True Life: Nepal
Life on the race, month one, is much better than I had expected. I guess that’s why they say to leave all expectations behind because you never know where you will be staying. We are blessed to be staying in a mission house with running water, good food, and a loving host.
We have mats on the floor to sleep on, which are so inviting by the end of the day when we are exhausted. It is the rainy season in Nepal so I am so grateful just to have a roof over my head. It’s very hot here so no need for a sleeping bag or blanket. The only thing covering me by the end of the night is my sweat. Thankfully I have the ability to sleep soundly just about anywhere so I feel rested every morning.
We have a western toilet and a squatty potty in the house. The shower head is in the middle of the bathroom and even though they are cold showers, they are glorious. We shower every other day to conserve water. Because when we run out of water…well you’re out of luck.
Do not drink the water! We brush our teeth with filtered water because one slip up could mean a couple days of unpleasant bathroom visits and belly aches. One of my teammate unfortunately experienced that day two of being here which served as a warning for the rest of the team.
The food has been good. Rice, beans, or noodles every night with a side of cooked vegetables. Mostly okra and cucumbers. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner all consist of the same type of food. This makes my heart sad because my stomach has a passion for breakfast food. I have been making good use of my 30 cliff bars that I brought. Hoping that I can restock on those every month.
It is really easy to get dehydrated here so we drink lots of water. Well everyone else does. I’m not a big water drinker but I remembered the other day that my amazing mother packed me some flavor packets that have been life savers. I have at least doubled my water intake since I found those little miracles in the bottom of my bag.
We walk to every house fellowship, uphill both ways. Found out that is possible. If I wasn’t in shape before Nepal, I most definitely will be after. Our hikes are usually 30-50 minutes down back roads and through rice fields, and across paths in people’s backyards. Also on the streets, which is most terrifying because people drive by on motorcycles and buses and miss hitting you by 3 inches. But God protects, so on we walk.
Our walks, although tough, are always beautiful. The countryside is breathtaking. The clouds rest on the tops of the mountains and create a whimsical, majestic view that can be seen no matter where you are. Everything is green. Vibrant green. The fields, trees, mountains, everywhere you look you see every possible shade of green God could mix up on his creation paint pallet. And there are beautiful flowers too. Lots of red and pink rose bushed growing up the sides of houses and bright yellowing hanging hibiscus flowers. Yesterday there were random fields of orange flowers that complimented the green rice fields beautifully.
The majesty of the mountains makes me feel small but the fact that I am surrounded by them makes me feel protected, not inferior. It has been a symbol of God to me. How incredibly big and powerful he is, and the comfort I feel from knowing that He surrounds and protects me.
Another cool, symbolic revelation that God has given me through this beautiful landscape is through the clouds on the mountains. Sometimes I can see almost the whole mountain except for the top where the clouds keep the tip of the mountain a mystery. I can see mountains for miles. Then there are days when the clouds are so thick and low that I can’t see any mountains. But because I’ve seen them before, I know they are there even though in that moment they’re hidden from my sight. That is how I feel about God through the rollercoaster of life. Sometimes I see Him and feel his presence and then there are times when I don’t see Him or feel Him but I know He’s there even though my vision is blinded by my current situation.
Week one has been long. I already feel like I have been here a month. Days are long but life is good. I am counting my blessings and I’m excited to see how God continues to work and use us in this place.
