A Picture of the mountains in Kathmandu, The picture gives no justice.
Building a fence out of bamboo we stripped from the Forrest.
Nepal started out wonderful. Katmandu has the most beautiful mountains surrounding it that I have ever seen. After spending a month in India’s scorching heat, the 65-degree average temperature of Katmandu was so refreshing. We are all very excited about our next month in Nepal. It was going to be a vacation. We were excited to be using our sleeping bags at night. The ministry in Katmandu seemed perfect for all of our individual strengths. I would of spent most the month editing video for a commercial and working on a website. Nepal was going to be a good month.
Little did we know the next day my team would be taking an eight-hour bus ride southeast and only 11 miles from the Indian border. This was very difficult for us; most of us struggled in India and just wanted to get away. It had been very hot there, and our new location was even hotter. We were in the middle of the jungle with the closest Internet being 20 minutes away. There is almost no motorized traffic so we would be walking 1-2 hours each way for our ministry sites in 100 degree weather. The power is off more often then on. This means sleepless nights with the mosquitoes in the heat. Worst of all, we are in the middle of a dangerous jungle with the nearest good hospital being eight hours away. Not a whole lot to be thankful or positive for. Following Jesus is great and all, just long as we are comfortable and safe.
We as American Christians tend to run away from things that aren’t easy. We act like we are Christians because of what God can do for us. We were never promised an easy life as Christians. In fact Jesus told us the exact opposite. He told us to expect persecution, especially when spreading the gospel. Look at the violent deaths Jesus disciples had. Even Paul gave his life for Christ.
My team and I struggled a lot our first couple days at our location. But it wasn’t really because of the rough conditions. It was because we all had such high expectations for Nepal. The problem is, they were mostly selfish expectations. Actually after a couple days, once we got rid of our expectations. We realized things are not bad at all. We have great food that tastes good and nutritious. Our pastor takes very good care of us, and is always watching out for us. Whether it is checking to see if we need rest in the shade, or giving us medicine when we aren’t feeling well. We have long walks in the sun, but we put on a lot of sunscreen, and get to rest often in shade. Yes it takes a lot of energy out of us, but we can do it. Our ministry generally doesn’t take more then 4 hours out of our day, so we have a lot of free time.
What does any of that matter though? There is only one thing in the world that matters. Gods will. So what if it is hot. So what if things are a little dangerous. So what if someone had a heat stroke in the heat. If God tells us to do something, if God calls us to go somewhere and preach. What else matters. We say God is number one in our life, but do we mean it. Or is He only “number one” when it serves us best. There is nothing more important then obedience to God. Not even safety or health. Yes we still need to be health conscious and not put ourselves in dangerous situations. I am only saying if God calls us to do something that might jeopardize that, what is more important? Health and safety, or obedience to Christ?
“The son of God suffered unto the death, not that man might not suffer, but that their sufferings might be like his.”
The Problem of Pain
C.S Lewis
