Nepal…what I thought my entire World Race was going to be. This is the stuff my pre-launch visions were made of. We were off the modernized grid, without any regular access to the internet, without any regular access to electricity at that! Squatty potties, bucket baths, questionable meat (a heart or two), a stomach infection, sweat, stinky clothes, searing hot temperatures, monsoon rains, wacky modes of transport, crowded markets, elephant pants, spiders, snakes and monkeys! But oh the people…sharing everything, inviting us into their lives, loving us as warmly as the baking sun outside.
A thrilling adventure that I loved, and hated (the critters!), and loved to hate (complaining to team about critters!). Tiring but fulfilling was each long day of ministry. Church, church and more church, and when we weren’t in church we were in prayer and fellowship. We went to over 20 churches in 25 days, early mornings included the travel to church followed by waiting at the church sometimes for hours (South American, Nepali and Indian time), the service (lead by my team), prayer for healings, prayer for deliverance of demons, and then travel back to our housing followed by dinner at another church where there was more worship, prayer and fellowship. I can’t say I wasn’t dying a little inside. A good thing really…
When I died to myself last month I allowed Jesus to come alive in me in ways that had been suppressed for quite some time. The reason I tanked in Albania was that despite being on mission with God my relationship with Him had suffered, hence my suffering. Although only 7 months on the field I could understand how full time ministerial work can wear you out when you’re not investing in your own relationship with Christ, not allowing Him to pour back into you.
I also had many questions for the Lord and He had my full attention last month. Without the distractions of communication with the outside world He was my world. I listened as He spoke to me in dreams, visions, through others, and by way of the Word. While not a comfort to receive everything He showed me I am grateful that God is faithful, He wants to take care of me, He wants to give me the best, He loves me and He brought me into a place of fellowship with Him that I was starved for.
The result was victory in the messages I brought before the church and in how I took each opportunity day by day. When I delivered my testimony it brought tears to the eyes of many women in the room who approached me later to tell me I had touched their hearts and changed their lives. When I shared my sermon I was profusely thanked by the pastor who said I was a messenger of God, that the words were timely and critically important for the congregation to receive. When I prayed for a developmentally disabled homeless man with no limbs I had the courage to sit by his side, lay hands on him and believe for his healing. When my team and I met other homeless women and children we prayed for them as well, walked with the children to the market and bought the family food. My teammates and I loved these people in the face of critical passersby. I was excited to be used by the Lord to encourage His people in a nation where it’s hard to be a Christian, and I had my whole heart available to Him.
I was empowered by the Lord to take responsibility for my journey with Him and this was very important for all the precious things that were accomplished by my discipline. It was the first time on this mission I wanted to stay on the field, that I knew I had to press through all the tough stuff to see the sweet reward on the other side. Team relationships improved, I was fulfilled by my role in ministry, and when I faced darkness I told it to flee!
