I’ve been in Nepal for close to 2 weeks, and life is grand! Our first week in Nepal was debrief, which is a time of reflection, sessions, days off, and sabbath rest. Last month I thought it would be way too soon for a debrief, but it was right on time, and really helpful for processing all God has done in my first month on The Race, and for the introvert in me, a great time to recharge for an even better month 2!
Nepal is so beautiful! I am so blessed by the beauty of this nation and so grateful God has sent me here! After a week of debrief we jumped right into ministry. I’m so excited about our ministry partners this month, and the variations of ministry.
Our first week of ministry was wonderful! We had days full of prayer walking, evangelism, and slum ministry. Our time in the slum was the most impactful to me. To see with my own eyes the condition people live in was really heart breaking. The filth, the smells, the flimsy dark shacks, the garbage. But what was even harder was when the conversation would take the turn to the need they had. One woman ran through the cost of everything she needed, and ask for help. Another woman told me about her surgery and the cost she had in order to get the medical needs she had. On one hand I was able to give the only thing I had…the Lord, and a prayer of faith that God heal and provide. I think about the scripture “silve and gold I do not have…” and I know that Jesus alone is sufficient.
But on a deeper level, I know I serve a Savior who loves me wholistically. He is a God who wholistically cares for our needs, and invites us into caring for others in that way. Jesus cares about our needs mentally, relationally, emotionally, and spiritually. So that is a internal conflict that I have been taking to the Lord since my time in the slum. Perhaps the answer is just carrying food with me to share along the way, and resting in the fact that our ministry partner for the month does help to provide these long term needs to the people in these slums. Or perhaps I should rest, but be restless (uncomfortable) with the fact that at the end of the day I get to leave the slums, shower and sleep in a warm room, while they stay in a cold dark shack. Perhaps being uncomfortable with that fact is more then ok, because being uncomfortable helps me to ask myself what can I do.
There was a young mother with the most beautiful baby. I stood with her for awhile. I felt like I knew her face, like we had met before, like maybe I had dreamt of her. I just stood with her. The do-er in me just wanted to help her somehow. Everyone wanted to hold her baby (she had the sweetest cheeks). At one point she said “Who will take my baby?” She asked another team member for cloths for her baby. My heart wanted to do more then just stand next to her. But, the prayer of the righteous availeth much. So please pray with me for this community, the ??? slum in Katmandu.
So what? Now what? I tell you this story to share my week with you, but also to challenge you. You don’t have to leave the country, your city, or even your own community to witness poverty and need. Have you ever wondered what you can do to help the heart broken and needy right where you are? It is so easy to grow complacent, but instead what would happen if you would ask God what you can do to help those around you. Ask the Lord, and then do what He tells you to do. He will never lead you astray, and always bless the steps you take for His kingdom.
