Today was just a monday … on the race we pretty much do five ministry days a week..for the most part. So mondays are just mondays and regardless if you were born exactly 22 years ago you still go out for ministry – this is what we sign up for.
We were split into three teams today. One group headed out to the street kids, one to the slums and another to bars and cabin restaurants. Of course I went for the bars and cabin restaurants! About an hour later we were walking through the front door of some building known as a “cabin restaurant” (where you can come have a drink or a smoke in the company of a girl… Flirt or do whatever and then should you decide there is a “room” literally on the other side of a thin wall with no actual door that you can pay and have “private” time with her. )… its hard to describe because all that was there was a front desk and then a hallway with other rooms branching off. We were led to these rooms off the hallway which really only consisted of three sectioned off areas. The first two were tiny spaces that fit a table and two benches opposite each other and the third section had a coffee table and some floor pillows.
Myself and three other girls from the squad sat down to one of these tables and benches along with our young translator who is the son of our contact. To be honest I didnt know what were were going to do … I thought we would just intercede while we drank orange fanta. Nope.
“Sarah” walked in and sat down with us.
We were told that we were free to share our story and tell her about Jesus and why we were there but we could not pray for her unless she allowed us. It was clicking in my mind at that point. We had the privilege to love on Sarah today… and we had a translator so we didnt just have to rely on charades!
She comes from a family of eight kids and no dad. She’s lived in Nepal all her life. four years ago when she was fourteen one of her relatives tricked her into a job opportunity and left her at this cabin restaurant instead of the promised job. She’s been there ever since. Her family is Buddhist. Her dream in life is to save enough money to build a big house in Kathmandu where her family can all live together – the house will be painted her favorite colors: red and white.
“Oh Papa give me the words…tell me what to say”
I heard in my heart to not waste time so through the translator I jumped right in. Introducing myself and my friends I then continued to share what we were doing here in Nepal which naturally led to the topic of our friend Jesus.
Sarah had never heard the name Jesus …. nor had she ever heard of prayer.
“Papa I’ve never had to explain from square one who you are…where do I begin?”
“Open your mouth and I will fill it”
Today she heard the name of Jesus for the first time and heard the love her Father has for her and what price He paid to know her. Today was the first time she was prayed over … Today was the first time she met Love. Today she heard what her Papa says about her. She was seen, heard and known. It’s selfish of me but what a birthday gift to introduce Jesus to one of His daughters…To be the one that showed up today and because of that she heard hope and saw love in action. She finally heard the name of her savior, lover, friend and Papa. Nothing beats that.
I love that my Papa meets us where we are…that He isn’t scared, intimidated or grossed out by us. I love that I shouldn’t be allowed to walk through the doors of these places and yet not only do I get to walk through but I have authority because of my Father. I love that He spends His free time loving the girls in cabin restaurants. I love how He is after Sarah and that the first white people shed ever talked to came with Papas heart.
I love that in loving Sarah today, He also couldnt have loved me better or given me a more beautiful moment to celebrate the life He’s given me. To have my heart and mouth filled by Him with words to pour over her. To celebrate the life He’s given me I got to offer life to His daughter for the first time. I cannot get over how amazing that is.
At 22 I got to celebrate my birthday in Nepal with Papa by sitting in a cabin restaurant with His precious 18 year old daughter sharing His love for her. Physically getting to see peace and joy come over her in our time together. Getting to explain that she’s been fought for just so He can love her personally and know each other in relationship. Cant get over it.
