asked to pray for people, asking if we could pray for healing. Honestly, most of the people were not healed right before our eyes. But we continued to pray and often it opened a door for conversation. Once, after we prayed for a woman whose foot was wrapped up in a bandage (she had fallen down and hurt her foot, back, and wrist), she lit up with excitement as she told us the pain had gone away! Her family was amazed at what had happened, and asked us questions about who we were and what we were doing. So we got to share more about the truth of the One who heals!
One of my favorite days was when I organized a karaoke night at our hostel. Not just because I LOVE karaoke, but because it was a great bonding experience as a team and with the new friends we had met. It also made me come out of my shell a bit. As the organizer, it was my job to actually get the thing started. It was supposed to start by 8:00. By 8:20, I had already approached everyone, recruiting people to sing. Most of my teammates had not arrived yet. The others were around, but engaged in conversations that were apparently more important than singing :P. So at 8:20, with only one person in the audience and the server beside me at the counter, and about ten people gathered on the patio outside, separated by an open sliding glass door (far enough to be disengaged but close enough to hear and judge), I turned on the music and started belting “Gorgeous” by Taylor Swift. I’m not sure how long I sang like that (maybe ten years) when to my rescue, a friend I had just met earlier that day (shout-out to Rohan if you are reading this) came up and sang with me, without even knowing the song. From there, more people started to come and sing, (only four who were not part of my team, but I’m counting that as a success) and we sang until it was time to go to bed. I share this story not just to laugh at myself but because it encapsulates much of what our ministry has looked like: doing what we love and inviting others in. Creating environments where conversations are easy and not forced. Putting aside the roles we have created for ourselves (in this case, “The Shy/Quiet One”) and boldly accepting that God made us the way we are and that we are always capable of trying something new.
We have just arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal where we have a week as a squad as we wait on our visas to China. We got new squad leaders and new teams/team leaders. So far we have had alumni squad leaders and team leaders, and now the new leaders are “raised up” from among us as the alumni say goodbye and head home. My new teammates will be Leah, Kathryn (Mo), Vielka, Taylor, Heidi, and Andrea. I am looking forward to getting to know some new people. Please pray for team unity, friendship, and a good fresh start. Please continue praying for protection from illness, food poisoning, bugs, etc. Please pray for open doors and courage to make the most of every opportunity. Also, if you have any questions, please write them in a comment below, and I will answer them next blog!
Question of the Blog: Do you have any book recommendations (that are available on Kindle)?
