This month, Team Deep Roots’ ministry has been at Happy Home Nepal in a suburb of greater Kathmandu. It is a secular organization that takes in orphaned or disadvantaged kids and provides for them a home and an education. Many of these orphans have lost their parents during the decade-long political conflict that ended just five years ago, claiming 12,000 lives. Others are victims of the discriminatory caste system that still persists in this recently liberated state.
As we entered the month, we wondered what God had for us in this organization. We were all eager to love on the kids, but what about loving on them spiritually? We would only have fulfilled half our purpose if we cared for them in all ways physically and educationally, but were unable to speak to them of the good news of Jesus, and where our love comes from.
But, to our surprise and utter amazement, God has answered our prayers and prepared the way phenomenally this month. One our very first day, as we were deciding on our projects of the month, Bishwa, our Hindu contact, asked some of us to be teachers. We asked him what he wanted us to teach, besides English. Bishwa answered, “How about teaching the Bible?”
So, Bishwa arranged for us to teach the Bible in the morning from 7-8am (the kids are awake by 5am). The kids have responded enthusiastically and love the lessons. God continued to open doors of opportunities for us. Ahbisek, one of the older kids (and one of the sharpest), commented, “You speak to Jesus like to a friend!” Another time, some girls noticed a picture of Jesus on the cross on the back of Ben’s shirt. “Why is Jesus bleeding?” they asked. Ben asked them if they wanted to learn about Jesus’s life or death. Both, they answered. So, as all the other kids were playing in the field, a group of girls listened intently as Ben told the story of Jesus’s life, how he died, and how he came to life on the third day to wipe away our sins.
This week, all lessons and school have been stopped to celebrate the Hindu religious holidays of Dihar and Diwali. Although the bright lights, flower leis, painted diagrams, and candles, may seem fun at first glance, we see the futility of prayers to gods who have no power and can neither see, hear, think, nor love. As lessons resume the coming week, I invite you to pray with us for the following things:
- Bible lessons in the morning for the older kids. Energy and wisdom for Ben and Hannah as they continue to teach the gospel, and for the kids to understand what it means.
- Bible lessons for the younger kids. Wisdom in choosing messages that the kids can understand and which can bring them to a better understanding of God.
- That Christ can be seen in all our actions and attitude to teachers, volunteers, and kids alike as we choose to cheerfully love and serve at Happy Home.
I would like to THANK YOU once again, supporters, friends, and family, for everything you’ve done to bring me here! These victories are not mine, but the Lord’s through YOUR answer to His call as senders! Thank you for giving me the chance to love and teach these kids!
"Hannah-auntie" with a class of awesome kids at Happy Home!!
