Hello again, friends!
Lets start where we left off. If you have no idea where that is then I would suggest you take a scroll back to my last blog, “Part the First: Wrapping up India” to see what happened for our last few weeks there!
No place has grabbed my heart on the race quite like northeastern India did. The willingness of the people to talk about their beliefs astounded me and it was there I learned just what a big part of culture religion is. Sure, we talk about it back home. We try to recognizethe way that following Christ has more severe consequences overseas, but living in it yielded a new perspective. Following Christ costs, and so many of the Chosen of India have paid that price.
I will never forget the leaders of the church that I met and got to talk to during our time there. Their stories are incredible and such a testimony to the faithfulness of our good Father.
*God my God, would the church continue to explode like wildfire and would the Body of Asia continue to proclaim the love and freedom of the Gospel shamelessly. Christ, convict me for the lost. How can I live for the world when so many live empty lives in separation from You? Let the compassion of Your heart overwhelm my own. Make me Your vessel. You are worthy of every song we could ever sing and any praise we could ever bring. Of undying devotion until the end of days. Be not far from me.
Well, leaving the hills was quite the thing. It was hard to say goodbye to the place that taught me so much in such a short time. The things I learned there about the heart of the Father will never be forgotten.
Our travel was awesome! For the first couple of hours all 37 of us piled into the back of a dump truck, packs and all, and headed down to the river.
I don’t know how long it was that we were on that river, nor do I fully recall stepping onto dry land again, but I remember having the best darn travel day ever! From the hills we headed down to a small village in a neighboring state to serve with a school for a few days.
While there, I spent a great deal of time with this crazy bunch playing loads of soccer and badminton. This family welcomed us in like no other and we talked a lot about faith and what it looks like to live in a predominantly Muslim community.
Photo creds to the awesome http://abbymoore.theworldrace.org this here is Rohit. He was my main pal during our brief stay in the village. We rode more than a few miles on this rusty old bike doing anything from discussing our favorite animals (I sadly had to share that there are no penguins in Africa) to singing old southern hymns at the top of our lungs. He was an absolute blessing, and saying goodbye was hard, but I learned so much from him about taking in the world through awe and fascination.
I’ll remember you forever, sweet Rohit!
Well… so concludes our time in India as we left, one rainy morning, for our final destination… Kathmandu, Nepal! Our ministry here has been very busy but oh so filling! We have been teaching English at a women’s center designed to help women get back on their feet after working at dance bars and other places. However, our main ministry has been in going to the poorest parts of town to host Bible clubs for the kids there. We tell Bible stories, sing A LOT of songs, and really just love on them!
Sometimes taking a selfie is easier said than done.
Got it!
Going to those places was Hard. Seeing the poverty that was so normal to them and hearing some of the stories was heartbreaking, but God loves to bring up beautiful things from the dust! Some days were more difficult. We would ask the question of what good we were actually doing in teaching kids that won’t listen or feeding bellies that would only go hungry again. This was not the first time on this Race I have asked questions like that… and God always responds with a similar thing, which one of our close friends summarized well below.
Meet Sumy! This guy has been a HUGE encouragement here as we finish this race. He’s hilariously funny, obviously good looking, and he has such a heart for the lost children of Nepal. He has become a close brother in such a short time and has ministered to me in such a personal way. He is a regular at the slum ministries and always talks of the way that we are like Farmers scattering seed. Watering the seed is up to our God, but we can be faithful in the waiting to toss truth and see where it falls. Maybe one day a child will hear a Bible story and then years later start to think on its meaning. Maybe that same child will begin to ask questions like, “Who were those people that came to our steet so often? What was it they told us again and again about God’s Love? Why was that the thing they thought we needed so bad?” Maybe one day these questions build until answers become necessary, and then maybe, just maybe, that child will seek out real truth. We’re not responsible to make sure the, “Maybe’s” become realities and decisions of faith, but Jesus told us to scatter seed, so that is what we do. I’m so thankful for Summy and his perspective on missions!
This here is Lazarus. He has been working with the ministry here for a long time and has such a heart for the lost of Nepal. Him and Sumy both have been brothers to me for this last leg of the race and I can’t imagine Kathmandu without them!
Thank you, Sumy and Lazzy, for putting up with us crazy kids for the last few weeks! You have displayed the heart of our Father in such a unique way and have ministered to me so personally. I love you both!
We also had the opportunity to go to many different churches during our stay here. Those Saturdays were such a good time of sharing testimonies, songs, and enjoying the good fellowship of believers. Pictured above is the oh so charming http://connorquick.theworldrace.org as he shares part of his story to a small church in the hills of Kathmandu. Ending this season of foreign church services is a little more difficult than I thought it would be. Sure, it can get boring at times sitting through an hour long message that you can understand absolute zero of, but there is nothing quite like multiple languages and ethnicities coming together under one Name singing the praise of our Lord! I will miss those times of fellowship more than I could have imagined.
Well, now we are all caught up. As I sit here typing this on the twenty-eighth of May we are preparing to head off to our final debrief of the Race. I can’t believe this journey is coming to a close. In one sense it seems like only yesterday that I was boarding the plane from NYC to Portugal, but on the otherhand I definitely feel like nine months of living has gone by. When I think to returning home after all that has taken place I honestly do get a little anxious. What does it look like to come back to my community, home, and family? What does it look like to continue pursuing the Father as intentionally as I have these last months back in, “normal” life? How do I make this way of living that I have come to crave with every piece of me into a norm that carries me throughout the rest of my life? These are things I pray over and I honestly don’t know what their answers are, but what I do know is that my God has not let me down yet. Through the hurt and pain. Through the trials and temptation. Through the exhaustion. Through the lies of the enemy. Through every strained step of this journey, I have never once been alone. He is trustworthy and when our plain touches down in LAX a few short days from now I know who goes before, with, and behind me in this next season and for the rest of my days.
*Loving Savior, I trust You!
Thank you so much for all your prayers and support through this nine month journey! I can’t wait to get home and personally tell of all the stories I could never fit in here. You all are amazing, and I thank my God constantly for all the love you have shown!
Through His grace,
Colby
