Okay, so I kinda slacked and started this blog way way back, but I decided to finally finish it and post it! The first part is from back in February:
//To start, we are back with our boys (aka manistry is over, so the co-ed teams are back together)!
We have begun month 6 of our race, and have also started a new ministry with a new host and a new location. Our host is Deepak – such a cool guy – and we are still based out of Kathmandu. My team (Toso Kala) is with team Send It, and we are currently in Chitwan doing ministry for a week before we go back to our main location. We are staying in a church, which is so cool to me. And we have soft (ish) beds and showers that are 1) not bucket showers and are 2) actual warm?! Blessings. For real. God has truly given me a new appreciation for things that we are so used to having easy access to back in the States (for example, toilet paper!).//
Now, it’s March 20:
//I liked our ministry in Chitwan. In the mornings, we walked to many people’s houses and prayed healing over them, or whatever else they wanted prayer for. In the evenings, we would hold small gatherings in people’s homes, where we shared a few testimonies and a message with them. I love how many people heard the Word of God in that place. What a village.
After that week in Chitwan, our two teams drove back to Kathmandu for the remainder of the month. Ministry looked like a few different things:
An elderly people’s home: we went there a few times, and each time brought me so much joy. All of the people there had such sweet faces and had such a gentleness that made all of us smile. There was a woman there that was a solid 100 (and 1?) years old, and she was still kickin’. We played music, and she clapped along, happy as can be. All we did was simply sat with the elderly ones there. Sometimes all people need is for somebody to be present with them so they know that someone cares for them.
Praying at a Buddhist stupa: there was a day when Deepak, our host, had us walk around a big temple and pray. I think I ended up circling that thing a good fifteen times that day. Although strange to the people there, we prayed to OUR God in that place. I even started singing to my God – He filled me with such a joy, even in such a dark place. I prayed that the temple would fall. I prayed that the people there would no longer be deceived by those false gods and false practices, but would have the One True God revealed to them. Please pray for those people: that their hearts would be opened and transformed, and that they would choose to worship Jesus, instead of fake things that will never bring them salvation, true joy, or purpose.
A kids’ home: One afternoon, we had the opportunity to spend time with kids. They were so precious and so sweet. We played tag with them, took pictures with them, hugged them, talked to them, and tried our best to show them that they are loved. I got to hold one of those little ones for a good chunk of our time there. He had the sweetest laugh and such a bright smile. I wish I could take you guys back there with me so you could see it for yourselves.
Construction: more like deconstruction. We spent a week taking apart a building, demolishing the inner walls, and breaking up the foundation to prepare to build a new church building! It was a hard, taxing week, but I knew that we were serving Pastor David in the way they asked us to, which made it worth it. I hope to see the finished building someday.
That second month in Nepal was so good. Although the air was filled with dust and public busses were beyond crowded, God opened my eyes to the beauty of the country and the people in it. I pray that someday soon, Nepal will open up its heart to Jesus and His redemptive love for its people.
