Are You Willing to Risk Your Life?
A Story of A 3 Day Trek Through the Himalayan Rainforest
“What are you willing to go through for the sake of the gospel? Are you willing to risk your life?” These are questions each of us had to answer for ourselves as we trekked through the Himalayan Rainforest during monsoon season to share the gospel with the unreached.
“Ok, we are stopping for lunch. It’s time to evict the leeches on my feet and reapply my hand sanitizer, insect repellant, and saltwater.” I proceed to rub all three of these on the outsides of both of my feet. No blood. That’s the goal. They attach, sure, but I am practically OCD about getting them off of my feet, preventing them from the satisfaction of even one drop of blood. Unfortunately, Sean has not had the same luck. He has about 35 leech bites at this point. He will have 72 total before it is all over. This is day two of our trek. This is my life.
Two days prior, we set out for this trek. God provided miraculously for us to be here and we knew He had a plan for us. We just didn’t know what that would entail yet. It was time for adventure, and an adventure it would be.
A swaying Indiana Jones style wood and rope bridge awaits us at the beginning of our journey. Towering mountains are painted in blankets of green as palm trees and lush plants adorn the hillsides. Oxen and water buffalo greet us at intervals as we trek through Mogley’s jungle first and then through a lake and small forest that resemble the creations from a Dr. Seuss book. Streams chatter along providing us natural soothing sounds that someone somewhere has probably recorded for a sleeping CD. They rush over the landscape like hurdle runners, pouring over every drop-off creating breathtaking waterfalls all over the place. Even the rocks shine up at us as the suns light dances on the veneer of metallic mica that clothes each one. This place can’t be real.
The rocks are beautiful, true, but they are also deadly because it is monsoon season. I hear something behind me and turn around to discover Paris slipping off the mountain. First, he slips close to the edge, then his shoes lose traction and his entire left leg goes over the mountain. He is going over. I chuck my walking stick and umbrella to free up my hands, then, whip around and down, catching him under both of his upper arms before his right leg had a chance to go over the edge. This trek is no joke. You fall here. You die. I just saved someone’s life. What?!?!? This is one of the scariest moments of my life. Breathe.
We keep trekking.
Repa: Our Tour Guide
Later that day, we reach the outskirts of a village. Fresh mountain water flows through a creek, corn stalks fill a field nearby, and a rock wall leads us to a cabin made of wood, rock, and clay. The family living here invites us inside for some corn and tea. No one else will enter their home because they are considered “Untouchables,” the lowest caste in the Nepali society. We happily join them in their tiny home with a clay floor as a baby rocks in a hammock inside. They chop down the corn stalk, shuck it, and then roast it over the fire. It is absolutely delicious. Now that we are settled in, one person from our team is chosen to share with the family. It is Danielle. She joins the family on the floor in a small circle. Then, she shares the gospel of Jesus with them. The entire time she talks, the father of the family nods his head and smiles, listening intently. When she finishes, he says, “I have been searching for something like this.” He wants to read and understand more before making a decision, so Danielle decides to leave her Bible with him.
The house on the outskirts of the village for the “Untouchable” family
That night, we stay in the village where they ask Paris to kill a chicken for us to eat for dinner. So…he kills it…and we eat it. There is a first time for everything. This is by far the most interesting place I have stayed on the race. The only shower is an outdoor faucet…where the chicken was just killed. The bathroom is an outhouse made for people three feet tall and you have to deal with leeches all the way there, including at night.
The next morning, we visit a family from the village. Expedition squad led the mother to the Lord several months earlier. She and her husband sit in front of us anticipating whatever message we have come this far to share. I look up at both of them. This woman knows no other believers. No pastor, no church, no community. This man has not heard the gospel because he was in the field when she gave her life to the Lord. Now, it is my turn to share. I begin by letting him know what Jesus did for him, how much He loves him, and then I share my testimony. He smiles and nods in excitement as I talk. This is the first time I have ever shared the gospel with someone who has NEVER heard it before…so exciting! After talking to him, we encourage her and pray for their family.
People don’t know who He is or what He has done for them and they want to know. This is why we go. This is why Jesus gave us the great commission. This is why the leeches are worth it. This is why risking our lives is worth it.
God used us to wrap His arms around this “Untouchable” family
