Nepal was an amazing month. We joined a family’s ministry in Kathmandu and Gorka. We followed our young, energetic, and passionate host Gresom around from church to church in different villages and at his house. He invited us to preach before he did at each place while he translated for us. These people were so hungry for the Holy Spirit, it was so beautiful and humbling to see. Gresom challenges and encouraged us every night which we really needed.
In Kathmandu we stayed with his sisters and brother and adorable niece. We joined one of the sisters at her preschool for a couple of days and worked with the teachers and children there. I enjoyed getting to cook and wash dishes with the sisters at home.
This country was the only one that was freezing so it took some getting use to sleeping all bundled up because Nepalese people generally do not have heat but boiling water mixed with cold water made a nice bucket shower in these temperatures.
We spent the second half of our month in a village in Gorka with Gresom’s parents and grandma. They live in a mud house his dad built and we stayed in tents out side with a tin roof above us. I absolutely loved this place. Yes it was muddy, rainy and freezing and I was sick the whole time but it was so peaceful and beautiful so none of that mattered to me. Mom would cook us food on outside fires and when it was dry we would have camp fires together. I wish you all could meet this family but the best I can do is show you this picture below.
Mom likes to play and fight sometimes and I loooooved this about her. The Grandma, Aju Ama, was one of my favorites as well with her love for dancing and strong personality. Papa is the kindest man. He is pastor as well and moved his family to this village to be a light in that area. The people in this community feel welcomed at his home and come to visit regularly. He is the type of human who will sacrifice anything for someone else to be more comfortable.
Gresom, his dad and other pastors we have met have changed my perspective about the church. They are all living examples of what it means to be the church. They walk miles and miles, up and down mountains to give people who live in the middle of nowhere an opportunity to encounter Jesus.
I am so thankful for the time I spent with this family. This life is not our own. It’s so easy to forget that and live for our own self gain. Thankful for this family for reminding me and actually showing me how to live for something more.
