Of all 11 countries that we will be traveling to, Nepal was one of the countries that I was most excited for. The Himalayas, especially Everest, were something I had dreamed of seeing one day. The flight from India to Nepal did not disappoint. We had an incredible, higher than a bird’s eye view of the mountains. As we flew above them, the valleys were covered by a beautiful fog, and only the peaks were visible. Flying closer, we were able to see the small villages built into the mountainsides, and all my expectations of what it would look like were met. I felt like I had just transported into a National Geographic photograph.
However, when we landed in Kathmandu, I quickly realized that Nepal is not all mountains and beauty. Stepping off the plane, we were met by a thick smog. The mountains suddenly disappeared, and we only had a few miles of visibility. Now, the only view in sight were the slums of Kathmandu. Poverty, dust, smog, and an over-all sense of dirtiness. I had such high expectations of the beauty of the mountains, and had thought (very unreasonably) that the entirety of Nepal would look like that. I was not prepared for the real sights, sounds, and smells. On the drive from the airport to our hostel where we were staying for the next few days, we passed by more impoverished areas, more Hindu and Buddhist temples, and smelled more sewage and engine exhaust.
As we were driving, I began to feel very disappointed. My expectations were not being met. I was nervous for what ministry would look like in the coming month, and if it would be as disappointing as my expectations of the country were.
I realized something through this. My expectations are not always going to be met and they are not always realistic. I need to learn to be flexible, and hold expectations loosely. I expected all of Nepal to be beautiful in the same way. I have come to realize that there is beauty in many things, and it does not always look like mountain peaks. There is beauty in the dirt, smog, and smells. I only must choose to see it in a different way. My prayer is that I learn to see the world with God’s eyes – that I learn to see what is unpleasant and see it in as unique beauty.
I love this lesson. I am so thankful that God chooses to see the beauty in each of us, that He does not discriminate. He looks past the dirt, the uncleanliness, the sin and makes us beautiful.
“…says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” Isaiah 1:18
As we have spent more time in Nepal, I have grown to love it. It is such a unique country, and is a crossroads for so many cultures. People come from all over the world to see the Himalayas, many people pass through on their pilgrimages, and the native culture is very vibrant. There is beauty in so many things here, and I am only just beginning to see all of it.
