Month 5: Nepal
My month in Nepal was a mixture of emotions.
First of all, this was my first month of ATL (Ask the Lord) which means that there is no ministry connections and along with that we had team changes. So on top of a new country with no ministry connections, I am also with a new group of people trying to figure each other out while we figure this month out.
After spending a week in Kathmandu, we decided to go trekking around the Himalayan Mountains on a five day four night trek. We had a wonderful trekking guide, Hooku, who we ended up calling dad because he stepped in a lot and was extremely helpful! My team and I were only able to do one day of our trek and then had to leave to take a teammate to the hospital. While at the hospital, two of my other teammates ended up throwing up. I was able to make it to the hostel before “losing my cookies.” I then proceeded to continue “losing my cookies” for the next 6 days. During that time, I ended up having to go to the hospital because my throat started swelling so much I couldn’t swallow, had a horrible cough and was just not doing well. My cough turned into a horrible head cold while I continued to throw up daily. I hadn’t eaten in over a week and anything I did try to eat just came right back up.
Thankfully I wasn’t the only one. Other teammates had also gotten sick so we were able to bond as a team while most of us were sick together, except for Victoria. Those Russian genes really kept her strong and healthy. We made so MANY MANY MANY hilarious stories that helped us laugh and see the good in the situations.
We stayed in Pokhara for a while and ended up enjoying our time. We got to meet many people, go to church, stay at wonderful hostels, and connect and serve with a few organizations.
Once back in Kathmandu, I continued to be sick and was increasing in severity of symptoms and illness and also acquired new symptoms. I ended up having to go to a hospital in Kathmandu and be admitted. While in the hospital, I had not one but two COUNT THEM TWO rectal exams in less than 24 hours. I have never in my life talked about my own bodily movements in such detail along with multiple other accounts in such a short amount of time. Another thing I can add to my list of things I would never have done if it weren’t for the World Race. haha I left with answers of what was going on in my body to a point and have stories and a memory with Nepal like no other.
(Me in the hospital in Kathmandu)
Even in the unknown and discomfort, there are still ways to be happy and joyful. I was able to laugh and get to know the staff and spend time bonding with them.
Nepal was an exhausting month in total but with many new faces and stories. This was a month of choice for me. I could continue to choose in or not. I had the freedom to but also the excuse not to. I was sick so it was understandable if I didn’t want to be all in or didn’t want to do something with my team. I learned more in depth that I am not controlled by my feelings of emotions. I got to choose how I wanted to end Nepal, how I would feel about Nepal. I chose to dig in, get the most out of it I could. There were days I could barely lift my head of my bed, I had no energy, was in pain but I chose to not let that stop me. I knew I had to listen to my body and how I was feeling but that it wouldn’t rule me. I also was reminded of how connected my emotions and relationship with the Lord was connected to my body health. It’s a triangle that needs to be balanced. If one is off, the whole triangle is off.
(Hooku while on our trek)
(While on our trek)
