9-17-12
2 dead bodies & 1 flat tire
We arrived at our new ministry Asha Nepal at the first of this month. This organization is a safe home for many woman and children who have suffered from the evils of sex trafficking in Nepal and India. Only 1 hour outside of Kathmandu. Asha Nepal and its family has been blessed with many things. The loving design of our Father is all over this place. From the mountain view to the rice fields below. He has laid out what has been already another great and beautiful month of ministry for our team.
But for this specific blog I will not be explaining our details for this month quiet yet. I kinda wanted this time to tell you about an experience our team and I all had. Something we all had to deal with the 3rd day into this month. Something unexpected, heavy, and untimely for many people here at Asha Nepal. I want to respect our new family in every way possible so the name of our lost sister will not be said. Also many family members are still grieving so in my story I will try not to disrespect their loss. These events are all from my perspective only and what I personally had to deal with going into this experience. And just to let you know in Nepal it is customary at Asha Nepal to call others by sister or brother. Just to not get you confused.
Day 3 of ministry…..Asha Nepal
We started off this month rejoicing and thankful. After a long month in of ministry in India we were pleased to find out that our placement here in Nepal was with Asha. This home for woman and children is a safe haven for us and them alike. It is set outside the busy city of Kathmandu in a smaller "section" of the city.
Just imagine being placed in the middle of the movie set of Jurassic Park and George of the Jungle. It is that beautiful.
Mountains surround our home above the city and below we are submerged in rice fields. It is crazy awesome.
So after finding out our ministry and meeting the family here we settled in. Being only the 3rd day nobody expected what was about to happen. After waking up from a long night of rest the boys we stay with (about 9) told us the news.
An older sister of Asha had passed away during the night.
Being only the 3rd day our team and I still didn't know everyone that well yet so I didn't know what to do? Do i comfort the boys? Do I cry? Do I explain more about my understanding of death biblically?
What? What do I do?
So I continued on with my morning and had breakfast. Bhuvan (our main contact) had told our whole team the news about our sister and what had happened. All I could do was look at Bhuvan with empathy and sadness. Then he specifically pulled Michael and I aside to ask us a question.
"Tyler and Michael will you please come with us to the hospital? We need your help moving her body to the morgue please."
What? Did I really just get asked that question? Really? Me? That is what was going through my head during those short moments.
But all I could say in response was "ya sure".
So after we finished the morning routine we left. Bhuvan, Michael, myself and the driver took their van/Ambulance. Because Ambulances don't work in other countries like in the states they have their own. The perfect size van to transport a body if needed. The drive was long and I had much time to think about what I was about to do/see.
I have dealt with death before but in the states but here it is different. In the states everything is handled by "another party." Never by the direct family or friends mostly. But here in Nepal and many other countries we have been we have seen that death is handled straight up. Usually by the families or close friends. But in this case I was the "other party." So I continued to wonder many questions as we drove closer in route to the hospital.
Will her body be covered?
Will we have to sit next to her in the van?
Will I see more than I can handle?
What will this be like?
I just prayed and asked God to be with us and her at this time. I wanted to be very respectful and do my best. I never wanted to be disrespectful or rude. Our new sister who has passed away was much older. So whatever had happened was due to old age they believe. And we did find out later she was a believer who was living her life for Jesus. So I continued to thank Jesus for sister's saved soul and life she lived for Him. That sister was healed now in heaven with our Father.
After arriving at the hospital we pulled up. Getting out of the car we were told we were late so I was very rushed. After a portable screen was removed inside we took our sister to the van on the gurney. She was covered with a thick blanket. But her hair was not tied up and huge down past the blankets covering. I just had to put all worry and fear aside at this time to help out. It was like I made myself numb from all emotions for 20 minutes. So we continued to remove her from the gurney into the back of the van and drove away immediately towards the morgue. This was such a weird situation for us because we had just arrived 2 days earlier.
"I WAS OVERWHELMED WITH CONFUSION AND DISCOMFORT!"
That was the weirdest car ride I have ever had because all I keep thinking about was how bad the conditions were in the road. And if we were to hit a pot hole to fast her body could easily fall off the bench in the van. But I tried staying calm and continued to pray. Thanking the Lord for the debt paid for our sins. We have been saved from death forever. No fear anymore.
After arriving at the morgue I wanted to get out of the van as fast as possible. And wanted our job to be done already. But still the move from the van to the morgue was needed. We picked our sister up and a door was opened for us to bring her in. After the door opened the smell of old blood and death consumed my nose like a fog. Just like the way the clouds consume the mountains here everyday during the afternoon. It was horrible. I was thankful because the "freezer" for the bodies was already opened so they were prepared for us. But as I look inside the "freezer" my eyes gazed down and I see another body. Completely not covered at all. Just there a person, a soul, a loved one.
Another body…..I was not ready for that one at all.
It was an old man curdled up in the fetal position frozen. So I turned away finished my job and left the room promptly. The smell alone would never make we want to do this again. But I had my composure and I had Michael. Michael through this whole thing was like it was not big deal. Like it was just another day. So he helped me in many ways throughout this job. Michael was used to this type of stuff so he was strong through the whole thing.
After this experience I can honestly say "I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength."Philippians 4:13
I have a big respect for police and firefighters and doctors who do this daily. And most of the time way worse stuff. They are heroes for families and friends.
We gained contact with our lost sister's family later and told them the news. But because they are buddhist and not Christian they did not care what we did with her body. It was like they never knew her. So Asha Nepal made the plans for a service. Our sister's own family didn't care at all but Christ did and always will.
We had the service 2 days later and it was a beautiful celebration of life. Sam and I drove in the back of a truck for 1 hour to the cemetery with our sister and her coffin in the back. Almost falling out of the truck many times because of the horrible road conditions.
Through this unexpected experience I think many of us and many at Asha Nepal really grew closer to God. In times like these we need to cling close to Him and not let go. In the hard times we are strengthened through Him.
The flat tire in this story came on the way back from the morgue. Michael and I had to wait alone on the side of the street for 1 hour while another tire was retrieved. It was just a funny and weird way to end the day.
God is LOVE!!! God refines LOVE!!!
God defines LOVE!!! God reveals LOVE!!!
