Hello and happy belated thanksgiving! I have absolutely been loving my time in Nepal, and I wanted to take a minute to tell you a little bit about the country and ministry we are involved with.
Nepal is primarily consumed by Hinduism, which influences the entire country’s culture and social structure. The good news is that Nepal has the highest Christian growth rate in the world right now. In 1950 there were no listed Christians in the country, but now there are over 350,000 reported as Christians living in Nepal! The number is expected to continue growing and crazy rates. God is doing some really awesome things here!
This month my team, as well as two other teams from my squad, have had the opportunity to partner with Agape Mission International here in Lalitpur, Kathmandu. Agape started in 1988 and focuses on three main things: children at risk, women at risk, and leadership development. Once Agape finds and rescues women and children, they will help place them with families, orphanages, community homes, or hostels. Occasionally, they will decide to bring people to the Agape team house to receive counseling, discipleship, and leadership training. Agape has such a great vision for the long term effect on the people they are meeting. Their goal is not to just get women and children out of the current situation, but also help get them on a successful path so they can learn to thrive on their own. Just by serving beside them this month, I have been able to see how much the Agape team loves and cares for the people here in Kathmandu.
Here’s what a typical day in Nepal has looked like for us:
7am-12pm Morning ministry consists of either going to the learning center to teach women English and life skills or going to a local slum to teach children.
12pm-3pm This is our break for lunch. We usually try to run as many errands as we can in this time as well. I tend to spend this time getting groceries, stopping at a coffee shop to catch up on team finances, or going for a run with my teammate, Hillarie.
3pm-5pm Agape ministries has a set time in the afternoon for amad. This is a scheduled time where we all sit in the same room and have quiet time to spend time with our Father. For afternoon ministry we will either go to another slum or meet women that work in cabin restaurants. We usually do this by finding the restaurants and having conversations with the women there (more to come about this in a following blog).
5pm-8pm We spend this time cooking dinner, eating together, and then having team time.
Outside of this schedule, there are a few times during the week that we will have a large group gathering. On Wednesdays we have a women’s Bible study in the afternoon with the Agape team. Friday’s have become one of our favorite times because all of the team and a few other locals will gather for Sabbath shalom, which means to rest in God’s peace. The night starts with a large Nepali dinner and fellowship, followed by worship and listening to someone give a message. On the weekends we will attend local churches and share a message or testimony with the congregation.
In addition to ministry, my team has gotten the opportunity to explore around the city and surrounding areas. In our free time we have been able to climb up several LARGE “hills” to see views of the Himalayas. From the breathtaking views of nature to the deep conversations with the locals, it has been so amazing to see God’s beauty here in Nepal.
Fundraising update!
I’m currently sitting right around 70% funded! I still have to raise another $1300 as soon as possible to be able to continue with my squad (the deadline is at the end of November). If you would like to donate please click the “support me” link on the left, all donations are tax deductible!
