If you’ve followed along with my mission’s journey the last few years, then you know that I was in Nepal in 2015 when the May 12th earthquake struck.
I was there on my original 11-month World Race and the earthquake was just one of many incidents we experienced that year: the earthquake, aftershocks, a car accident, and a robbery being the main ones. The earthquake was a huge part of memories I have of Nepal and the three weeks we were there consisted of relief efforts and ministering to people that were suffering due to it.
I loved my time in Nepal despite the craziness of it, and was amazed at the ministry opportunities God presented me with. However, there was also a lot of emotional stress throughout the month. We were unsure if the places we were staying were going to be safe if another earthquake struck. Along with that, the people in the country were under a lot of stress and it worked its way into me and into the squad.
Getting to go back to Nepal last month was such an incredible experience for me. It was healing in ways I didn’t expect and in places I didn’t even know needed to be healed.
Landing on the tarmac of the Kathmandu International airport, my heart started pounding and I was flooded with all the memories of two and a half years ago: the feeling of buildings shaking due to aftershocks, the screams, the dust rising from houses that had just fallen during the earthquake. It all came flooding back in vivid detail. Moments I had since forgotten all came rushing back.
One of my co-squad leaders, Mark, was sitting next to me and I turned to him and said something like, “I’m really anxious.” As we were getting off the plane I am sure he was praying for me because I felt my heart begin to calm.
Leading up to our trip, I had been praying God’s peace over myself and Kaylaynn, as we were both returning for the first time since May, 2015. But I wasn’t sure what the month ahead would look like. Would I be reminded of the earthquake often? Would I re-experience the feelings of being out of control as I felt during the aftershocks? I just wasn’t sure.
Instead of being a scary experience, however, I am happy to say that the whole month was full of peace and joy and it was so beneficial for me.
In the time since I was last in Nepal in 2015, the Nepali people have been on the road of mourning what was lost, recovering, rebuilding, and healing.
It was a joy to see this because in my mind, Nepal was still hurting from the earthquake and l had no idea how much recovery, if any, had taken place.
But there has been a tremendous amount of recovery.
I also got to see the city under more even-keeled circumstances. I got to see people there working hard and living their normal day to day life. I noticed that the people are very hard working, but also take their time. Nothing is a rush but it’s also a constant strength to keep going. This was also a good thing because before, so many people were either stressed out due to not having business, or were mourning things they lost in the earthquake.
Not only did I get to see these positive changes, but I also got to re-experience village life. Last time I was in a village in the Himalayan mountain-side was when we experienced the earthquake. This time, I got to stay with an amazing family there and see the beauty of the mountains.
Where my eyes were focused on pain, death, and loss last time, they were focused on growth, birth, and peace this time.
I woke up early to stare at the beauty of the Himalayas. As we walked around the village, I stopped to soak in the simple beauty of the flowers. I watched sunrises and sunsets and felt so much peace. I even got to hold a just-born baby goat!
It was honestly one of my favorite weeks of being overseas that I’ve had.
I think the most amazing part is God’s kindness in all of this. It wasn’t necessary for me to come back to Nepal, but He orchestrated it for me so that I could experience his peace here. I got to see Nepal for the truly beautiful country that it is.
Yes, they are still recovering. And yes, there is still pain there. But God is in the midst of it all. And not only that, but since the earthquake He is doing a new thing here. The church is growing, people are coming to know the Lord, and his kingdom is taking ground. I got see that through one of the churches we worked with, full of young believers.
I left Nepal so hopeful for it as a country, so thankful for the month I got to experience there, and most of all, thankful for a loving God that brings healing and restoration.
