I posted a blog post named: ‘Let’s Talk About Ministry! (Pt.1)’ and if you haven’t read that, I would advise you do that before this, as this is Part two… and chronology is nice (:
So here is part two of my ministry time in Nepal, but first let me refresh you on part one, since it has been awhile.
The first few days were spent with a YWAM team who was doing their mission work along with our ministry host for a few days, as they gave messages, led worship, and taught the children staying in our host’s (Brian’s) home for the time being. We helped them out and had amazing fellowship with them, something I will not forget. The first bit of the month was really just a time of prayer, dwelling in the word, and a time to seek the body of Christ so that we may be stronger christians. The middle bit of the month was us (WR) going into the slums of Kathmandu and praying over individuals, the place as a whole, painting a building for children, playing sports with children, and learning what preparation for a Christ-centered day looks like. Everyday we would go to a building to have an hour or so to read the bible, pray, and write in complete silence (aside from the occasional monkeys jumping on top of the roof). So that was the first part, and the majority of what we did that month.
Now here is the second.
But first : A POEM!
So these places make me sad,
filled with despair, destitution.
So I ask God why, why this?
My feet walk in puddles and dirt,
trash and broken things.
Yet there is life, love to be found,
a hope burrowed beneath the sadness.
So we bring truth, so we pray to our Father,
forgiveness, and bring them grace.
For we know that victory is won,
that the devil has no power.
Come Lord, let your kingdom come.
Take your children back,
O Lord
Now let me tell you why I wrote this.
There came a time in ministry where I felt myself at trouble within my heart, almost a fear, but also a sadness. Our host, Brian, sat a couple of us down and brought us a message that became quite real to me. We had a conversation of spiritual warfare, and the power Satan has over things, people, and his lies. We had a conversation of events where people had been taken by the demons, where physical objects can have a hold over us when filled with dark meaning. Where Satan’s stomping grounds are, and how we were about to enter them shortly. Now I firmly believe that christians cannot be ‘possessed’ by a demon, as some may differ from my thought, but what I did learn is that we are not invincible, as the Deceiver can attack us greatly, especially when in his territory, and especially where he does not want us sharing the gospel with those he had already ‘won over’.
I learned from this a greater understanding of the Armor of God, as said in Ephesians 6:10-18 “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.”
Yes I did take that for granted when I read of it, sort of as a childish way of remembering these things. Yet now I see that it truly is the ARMOR of God, as it is what all christians should put on before they brush their teeth in the morning, as it is a preparation for all things in the day, so that we may fulfill out Great Commission daily. I challenge you readers now, tomorrow morning, or even now, go stand up and put on the Armor of God while saying the words with all the actions. You may look silly, but I guarantee you will not forget you did that throughout the day. I say, and ask this, because this is what we had to do everyday before going into ministry, as this is sort of a preparation requisite for Brian, and he wanted us to do the same. I don’t ask a lot of my readers, but this is one thing I would love for you to do.
So why is all this happening then? Why the sudden urgency to talk of such spiritual matters as demons. Well it was because we were to spend the next day going into these things called Cabin Restaurants, and to go into a dance bar later that night so that we may rescue some dancers from their predicament, and striving to share the gospel while doing so.
Let’s define Cabin Restaurants. These are restaurants where inside, there are these cubicle-like places to eat and drink. They are four walls of plywood and a small door, and for each ‘cabin’ there is a girl assigned to take orders and give food. However, the business of these places is not from their food quality, but rather of the services these women give to the men from how much they order. So, these girls that work there (usually not over 18), are trained to flirt with all the men there, trained to make themselves as objects and to fulfill the lustful desires of men so that they may have them order more food, which means more money. Let me also clarify that this is not prostitution, as it never got on that level, if you will.
The minute I walked into that cabin restaurant, I felt the darkest feeling I had ever felt. I knew that I had just stepped foot into Satan’s stomping grounds. I don’t know how to describe it, but it felt as though everything inside of me just left, all my feelings and emotion, as my heart sank but also felt as if something was pressing on it, grabbing ahold of it. I’ll admit, it was a bit scary. And soon, our girl who was serving just sat down with us and started talking about her life story, something I had not expected to happen. Unfortunately it turned out that she has had white people talk with her a couple times, missionaries that is, and she decided from the encounters of going to church that her god is better than our God, as she made this very clear throughout the conversation.
What do you say when someone says, ‘I believe in Jesus, I just believe our god is better than him.’ ? And soon we also learned that she had experiences at churches, and when she goes to them she thrashes out and breaks things, being controlled by an angry spirit, and that in order for her to stop the madness she goes home and sacrifices an animal to please her god. So her conclusion was that it was Jesus’s fault and that Jesus did not like her, and by hearing this we were saddened. I was at a loss for words, and for about an hour straight I felt extremely useless, as my words were few and my heart was struggling. So by the end of our time at the restaurant we managed to get her phone number and we set up another meeting outside of the restaurant so we could talk to her in more depth about things, and that was the end of that.
Later in the evening we, both of the teams, travelled to Thamel (where Alobar 1000 is), and we met up with Brian to discuss our next mission: the dance bar ministry. So we met as a group and Brian spoke for a bit about what we were about to encounter, and how we should prepare for such a trial. Of course, we put on the armor of God before heading into the battlefield and we filled ourselves up with the Holy Spirit beforehand while being rich in prayer and the word before leaving. Then we circled around the city block and had time to ourselves to repent over anything we had not asked for forgiveness over, and we prayed to God over the city, over the places we were to enter, and I walked around with a heavy heart with the song of Amazing Grace from my lips. Soon after some discussion, we were divided up into teams, and my team was with Lis Warner and Josh Guilliams, and the three of us walked into a dance bar, got a table, ordered some drinks for us and the dancers, and we began our ministry. It was a hard time, I will admit, as I saw so much wickedness in one spot, so much brokenness, and eventually I had to step outside and beg God for the strength to carry on with my ministry in the club. I suppose that was when I truly heard God speaking to me, as I was in desperate prayer, and I went back in with a strengthened heart and mind, as I knew all things were possible through Christ. The next hour or so was spent praying for Lis’s interaction with the dancer, as I prayed side by side with Josh, and thanks to God, the dancer gave Lis her number and was quite eager to find an exodus to her lifestyle. A day later we met up with her again, and we were able to give Brian’s information so that she could be rescued. Whether or not she is going through with it, I know not, but from what it seemed, she claimed to be a follower of Christ and there, at a street corner, Lis shared the gospel and prayed for her. Prayer came again from Josh and I, and I can say with confidence that I had experienced a whole new type of prayer at the times, and my prayer life has changed since. That was my ministry and time in Nepal, and I wish I could have written everything, but alas, there are only so many words for a decent sized blog post
So that was a lot, and I realize I’m posting this so late as I am already in Zimbabwe while trying to post this. But that was a vision of my time in Nepal and all I experienced. Thank you all for your support and love and kind words, as I love me some good words of encouragement and wisdom. Stay tuned for another blog post or two about my time in Zimbabwe and all that I’ve done thus far. Thanks so much and God Bless!
-Garrett Stoecker
