The last few weeks in the Kingdom of eSwatini seemed to drag on, similar to a band aide being slowly ripped off. The goodbyes were difficult as we said farewell to all the relationships we had built over the past 3 months. Including ministry hosts, missionary families, our care point kids, and the several friendships we had made in our weekly routine. It was bitter sweet, but I knew I was ready for the next step in our journey. This step meant leaving Swaziland to bus to South Africa for a few days, then flying to Qatar, and eventually making our way to the mountainous Asian country Nepal.
During our stay in South Africa and the travel days leading up to arriving to our next country, I prayed and tried to prepare myself but had no idea what to exactly expect. When we arrived, and hopped off our plane we were quickly made aware of Hinduism and some of the thousands of gods that are worshipped here. This is something I have never really experienced, the fact of someone openly worshipping a physical idol. Now I know in America it’s common for people to make things like substances, entertainment, relationships, or even just simply ourselves our idols (sermon in itself).. but these people openly worship idols with incense, statues, and lots of other ways I probably haven’t even discovered yet. What makes this trickier is the fact that Nepal is a CLOSED country. Meaning that I can be a Christian, however, I’m not allowed to share the Gospel. This is different then Africa completely. Instead of sharing Jesus’s love everywhere we go, that we have to learn to show him through our actions while building relationships and interceding for the people.
The first days here were somewhat overwhelming. As we drove to our hostel and made our way through the city. I recognized a city that lacked any kind of system, later a local told me that, “No system is the best system”. This brought a sense of being unease as everything seemed so busy and clustered together. These feelings quickly came to an end as we spent the next few days exploring the city and getting to know the people. The culture was so rich with tradition and creativity. Our team actually got the opportunity to do prayer walks around the city and one of the largest Nepalese Buddhist temples. Although most of the people had never experienced Jesus’s love, that by no means meant that He wasn’t bound to show up.
Galatians? ?2:20? “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
So maybe I can’t ask if they know Jesus or share the Gospel, BUT if I truly live as Christ intended, then these people should see Jesus through my interactions while building a relationship with them. Preaching to myself here, I have to continue to die to my flesh and be a light to others who might have never had an encounter with the Lord. An excellent example of this comes from my morning at a small coffee shop today. This morning was freezing cold as I made my way across the street to sit down for a cup of coffee and Bible reading to begin my day. As I began to get into the Word I quickly noticed I was being looked at by a few people who were there including the cafe owner. Eventually, he made his way over to my table along with another gentleman. They asked what I was reading and why I was underlining certain passages. This led to a conversation about my beliefs and then to their Hinduism. We all respected each other’s religion throughout the conversation. At the end, I got to share a couple of my favorite verses and meet the owner’s family! The seed was planted.
1 Corinthians 3:7 “So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”
I would ask for your continued prayers! Pray for my patience and endurance in this new season of our journey. And pray that the Lord makes these people’s hearts yearn for the truth, and to make any seed planted by myself or our group over the next month to GROW!
Thank you for reading!
