Hello everyone! It’s time for another update. I’ve been trying to decide between sharing my heart and sharing what we’ve been doing, but decided that I’d like what I’m processing to be shared on a more personal level, AND I haven’t sent an update in a while so I wanted to let you know what’s been going on. So this blog will focus on our time in Nepal.
Also, don’t you just love clickbait? I do! Well, not really… and my title isn’t click bait–I did see a goddess! Just keep reading. I promise it’s coming.
Nepal was an amazing experience and, at times, heart breaking. First, I want to say I absolutely loved Nepal! It is a country that I will for sure go back to! My team and I made some awesome friends and have some great connections there. I wish I could say we spent more time there. I also wish that a lot of my time there would not have been what it was, but I will explain later.
When my team’s time in China came to an end, we made our way through Tibet. Now, Tibet is awesome! So beautiful! I got to drink glacier water right out of a river! See some yaks and Mount Everest! We also had some crazy plan changes that really showed us what being flexible looks like and allowing yourself to be directed by God’s plan and not yours—even when you miss out on going to the Everest Base Camp. What this means is there are opportunities that will present themselves, in even one of the most closed-off regions of the world, that God will use! I wish I could share more, but I will say it involved a local being a part of our worship and receiving a Bible in their language! If you don’t know much about Tibet go read my blog “Am I really here??”.
Once we got done with our tour of Tibet, (which, by the way, is the only way that any foreigner can get through Tibet because they have to have a guide at all times) we were taken to the Nepal/ China border. From there we embarked on the bus journey of a lifetime where you could see where cars had fallen off the path (sorry, Mom, wasn’t going to tell you that part before it happened), but it really was not all that scary and was safer than it sounds. We also experienced a few roads like that in Tibet.
Once we got to Kathmandu, I realized this was going to be an interesting month. For 1) All throughout Tibet and the travel to Nepal the whole squad was together! Now, this is a good amount of people. Not crazy like other squads, but enough to make a introvert crave some alone time that never comes. So, finally stepping off the bus in Kathmandu was so nice because I was no longer crammed in my seat next to one of the tallest people in the squad. It was also interesting because it was brought to my attention on the bus, while it was pouring rain, that we are entering Nepal as monsoon season is coming to an end. This meant having rain almost everyday we were there. Thankfully it was mostly always at night but that didn’t mean we didn’t get caught in a few pouring rain situations.
A big reason our whole squad was together during the start of our month in Nepal was for what The Race calls debrief. Debrief is a time to come together with our squad mentor, coaches and other leaders to talk about our experiences and process things. Definitely an important thing but also probably more uncomfortable–for me–than being in these other countries.
Debrief means surface level conversations with people who have already formed deep friendships with others, trying to figure out where I fit in but also not trying to change my personality to an extrovert mold that seems much more accepted. I mean, who doesn’t love the loud and exuberant, as opposed to the wallflower whom people often try to drag into the share-everything-that-pops-in-your-head environment? Well, maybe that is exaggerating, but at the same time maybe not, because that is a lot of how it feels to be in this place.
I hope you now understand why half of my time in Nepal was not spent in a way I would have liked. We didnt meet our hosts ’til we only had 2 weeks left, realized we absolutely loved them, but also missed out on getting to encourage them due to so little time, which has been a big struggle that I have been working through.
Now, for a little more about Nepal. One warning: don’t accept drugs or red dots.
I know, that sounds weird. Hear my warning though. When you are in Kathmadu it is very common to be walking down the street and a random person walks up to you and starts talking to you. This is because they want to sell you something from their shop, get you to use their travel agency, or even sell you drugs. It gets quite annoying after a while! How do you reject weed from someone, then turn them down lovingly when they offer you a harder drug? Do you continue the conversation, being open to how God might be prompting, or do you allow them to leave because you said no to the drugs and the conversation didn’t go beyond your rejection? When someone figures this out, please let me know.
The Red Dots are another thing you will run into. Shaktas, Hindu holy people, will be walking around with powdered red turmeric and put Tilaka’s (the red dots or lines) on unsuspecting travelers. This is typically viewed as an honoring welcome, but with a catch. They ask for money. My tip to the traveler in Nepal would be to express to them upfront that you have no money to give them! Most people are unaware of this and end up paying them. Similar things will happen in China at different festivals or tourist places pertaining to pictures. You can take a picture but after having done so you will be asked to pay money. Okay, this will happen in most places in Asia. But also you will get swarmed with people who just want a picture with you because you aren’t Asian. Those are good ways to meet and start conversations!
These are more of the humorous things you will run into while being abroad! It will happen everywhere, just in different ways. But going to Asia, you will be famous! People want to take selfies with you ALL the time!
But, enough about all that. The real reason you clicked on this was to read about me seeing a goddess. Let me preface with saying this was a blessing to experience but also so disturbingly sad to see and left me torn up inside.
The royal Kumari–Nepal’s living goddess–resides in Kathmandu. There are several other Kumari, but the most important is in the capitol. The Kumari can only be a prepubescent girl. She is chosen through a rigorous process at around the age of FOUR! 4 years old… then the goddess is discarded after one of 3 things happen: severe illness, a bad injury that results in bleeding, or the girl has her first period. These three things are believed to represent the goddess Taleju vacating the girls body.
The heartbreaking part was seeing crowds and crowds of people surrounding her carriage (the kumari is not allowed to touch the ground). We watched the carriage come closer from a distance. Pounding drums and shouting surrounding us, the crowds clamored to catch some of the food thrown from the carriage because they believe it is holy.
To see the face of the young child, who does not seem to have any interest in her surroundings, with almost an irritated look about her, was the hardest part. The most amazing thing was that the whole time the carriage was coming our way all I could do was just pray for this girl. (Let me also say, getting to the spot where we could see her was an adventure in itself that involved running, being shoved, shoving, squeezing and ultimately questioning what in the world I was even doing!) As I am praying for this girl, the carriage comes to a stop right in front of where my group stood. I was close enough to get some really good pictures, despite security all around her. But better yet, I was close enough to touch the carriage. It was with this realization that I felt like I was suppose to touch it and pray for the girl. Who knows what that means, but I also learned later that another two squadmates were able to do the same! We truly have no clue what this might do but it is in God’s hands now.
This is what the first half of my Nepal experience was like. The second half consisted of us having a host!! This was so nice because it was the first time and will be the only one we have for a while, which is pretty hard for me to hear. During our time with them we were able to help paint and meet their connections, play with kids, visit a refugee camp, talk to locals, and have some adventure time as well! I also preached my first ever overseas sermon, with an interpreter.
Overall I loved being in Nepal and the people we met there! I hope to stay in contact with these people for life and visit them again. I would also love to point others their way as well!
My team is almost though with our time here in India and then we will be off to Ethiopia! What has been going on in India has been so cool and we have met some awesome people!
How you can pray for me:
1) My squad is about to go through some big changes in the next few days. Our Alumni Team Leaders will be leaving us and this is going to mean new team shifts happening. Pray that this will go smoothly and that God will be in the midst of all of it.
2) India has been quite dirty and dusty leaving some on my squad, and me, with some caughing. So, pray for good health and strength through bad health.
3) With our time in India coming to an end there is a lot of traveling. Pray for safe travels and smooth transition as we go from one country to the next!
4) Pray for me as I continue to wrestle with what good mission work looks like and how to be as Biblically responsible with this calling.
5) Pray that lives will be changed in whatever way God sees fit and that I will be okay with whatever role I play in that.
6) Pray that I will continue to seek after God and the comfort He brings to His children. That His guidance will be poured out on me and I will constantly follow His lead and His truth.
As a side note, if you ever want to reach me you can download the app “WhatsApp” and use my number 5134908073 to find me.
Feel free to message me whenever and I will get back to you as soon as I can! I would love to answer any questions! Don’t ask my family how I am doing, ask me!
