More than I imagined

A major lesson I’ve learned this month is how selfish I am.  Living in the village they survive on so little and they live full lives.  Their bathrooms are squatties and their showers are cold mountain stream water.  Both are outdoors so if the cold water didn’t freeze you to the bone enough the beautiful breeze will finish the work.  They wash their dishes outside in the freezing water so you know their hands are numb afterwards.  Their homes are mostly made out of mud so the floors are always chilly to sit on.  The electricity flickers and even cuts out during dinner to provide a sweet candlelit meal.  Their beds are super stuff and they rarely use chairs, if ever. They own chairs-they just usually sit their guests in them. Walking down the street it’s normal to see what looks like a huge bush but in actuality its a human being carrying its body mass in leaves and branches.  This is to feed their animals at home.  Most people have 2 pair of shoes and a few outfits.  They live meager lives but they are beautiful lives.  I am amazed at their joy and their fullness.  It was an honor to live like a Nepali even though we sat at a table for dinner. It was a great lesson to realize how blessed I have it at home.  It blows my mind even now to think about our host family going about their lives in the village-hiking up huge mountains (they call them hills) to share Jesus with a few people or to pray over one family.  That leads me to my next lesson…

Determination. How far am I willing to go in order to pray for a woman whose husband isn’t a Christian and she feels oppressed? How far am I willing to go to encourage a small house fellowship and tell them that they inspire me? Our pastor from the village hiked every day to do those things.  Nothing phased him.  He doesn’t consider not going.  We know he has pains and sickness sometimes but he perserveares.  We know he is exhausted from taking care of such a large family but he remembers when Jesus spoke to him and said, “go!”  He puts the Lords goals before anything related to himself.  I can’t even sit here and understand or fathom how dedicated he is. It amazes me.  Sure, I’m traveling the world sharing about Jesus and living in cultures so different from what I am used to but i have SOOOO much farther to go.  There are endless lessons I could learn this year and I am just understanding that I have to usher those in. I am in control of whether I soak up the truth and nutrients I need to grow. I could go through this process enjoying the people and loving on them but it comes down to how open my heart is to let them change me. How vulnerable will I allow myself to be this year? 

So here’s a little encouragement: being vulnerable is so beautiful. I’m starting to see this in my team. I’m starting to see the importance of it and encouragement in it. Let people in! Get invested with others.  It will change you more than anything in the world.  That’s why we even have one another. To invest and love. I always feel like my blogs are so rambly but I hope there was a little sense in here or a little encouragement. 

I am so blessed by all of you at home. Really. Hearing your responses or encouragement pushes me forward.  It causes me to realize I can’t stay stagnant or uninvolved because I have the responsibility of being truthful to all of you.  And I want something to offer you. i want to give you a reason to read this.  Basically, I love all of you tremendously and couldn’t do it without you. 

Thanks.

I am at 8400 currently and need 10000 by the end of March! Keep praying and consider donating if you can!! Spread the word:)

LAST THING! internet is not letting me load pictures so i’ll post some of gorgeous nepal in the next few days…..