As our team leader, announced our ministry point for the month of February she described it as potentially being “intense”. Her and I went back and forth for about 45 seconds as to whether she meant we were going to be “in tents” or if the actual ministry would be “intense”. Just a little World Race humor, because you truly never know.
In the end we decided that neither of us knew anything about the next ministry other than it would be in Nepal working with Nepali Youth Ministries and we would be heading back down the treacherous mountain we braved on the way to Kathmandu to go back to the Nepal/ India border very close to Bihar.
The confusion was due to the fact that the new contact we were going to be working with had not properly filled out the information sheet. We had no idea what our lodging was going to be like, internet/ no internet, shower/ no shower, tents or rooms, etc. In the end we all came to the conclusion that if it is God’s will to put us in our tents in the Himalayas let that be that. We knew that we had been so fortunate at GEMS and as much as we might fight it, we needed to experience a little hardship in order to grow closer as a team and understand what it means to completely rely on God. I prayed a dangerous prayer that night. I prayed for the Hole in the Mountain. I meant it in my heart and God took me seriously in many ways.
We made our journey over the mountain in a jeep with a old drunk man, a small child, and a mother. We arrived at Haripur Church and met with Pastor Achut. I could already tell that this ministry was going to be a lot different from GEMS. Putting all expectations aside I was anxious to get all my questions answered and begin ministry in Nepal. We were shown to our rooms, girls downstairs, boys upstairs and given a tour.
The shower is in the kitchen.
The squatty potty is in the front yard.
The beds are essentially extra large coffee tables with a sheet over it.
The local entertainment was the neighbors’ loud speaker playing crazy obnoxious music 10-14 hours a day.
I honestly do love seeing the country this way and every day there is something new to learn and experience (a follow up blog about these experiences is coming soon). Hollis likened the living arrangements as to Thailand and Cambodia with the open air, tree house feel. I have grown accustomed to it now and can’t imagine any different. We brush our teeth in the front yard and eat our meals at a picnic table.
Cheers to trying new things.
Ministry has also been a new learning experience. The language barrier is tough because we only have one translator for the 6 of us and in the villages we are usually scattered attempting to communicate with 6 groups of curious Nepalese people. We travel to different villages by bus or foot and hand out tracks to every one that we come in contact with. I enjoy it because it allows the curious people to understand the reason we have come to their village. I can’t say it is the most comfortable thing, some people are very skeptical but if it changes one person’s life, it was well worth the trip.
I love that this has become part of my life and I look back and think of the extremes that God has provided me with and it is only through Him and with Him that I can be content in both.
“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.”
Philippians 4:11-12
