I woke to the sounds of car horns dogs barking, and the shouts of the locals. The room felt like ice compared to my most recent home in Swaziland. My sleeping bag seemed to be the only warm place in the room. I reached for my clothes laying on my pack next to me on the floor. Once I was ready for the day my team and I had morning devotionals and then breakfast. It consists of either black or milk tea, sweet bread, and a bean, potato mixture. Our ministry host came to pick us up a little after nine-thirty. After a short walk to the main road, we caught a bus. Attempting to get all of us on was an adventure alone. Packing twenty people on a bus that’s already full is an interesting sight the public transit here should really have about thirty sitting, but they somehow manage to pack sixty.
Once on the bus packed in like sardines we faced an hour-long ride to the ministry. We arrived at a monkey temple. As we walked up to the entrance homeless and lepers laid on the steps begging for money, loud music was playing while a man sang in Nepalese. Men with dishes of red paint and flowers went around blessing people. As we walked up the steps three large golden statues towered over us. The largest was a Buddha statue centered in the middle. The second I stepped into the area I felt a complete change in the atmosphere. The air felt heavy and dark. It felt as though it was difficult to breathe. Our host brought us to the temple to prayer walk and intercede in prayer for the people there. Because it is illegal to evangelize in Nepal we weren’t allowed to share the gospel unless they approach and ask.
As I walked around the grounds the old and young where taking sacrifices to the feet of the gods. There where monkeys everywhere and the people worshiped them. These people looked to golden statues and monkeys for love. Thinking that these material things could bring them happiness. The entire time I felt the holy spirit so present with me. The Lord spoke to me so clearly as I walked the grounds praying. He said “You see these trees here, in this place where they worship other gods my creation is here. I am still present, but my trees are still dying and I long for them to know me so I can bring life back into them.”
As I continued to walk towards the back of the temple I came upon a large room with a giant prayer wheel inside. The continues ringing of a bell rang with every turn of the wheel. As I entered the room it felt dark and heavy. Just to walk completely around the room exhausted me. After I left the prayer room I had to hold back tears my heart completely broke for the people of this lost country. Although my heart longed to share the gospel we couldn’t. All I could do was pray.
