Nepal. I hate even attempting to write
a blog about my time in Nepal because I’m afraid that words won’t do
it justice. On the more superficial side of things Nepal is the
country of my dreams, there were more than a few times when I said to
God “Did you make this country just for me?”. Let me try to
recount some of the reasons why I LOVE Nepal.
-
Rebecca. I met her one of the
first days we were in Nepal. Our host took us on a prayer walk in a
temple. This particular temple which they called the Monkey Temple
(because there were hordes of monkeys wandering around) was pretty
big and at the very end of our time there we walked up some stairs
to a part that was on a hill overlooking the surrounding area.
There were many little shops selling trinkets and art, and on that
particular day at that particular place there was a gathering of
people to worship some hindu god or goddess and there were people
everywhere chanting and offering things to these gods. As I
wandered through praying and looking at the art my eyes caught a
painting that had “Fear not for I am with You” my heart caught
in my chest and I saw the light that was radiated in this dark
space. I had to know who painted that particular painting so I
asked the nearest lady hoping she understood english and she told
me that it was her sister’s painting and led me to her. I found in
the shop next door in the middle of another BEAUTIFUL painting. I
immediately greeted her and asked her about the painting, all the
while looking around the small shop seeing more paintings with
scripture woven into them. She tells that she is a believer and
tells me her testimony, she was a hindu that married a christian
man, and eventually she came to know the Lord through him! We spent
some sweet fellowship together that day reading the Word, praying
and encouraging. The Lord showed me that he her up on that hill to
be a light in one of the darkest places, and that he was going to
strengthen her and prosper her to be a testimony of His love and
glory! She gave me a small painting to remember her by and I know I
will not forget this strong woman. God bless her and keep her!
-
Kothe Church. We spent some time
with a team that was located in a small mountain village working
with a local church. One of the ministries they did was trek to the
surrounding villages to preach to and encourage the believers.
While we were there we trekked for about 2 hours to get to the
church we were preaching to that day, then when we were done we
trekked about an hour down back to our village to have a church
meeting there. The next morning we had church in our village, and
those believers in the mountain village were there bright and
early! They had to trek more than an hour to church and then about
2 hours back home! In America we complain about going to a church
30 minutes away by car (with air con, and heat, and radio/mp3/cd
player!). These pastors and believers are committed to fellowship
and worshiping as the body of Christ, they love their Jesus and
each other so much that they would walk hours just to meet. They
know that its important and they know how to be reverent. I learned
a lot about reverence and honor from them.
1. Nepalese Believers. These
people are incredible, they love Jesus and live in a place that
isn’t exactly welcoming of that Love. They are only 3% of their
countrymen, but while they may be few they are strong! (Colossians 1:3-14 Definitely defines these people!) I could tell
story after story of dedication of these but let me just share with
you a story or two.
2. Mountains.The mountains in
Nepal are magical. From the peaks of the Himalayas to the rolling
foothill mountains, they are breathtaking. They inspire my
inner-child’s heart with stories of adventure, fairy tale and
divine romance. To say I was captivated by them and the views they
afforded me climbing on them, just sounds lame and not at all close
to how I feel about it. As I took them in either at the bottom
looking up, in the middle looking out or at the top looking down my
soul seemed to sing within me. It seemed to cry out to my Maker,
their Maker, and wonder who is this God I serve. I came alive around
those mountains in a way I haven’t felt in awhile.
3. Rooftops. I have had more
intimate times with the Lord on the rooftops of Nepal than anywhere
else on this race. Maybe even ever! I’ve wept, jumped, hollered,
sang, danced, watched, prayed, talked, wondered, daydreamed,
prophesied, and worshiped on those roofs. I beheld some of the most
incredible views on those roofs, from the mountains, to the rolling
hills, to rushing rivers, to the night sky, to the sunrise, to the
sunset. Our God is amazing and sometimes he brings us UP to show us,
to captivate us, to woo us by the works of his hands. He truly has
indescribable beauty. I have concluded that rooftops are the best!
4. Adventure. God made my heart adventurous, and placed the desire for adventure within me. Long ago I asked the Lord to take me on an adventure and he certainly has, and Nepal is DEFINITELY the Land of Adventure! Oh how I can’t
wait to return to this place to have more adventures, more stories
and more scars to tell those stories. This month I’ve swing/bungeed a 500 ft
gorge, hiked up mountains, ran in the mountains, kayaked, mountain
biked and survived all the wild bus rides that got us to those
things. I look forward to more adventures here in the future in this
land of beauty we call Nepal! Please God let me come back to Nepal.
Side Note: Something that I realized
while being here during the biggest Hindu festival is that this
country needs more houses of worship and prayer. In the spiritual
realm worship is huge and when there is so much worship being offered
to the enemy there needs to be places of worship dedicated to God,
the living God, the ONLY God. So please be praying for worshipers to
come to Nepal to start worship centers dedicated to the first
commandment, places that are bright lights in this country. The
fragrance of Christ is needed here, and since you and I carry that
fragrance we need to ask the Lord of the Harvest to send us out
(2 Corinthians 2:14-17). If you have the gift of worship please pray
about Nepal and see what Daddy says.
