“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”
-Mother Teresa
Sitting at the “Big-O” restaurant one day after ministry in Kathmandu, my team and I were enjoying a nice family dinner together. Pizza, fries, and “Big-O” balls comprised our meal; however, it was not the food that made this a memorable suppertime, but rather the unexpected company who joined us that night. As we were in the midst of our feast, two young boys approached the window of the restaurant, signing to us the universal “we’re hungry” symbol (hand to the mouth symbolizing eating some food). I thought that I should bring them some food, but then my good intentions were put to shame when one of my teammates suggested, “Let’s invite them to eat with us!” So we called them in and the two boys sat down at our family table. Their countenance had changed completely as they walked through the door to join us. They no longer were frowning, but now the smile of a truly happy child was beaming through the grime that covered their faces. For half an hour they weren’t beggars anymore, but now they could be what they were, kids. We had somehow gotten an extra order of “Big-O” balls and I shared some of my pizza with them. They sat content eating with us. Through some very basic conversation we were able to find out their names and that these two young boys (8 & 11 years old) were brothers. As they finished their food, they simply got up, waved bye, and they were on their way.
A few days later I had gone to the local supermarket with two of my friends at night. My goodness was I craving a grape juice for hours that day! As we left I was ecstatic to finally have the sweet vitis nectar that I so longed for that afternoon, but to my surprise I was met by a familiar, dirt-smudged face. A lone boy signaling his desire for food. What was his name though? “Lucas! Hey man!” I exclaimed, happy that I was able to remember his name. The younger of the two brothers had found his way back to me. Initially I don’t believe he knew who I was, but once he heard his name he lifted his head and once again he flashed his pearly whites through a big grin. I took a gulp from my grape juice and handed the rest to Lucas. Once again he was happy as he walked off down the street. Side note: his smile this time was caused by simply hearing his name. Get to know people, learn their names, and that can make a world of difference to someone (I was happy that he had an easy name to remember, I would’ve been in a bad spot if he had a more traditional Nepali name!).
I met Lucas a third time as our team was headed to a local pizza restaurant for one of my teammate’s birthdays. This time he was accompanied by two other boys who I hadn’t seen before. He had recognized me this instance and approached with a more joyful disposition. We were eating at a bit more costly restaurant this time so sadly we couldn’t afford to invite them to join us, but I stopped by a convenient store and bought them two juices and a pack of Oreos (I love Oreos so shouldn’t everyone else enjoy them too?!). After taking a sip of the juice and an Oreo for myself I handed it over to the boys. This time they stuck around long enough to exchange some high-fives and fist bumps. As they departed I accidentally let out a “I love you, guys!” This floored me. Why did I just tell these random street kids that I loved them? I know we are supposed to love everyone, but is it supposed to be an actual sacrificial love? Is this love for others supposed to actually be felt in the heart and not just be a warm feeling from doing good while I pat myself on the back?
I thought through this all that night. I love people and have done many things to help others, but I don’t know if I had ever been this moved by people that I just met. This wasn’t just an “I love you because Jesus says I am supposed to so I will show it by giving you some juice,” but it was as if I was talking to my younger cousins (who are the closest people I have to younger brothers) and truly cared about what happened to them. How could I love these kids? “[I] love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19).” I could love these kids because I was first loved unconditionally by an all-powerful God! As Jesus walked this earth, he did not serve others out of obligation, but out of true love. And I believe I experienced just a small taste of the “love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31)” stuff that Jesus was talking about. This whole ministry thing is starting to get real!
As I pondered this issue for a few days, I was greeted by my old friend once more one morning outside a coffee shop. He ran up to me “Juice? Juice?” He had another friend with him who looked like he was about to head to school. This was my chance. I could do something more for him than just giving him sustenance. After bumming a few rupees off a fellow teammate, I took the boys to a small store and got them a bottle of Coke (I am not the giver of the healthiest gifts), but this time I wanted to actually give him something that mattered. I would’ve loved to walk him through the six points of the Gospel, but the language barrier was preventing that exchange. As I handed him the Coke, I knelt down until I was eye level with Lucas and just said “Jamase.” This was a greeting that Nepali Christians would use in place of the usual “namaste” when addressing a fellow believer. “Jamase” translates to “Jesus is Lord.” With all the education I have gained on theology, the only thing I was able to convey to Lucas was that “Jesus is Lord.” He shortly ran off again like he had before. I had gone to a local Christian bookstore and bought a Nepali Bible for him, but I never saw him again. Had I done enough for him? Maybe. I hope and pray that if anything has stuck with him, it is that “Jesus is Lord.”
Now I want to state that this blog was not written as an opportunity to brag on myself for helping out a few street kids. Nor is it to elevate myself to Saint status because I thought to mention Jesus to this kid. I wrote this blog because through my interactions with Lucas I was grasped by the love of Christ and was compelled to do more than the minimum. Too many times have I given a hungry kid juice without offering the “living water” (John 7:37-39). Heck, I have even evangelized without love for those I was speaking to. The only way we can truly serve others is when we understand the love Christ has for us and show that same love to others. Pity compels us to give them food, but love will compel us to give them the Bread of Life (John 6:35).
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”
-1 Corinthians 13:1-3
