Nepal has been amazing! When I first heard that we were coming here I was excited, but also pretty bummed that we weren’t going to be going to Sri Lanka- But as always, God had a huge plan. The atmosphere here is unlike anywhere else that I’ve been on the race so far. For someone who loves the outdoors and hiking, its paradise. The whole city of Kathmandu is crawling with people from countries all over the world buying gear, food, coffee, and trying to find internet cafes to talk to loved ones back home. Just two days ago I had a great conversation with a guy from Belgium who was just traveling for 6 months by himself to see the world. Conversations with people here in Kathmandu were one of my favorite parts of ministry this month.
For ministry our team was placed with another team from our squad and a team from another squad that was in Nepal at the same time as us. We would wake up and have breakfast every morning at 8, lunch at 12, and dinner at 6. It’s strange to say this, but that schedule was amazing to me. It was amazing after having so many months of chaos and not knowing when something was going to happen. Being a Dilbeck, we always feel more at ease if we know when the food is going to hit the table. Things being on a timely nature this month was a gift in itself.
We had ministry with girls that had been taken out of trafficking, hiked to a leper colony and prayed over them, served breakfast to street kids, and so so much more. We lived in a village for 4 nights and prayed over the churches and people there the days that we could. After that we spent 3 days in another village and had so many opportunities to pray with small church groups in little huts- I think praying over Christians is one of my favorite things to do on the race. Every time is just so amazing. They pull out their little bibles in their language and we pull out ours and together we can read about God and learn more about him through encouragement. I know that sounds simple, but God amazes me through this at every village and every stop that we make.
I was so pleased to see God move so much in our team this month and in Nepal this month. Waking up every day and seeing the Himalayas just takes my breath away. I’m going to miss that like crazy. Monkeys running around and street vendors trying to rip us off every day won’t be missed haha, but Nepal has been a dream.
In a few hours I’ll be hopping on a plane to head to SWAZILAND! Our team will more than likely be in the air or on a bus during Thanksgiving, but at least we will be together! We will be working with an orphanage there doing various things like building, farming, and teaching the kids. I’ve been told that we are living on a mountain with amazing hiking and waterfalls close by! Also I was told that we won’t have internet all month… So this might be my last line out until after Christmas. So if it is I just want everyone to know how much I love you and how much I miss home. Christmas will be interesting this year, but I’m so glad to know that I’m doing what I know God called me to do! Eat tons of candy canes for me and have lots of fires!
I still need to get about $4,400 raised by January 1st. If 80 people donate $55 I’ll be fully funded! or if 55 people donate $80 I’ll make it. I guess yall know how math works but I’m running on very little sleep and my mind couldn’t fathom that a few minutes ago. I need to get some rest on that plane tonight! Thank you all so much for supporting me in this both financially and with prayer. I can’t tell you how much it means to me, really. I’m continually blown away by the support that I have back home and how much people love me. Yall are amazing! Happy Thanksgiving! Merry Christmas! Happy New Years and all that other stuff. See yall after Christmas!
