I don’t know where to start when talking about this month in Nepal. It was amazing. I have been doing foreign missions since I was 13, and I have never had the connection and desire to stay in country like I have here in Nepal (even Panama, where I went 3 times). We were able to be a part of the local church and a very special family. Also, I can pass as Nepali as long as I don’t talk.
I Have a Papa
God told me at the beginning of the race that much of my race would be about giving me new relationships and healing my views on where I fit in with people. Well this month He did that by giving me a Papa. Papa is the father of the family we worked with, and he welcomed us in as his daughters right away.
He cared about everything. When someone had a tiny fever he kept checking up on her. He was so worried about letting us go somewhere alone. He sat and imparted wisdom to us many of our nights with him. He smiled and laughed and joked and loved us like God loves us. I am so appreciative of him because I now have some idea of what a father is supposed to be like.
What Does That Even Mean?
When I get back to the states and can’t form long, complex sentences, bear with me. I have learned to speak to people whose English is limited. I’ve had to keep sentences easy so that I can be understood. Also, the way I describe things is different now. If I say “It’s fine, it’s fine” with a head bobble and an accent, it means that it’s good and I agree. Welcome to my life.
I See God in the Mountains
We got to spend time in the Himalayan mountains and foothills this month, and it is breathtaking. There is a song that says “If the stars were made to worship / so will I / If the mountains bow in reverence / so will I.” While we were in Gorkha and I stared out at the mountains and the blackened sky glimmering with thousands of stars, I couldn’t help but worship. I just wanted to sing out to God and worship Him because of the love and beauty he put into a simple pile of rocks. I feel His presence out in His creation, and His peace flows in every creation from mountains to rivers to people.
We Need to Operate as the Body
On our last day of ministry in Gorkha we went on house visits. We stopped at two different believer’s homes to encourage and check in on them. On this day, our team was able to flow as the Body of Christ. One spoke and then as people asked for prayer we split up and prayed and spoke to individuals. And the best thing is that we didn’t need to make up a list of have a team meeting to decide who did what. We didn’t fight to prove that we were holy or anointed. We worked where we felt God prompting us to work.
We supported one another and stepped up to let the Holy Spirit work and do his thing. And it was beautiful. If the church stopped competing and pushing to be MVPs and just worked together, non-believers would actually take notice and want what we have.
The Box is NOT an Option
Through my team, Wild Pursuit, and our hosts, God was able to show me exactly what it means to walk out in the freedom He has always desired for me. I can dance in worship without hesitation, I can sing random musical songs with joy, I can be and not be rejected, I can call people higher (challenging their way of operating) and not lose their love.
And now we are not only leaving this country, but our team is changing, and I know that going back into a box instead of continuing to live in freedom is not an option. I don’t necessarily know how to keep out of it, but I know that after tasting the freedom of the joy of the Lord, I cannot go back to not living in the fullness of everything God has created me to be.
I am sitting in a non-profit coffee shop right now where I have built relationships with the employees while live music is happening. I’m sitting across the table from a strong, passionate woman of God that has become my best friend this year, and I got to surprise my host this morning by going to their house fellowship. And I honestly don’t know how I am going to say good-bye to this country. I would love to miss my flight and hop on a bus with my hosts to head to East Nepal to check on churches there, but I know that God still has more for me through the World Race. So tomorrow I will pack my bag, head to the airport, and begin making my way to Latin America.
