The past week my team and team unveiled have spent our time in a village near the border of China. Thursday we were making the journey to the border of china and the day started like any other. The sun was shining, it would be a good day for this adventure. Through out the day things were pushed back or delayed due to infamous “Nepali” time. Where you may receive an exact time but in reality it will happen when it happens. Because of this phenomenon, when it was time to leave we still had not had lunch, so lunch became a quick snack before heading off to meet the vehicle we rented for this trip.
When we got to where it was supposed to be, it wasn’t. We waited for a long time and about 2 hours after it was supposed to be there, it arrived. There were 13 of us plus pastor’s wife and only 4 seats inside the vehicle and a small truck bed in back. Space was limited so I climbed up on the roof rack to sit (don’t worry Mom! I held on!) and off we went. After a while, it started to drizzle, which wasn’t too bad, I had my rain jacket, but my back had no other protection and the drops started to sting as we sped down the road. Soon we pulled over and were given a tarp to take shelter from the rain so I climbed down and stood in the middle crouching under the tarp because there was no more room. We stopped to see a beautiful waterfall about half way to the border and were able to rearrange so we could all sit. The next stop was the last village near the border of China. Here we were able to get out and walk on the “friendship bridge” that connects the two countries. And with a Chinese border crossing official’s permission we were allowed to walk on the line and put a foot over the line! (Stepped foot in china!).
The plan was to stop at a store and get snacks, a restaurant for dinner and then up the mountain to fellowship. The store had lots of snacks and and we were all excited, including me until I realized my wallet had been left on my bed. I was getting hungry, but I told myself I can wait for dinner and be fine. So i decided to wait outside and not be tempted by the delicious goodies inside. The wind picked up a bit while I sat there and it turned cold. I was already wet, so it felt like all of my warmth was stolen in one gust of wind. It was going to be ok though because we were heading to the restaurant for some warm food.
When we finally got to the restaurant and talked to the owner, we found out we wouldn’t have enough time for them to cook enough food for us before we had to be at fellowship up the mountain. So, no dinner! We piled back in the truck for the ride up the mountain, packed like sardines. As we made our way up the bumpy, curvy road, i started to have a sharp pain in my abdomen. No personal space. No place to go. Cold, wet, hungry, and in pain. I got mad.
Why did it have to turn out like this?
Why did it have to rain?
I could deal with hunger and pain, but did I really have to also be cold and wet?
The ride was a bumpy adventure crossing creeks and following the twists and turns of the mountain. Each bump tossed me a new direction, but with no space, I felt like a squished rag doll. The pain got worse and I did the only thing I could think of. I put my head down and tried not to cry as a couple silent tears already ran down my face.
As the truck came to a stop, we all stumbled out of the truck and along the dark “path” to a small house with the only light on for miles. We entered the main room and nearly doubled the size of the group. They sang worship songs and shared a message in Neplai, while I still struggled thinking about how I felt. Then they asked if any of us would like to share an encouraging word and a few did. One hit me pretty hard.
My teammate, Tayo, talked about how this is a time to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus. Easter was coming up. That slowly sank in. Easter was coming up and I forgot. I knew it had been coming for a while, but it can be easy to lose track of time on the race. She went on to talk about how while Jesus was on the cross the soldiers offered him a drink, gall. It is a narcotic, that would deaden the pain. Jesus refused. He wouldn’t drink it. He wanted to be fully conscious and aware as He suffered FOR US. We are so quick to want to numb and dull our pain or get mad when things get a little hard, but Jesus, our Savior, hung on the cross feeling all that pain for us. After hearing this, I felt so silly. This is the 8th country we have traveled to on the race and there are people in each country that deal with being cold, wet, hungry, and in pain everyday of their lives. When fellowship ended, the family who’s house it was, killed and cooked a chicken in honor of us. Their hospitality was so genuine and pure. They gave us their best even though they probably could not afford it. We danced together while they sang more songs in Nepali and showed us how traditional Nepalis dance.
I wish I could have written how I had chosen joy in this time of discomfort, because to me it was one day and I am so incredibly blessed. But the truth is that I am human. It is in our nature not to chose joy. It is something we have to be intentional about. So, it’s Easter! and we should rejoice and celebrate the greatest gift anyone has ever received. But I want to challenge you. Don’t just celebrate and choose joy today or just this week, but let’s choose joy everyday. Because we have a Savior who cares enough to die so we could live eternally. Because He cares enough to share in our suffering. Because He loves us so much and calls us by name. So,
When things go wrong…
When it’s hard…
When you don’t want to…
Choose Joy! and remember Jesus loves you!
Love always,
Meg
