Pulling my beanie down further over my chilled ears and tightening my scarf around my neck I waited for it. What is it you ask? It’s the sun. It rises every single morning without fail. Most mornings I don’t bother to pay it much mind. But this day is different. This morning I am on top of a mountain. I am staring off into the foggy distance anticipating the masterpiece that is about to be painted in front of my eyes. Without disappointment, there it comes shining bright over the Himalayas. The higher it climbs into the sky, the more the snow-capped tips of the mountains become gold with the glistening sunlight. In just moments the entire sky is illuminated with the warmth of the sun bringing the mountains into full clarity for our enjoyment.
Most people never experience something like this in their lifetime. This is one of those moments that couldn’t be repeated or forgotten. The view left me breathless as I just stood in awe of the wondrous Creator. He made these out of nothing. How could anyone not believe in Him? I am baffled, as usual, at the concept that all this majestic creation could have just “happened”. I was humbled as I watched Him open up this canvas to my eyes. By far, this was the most glorious thing I have laid eyes on…at least in this life.
After putting my camera down, realizing there was no possible way to capture this, I joined my friends who were worshiping. As the guitar strummed song after song, we adored our Maker. We were shouting His praises from the top of the mountain. What else could we do? When you fix your eyes on something so awe-inspiring your only option is worship. He is magnificent, radiant beyond description, more vibrant than the colors of the rainbow, splendid to the point that leaves you speechless. That’s only scratching the surface of this impressive God we serve. He carved these mountains out of thin air and He molded me together…
“Oh yes, You shaped me first inside then out; You formed me in my mother’s womb; You know me inside and out. You know every bone in my body. You made me unrepeatable and unlike any other. You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from NOTHING into SOMETHING.”
How noble and dignified is this Lord, my Savior. There aren’t enough words in any language to even begin to describe Him. The more I stare at His extraordinary creation, I am reminded of how vast and boundless He is. I am on “top of the world” as they call Nepal; the highest points on earth. Yet, He is there. Even in my lowest point, He was there. He is limitless and infinite in all His ways; this is the greatness of our God.
As I hiked back down that mountain, my heart filled with wonder and amazement at what I had just seen, I thanked God for this month. Tomorrow I head out on a 15-hour bus ride, on some of the most dangerous roads in the world, to an orphanage. We will be working there for a few days then heading out on a 4 hour hike into the mountains to a remote village. Carrying our packs over our heads to cross rivers above our waists (Did I mention my team is all girls? LOL. Tough as nails), living in tents, hanging up our hammocks and washing our clothes/selves in the river. Once we arrive we will be building a school and teaching English. This is my life. And it’s real. I know it doesn’t sound real, but it is! Sometimes I have to pinch myself just to see.
Don’t be fooled, this adventure that I am living doesn’t come without it’s tests and challenges. Taking the gospel to the world is no easy task. Although the enemy is already defeated, he is still fighting to take out as many Christians as he can while fighting for souls for his kingdom. He threw his best arrows at me this past month in India. Our squad was getting attacked left and right, in the smallest ways and biggest ones as well. We all arrived in Nepal weary of being in battle. He tried to turn us against each other, bring up old wounds, remind us of our pasts, and discourage us to abandon this journey God called us to. The spiritual realm is real and this fight we are in is more tangible than ever before. BUT GOD. He didn’t leave us in defeat; He went before us in triumph! With boldness and determination we will continue to carry His light to the least of these. We climb over barriers and tackle each difficulty through the resilience He gives each morning.
“There is nothing that makes God look as beautiful as when we, who have tasted His goodness,
would use our lives to testify that we will forgo any momentary joy in order to taste more of Him.”
(Author Unknown)
I love that quote. That’s why we are out here. To taste more of Him and to bring Him to those who haven’t yet tasted His goodness. If not to point people to Jesus, why else do we exist?
Please continue to keep my squad, team and myself in your prayers as we persist in month five of our journey. Only authentic love and the power of the Holy Spirit will change the world.
