Our ministry here in Nepal looks different than most months. This month is all squad month where I am living and doing ministry not only with my team, but also 44 other K-Squad members. Ministry begins every day for our squad by spending time with the Lord alone and then worshiping as a squad. All of us worshiping together is one of the best experiences.
Our first day of ministry we were told that we would be trekking up to the tallest point in Kathmandu to worship and pray over the city. The excitement was real for us thinking about what kind of view we were going to have as we looked out at God’s beautiful creation and prayed over the city.
As we began our journey there, it looked a little different than expected. Squeezing as many Americans as possible onto an already full Nepali bus is an experience to say the least, but if the race has taught me anything, it’s there is always more room.
When we began our trek though, it was so much more than I could have asked for. The beauty that is Nepal is absolutely breathtaking. We hiked to the top. We worshiped and proclaimed God’s glory over the city. We visited and prayed over the Buddhist temple, and as we headed back down I was thanking God for showing me his beauty once again. I began praising Him for just allowing me to be a part of something as beautiful as praying with my squad over the city.
Little did I know; He was nowhere near done with us for the day. As we were walking back, we stopped at the sight of people walking down to a river with white robes. We watched from a distance until we were invited over by someone form the group. There was a pastor that had brought a group of people to be baptized in one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. My squad gathered around the bank and began worshiping together as we watched these people confidently confess their life to the Father and to all watching.
Nepal is currently not yet a closed country, but there are certain laws that are already moving the country in that direction. There is a lot of persecution against Christians, and many situations where they have started arresting Christians for sharing their faith with others. Needless to say; this was a beautiful courageous act to see these people publicly make a stand for their God.
Once again God blew me away by allowing me to be a part of this moment. I prayed over each of the people getting baptized and asked the Lord to let this not be just a beautiful sight for us, but something to stir our sprits to be just as bold about our faith.
As I stood up to leave after it was all over and done, I turned to see Stephanie, one of my teammates, standing in front of me. Then she asked me to baptize her. Right there in that moment I couldn’t do anything but cry out to the Lord. Baptisms have always been one of the most beautiful things to me. To see someone proclaim God as their father and to commit to allowing the Holy Spirit to guide their steps for the rest of their life is what it is all about. I cried, hugged my friend, and told her that I would baptize her.
Our team walked down into the river and with every step in that icy water I could feel His presence setting into our hearts deeper and deeper. Each woman of our team gathered around Stephanie and laid hands on her to pray over her.
Brianna opened to Jesus’ baptism in scripture and read to our squad that was gathered around the river, and then I felt the most powerful move of God as I baptized my friend in that river.
(PhotoCred: Katie Horst / katiehorst.theworldrace.org)
Seeing the fullness of what joy looks like on Steph’s face as she came out of that water was probably one of the most memorable moments I will have. I hugged her and walked to the bank to watch another one of my friends that had also made the decision to be baptized that day.
(PhotoCred: Katie Horst / katiehorst.theworldrace.org)
Thanking God again as I thought he was done with me for the day, I was asked by another teammate of mine if I would also baptize her. (If you haven’t noticed the theme or the pattern here yet…I cried.) Again, my team had the opportunity to gather around one of our own and pray over Geneva as she walked into this next step of her relationship with the Lord.
To see two of my teammate, make that decision and allow me to be a part of their journey is something I will never forget. I am so thankful for each woman that I get to do life with and watching them grow with the Lord is even more beautiful than any place or view I will ever get to experience.
I will continue to thank the Lord for allowing to be a part of His beauty, and I’m sure He will continue to blow my mind with more than I ever expected.
That day ended with saving a goat from the river and returning him to his family…in case you think this day wasn’t normal enough already.
All for now friends…
My prayer for now is that the Lord continues to expand from all the expectations that I have of Him and of this world. I don’t even want to put my God in a box and miss out on these opportunities. I also would love for you to continue praying over Geneva and Stephanie. They made a beautiful commitment to the Lord that day. Pray that the Lord continues to reveal Himself to them each day more and more.
