The little old neighbor lady was sitting crouched in the church in which we slept. We had no idea what she was saying, but this time what she was saying was not directed at us. It was directed to the little boy who was sitting on the floor, eyes averted, tracing the dust in the carpet, avoiding being scolded. (Kids all over the world totally act the same.)
We did not know what to do. We did not know what the kid had done. He had been hanging out with us the past couple of days. Debbie had just gotten done playing a giggle filled game of with him. Our grandmother neighbor did not seem to like him hanging around us, and mainly around her house. Maybe he was a lower caste. Maybe he had caused some trouble we did not know about. All we knew is that during the week he had become our little buddy.
Shannon called out that it was time for lunch and as we started to head towards the door we wondered how we would usher out this lady without disrespecting her. We wondered what Asis was going to do. Most of the team had headed to the door and started putting on their shoes. Luckily, the lady followed. Asis sat. Stunned. Sad. Dejected.
My heart broke. I scooped him up and he squirmed and tried to deny me. He thought he was in more trouble. I put him down, knelt next to him, looked him in the eyes and told him that it was okay. I held him close, rubbed his back, and picked him back up again. He may not have understood my words, but he seemed to understand my tone. He snuggled in and let me carry him from the church. I grabbed his shoes and headed toward our hosts house. He was crying. I hugged him close and told him, “I love you, and Jesus loves you. Don’t worry.” Again, I have no idea if he has any clue what I said to him, but a few steps later and a short climb over the broken down stone wall he was smiling at Shannon who was walking behind us.
I pretended to drop him off of the nearby cliff and then set him down so he could walk on his own. He followed us for lunch were our host gave him a few morsels of meat.
We had no problem finding Asis every day. He wore the same outfit. For all of the 6 days we were there we saw him in the same torn pants, purple sweatshirt, and jacket. It was easy to see where his toes poked out of his socks, as his flip flops could not hide them. His head was often bare, there was no hat to keep those ears warm.
Ministry is often scheduled for us on the Race. Manual labor, house fellowship, English classes, VBS planning, church services, schedules at the orphanage . . . the list of possibilities goes on and on. But some of the best ministry that I have experienced are our day to day experience. The times were we just get to be with people. When we get to love on those who do not often experience the unconditional love of Christ.
For me, our week up in this Himalayan village was one of the best weeks of the Race so far. It encompassed all of the expectations I had for the race. Days of confusion and lack of schedule. Down time where we had to find ministry. House fellowships were we got to really see how the people lived and worshipped. I rode on a back of a motorcycle down gravel roads to a nearby village. I walked across a giant metal swinging bridge to hike up 800 stairs. I slept under a yak blanket in a small quonset hut. I ate rice, rice, and more rice. I ate mystery meat. I crammed myself into the back of a pickup full of locals headed down bumpy roads. I went a week without a shower. I went two weeks without shaving. I wore the same clothes for three days in a row – even sleeping in them at night (I did change underwear, don’t worry!).
I picked up a dirty, crying, snot nose boy who did not share a common language with me. I told him that I loved him. And I do. I told him that Jesus loves him. And I know Jesus loves him more than I ever could.
I said goodbye and left. I know that God never leaves nor forsakes. I know that many new names, included Asis’ is written down in my prayer journal. And I pray that they are also written down in the book of life.
This is the World Race. This is more than just ministry. This is life, it is worship, it is being with God and being with His children. It is knowing that everything of this world is temporary. Nothing lasts. Only the True Joy, the True Light, and the True God truly matter. A life living in Him is the only life worth living.
