Well during this last couple of weeks we have had our base in Kathmandu. We have worked with many different ministries and have experienced so much. One evening we were able to go play with the kids at an orphanage. We were playing soccer and the ball rolled down a hill. I went to go pick it up and there were 2 boys playing a game in some trash bins. They asked me to join them so I did. They had me hold the expired phone cards after each round of their game was finished. Each phone card had different amounts of minutes. The higher the amount card wins the round. The cards had 50, 100, 500, and 1000 minutes.In our soccer game the Americans lost against the Nepali children. Another man from a ministry called “friends of the fatherless” had gifts for the children so we were able to help him handout gifts.
photo courtesy of Athena Papadopoulos
This month they had National Elections. So the 18th through the 20th we could not do ministry, and had to stay very close to our hotel and 1 day we couldn’t leave at all. There were riots and some bombings around the country. Everywhere we were I felt safe. There were many soldiers around the town all the time.
One day we got to go to Peace Rehabilitation Center. This is a safe house for rescued girls from sex trafficking. This organization gives them a place to live and provides resources they need to get back on their feet and start a new life. They are taught life skills like sewing and other things to provide income and sustainability. This organization also has posts on the border of Nepal and India to help prevent girls from getting trafficked. I have heard so much about these organizations in the past several years and it was really a blessing to see one first hand and to meet the girls who have been rescued.
Another day we took a hike down into a valley to a Lepers colony. There were many who have had leprosy but all have been cured. The government helps provide some resources for them to live there for their disabilities. We were able to meet, talk, and pray for them. One gentleman fell down a hill I believe 4 years ago. He was paralyzed and is leg is all twisted. We asked if we could pray for him and he said no. So my teammate Rachael read him a bible story. I handed her my bible and the bookmark was in Matthew Chapter 8, where Jesus heals a leper. She turned the page and read from chapter 9, where Jesus heals a paralytic. After hearing the story, he told us that he feels a change in his heart and then allowed us to pray for him. After praying for him he said that some of his pain had left him. It was great to see God work in this man’s life, and seeing the change from when we first talked to him to allowing us to pray and see healing. Another man lost both of his hands and the front halves of both his feet to the illness.
We were able to go to the Slums of Kathmandu two different times. The first time we went and attended a church service. The second time we helped serve breakfast to I think around 200 children. At church a young boy sat next to me. His name was pronounced “Suzan” to the best of my knowledge. He placed a leaf with a little cross sticker in my bible for a bookmark. About 3 days later when we went to serve breakfast, Suzan came up and grabbed my hand. (picture below) We went for a run and played for a while before he went to school. It was really cool to have this connection with him!
This week I also got the opportunity to jump off a bridge twice. Once on a Canyon Swing and the other Bungee Jump. The bridge was 160 meters above the river. I would like to leave you with this. God wants us to live with our arms wide open and completely trust Him with all of our worries and cares. Even though what looks ahead is very scary and we sometimes don’t want to go, He will always be with us. We must each day jump and let God catch us as we fall into His plan. It is always scary, but when He catches us the ride is incredible!
Today we are leaving Nepal and traveling to Swaziland! We will be together as our entire squad next month working in an orphanage! This month all the kids are out of school on holiday so we will have a lot of time with them. We will each be assigned to at least one child to hangout with along with some manual labor! Our Thanksgiving Day will be a very busy day of traveling. So Happy Thanksgiving!
Our final financial deadline is January 1st. I am still a ways from meeting the deadline.
Please continue to keep us in your prayers. We always appreciate them!
