After a long and crowded bus ride through the busy streets of Kathmandu we were greeted by a beautiful woman who welcomed us into her ministry home. This home is a place where young women can be educated, mentored, and discipled in order to have the opportunity for new beginnings.
We were taken into a small classroom that seated 9 young girls that appeared to be in their early teens. They seemed to be from different countries but in actuality they are Nepalese — a people group with a unique blend of differing facial features. They were some of the most beautiful young girls I have ever seen.
We stood in front of them preparing to introduce ourselves as a group of American missionaries that have come to Nepal to serve the Lord. In that space I could see in their eyes uncertainty, nervousness, and a bit of curiosity.
I began to share a word of encouragement knowing just a bit about the oppression they carried. When I finished my teammate Hannah felt led to share her testimony. We silently interceded through prayer while Hannah spoke and there was a shift in the atmosphere.
The Spirit of the Lord with His peaceful presence was opening hearts. Their eyes no longer showed nervousness or uncertainty. But instead it became filled with compassion and power. I’ve heard that our eyes are the window to our souls. Looking into their eyes I saw not young girls, but young women who had beauty on the outside but true beauty on the inside.
After Hannah shared, a spirit of boldness entered the room. One of the young women who sat in the back of the room wanted to share her testimony. Then one wearing a pink sweater. Then one with beautiful green eyes. Then another one and another one until almost every one of them had spoken.
These were young women who when they were only little girls or toddlers were abused, molested, and raped by family members or people they knew. As a result they were abandoned or disowned by their families. Some of them became pregnant causing them to be faced with the painstaking decision of having an abortion or keeping the baby.
These are testimonies that could have left us all hopeless, angry, or resentful. It could have caused us to turn inward on ourselves and be depressed by the weight of the pain that we’ve experienced through our own lives.
But instead, as the young women spoke their solemn faces became covered with unforgettable smiles. There was a lightness in the room that brought a sense of comfort as if we were talking to each other as long lost sisters. There was joy as the presence of the Lord took what would have been a somber moment and turned it into a moment of celebration.
We celebrated our testimonies that glorified the power of Christ Jesus. We praised Him because when we were left abandoned by the pains of the world we were saved by His mercy and unfailing love. We rejoiced in our new identities — daughters of the one and only God, beloved by our Lord and Savior, and washed clean by His blood.
We smiled knowing that our confidence is in the truth that we are never defined by the hurtful hand that the world has given us. The hand that holds us now belongs to God and there’s a peaceful promise that our life is linked to eternity with Him.
We hugged each other as victorious sisters in Christ. And we were even given the blessing to meet some of their babies — precious lives that were saved by grace.
In that room I saw the true story of redemption and forgiveness behind their smiles. Their stories continue and God is glorified. Some of the strongest souls are those covered with scars. How wonderful is the love of Jesus, who bears the scars of the world so that we can live.
