Since we began our ministry here in Sarlahi we have had some ridiculous experiences and encounters with God’s amazing love. We started our ministry on Thursday by going to a local village. To get there we walked about 4 miles each way. When we arrived some residents who were Christians greeted us. After spending a few minutes in conversation with our contact we were invited to one couple’s home. We all gathered around and they cleared off a spot for us in the hut right outside their home. We spent the next few hours worshipping together. We sang to them, they sang to us, and Marissa shared a word. Afterwards we were given tea, cookies, and sugar cane.
ONE THING IS FOR SURE. I live in an environment that honors others and with people who prefer one another and honor one another; however, since being in Nepal these people have honored and blessed us so much. Even though they have almost nothing they give us so much. They give us the best treats they have, the biggest portions of amazing food, they make us go first always, and they give us the best seats available. People on the bus today even gave up their seat for me to sit. It has been so humbling to see how hospitable these people are. It makes me feel like I’m at home in the South somewhat!
The next day we were able to visit a local school about a mile and a half away. I was feeling a bit in a rut before we got there; however, that would quickly change. It was a government owned school, but somehow we got the go ahead to visit. When we arrived over a hundred students, the teachers, the principal, and some of the local church leaders greeted us. We were asked to grab a seat in the middle of the school grounds so we do. As we proceed through the yard the crowd erupts in applause! Each of us looked at one another and none of us knew why this was happening. The truth is they were just happy that we came and wanted to stop by and share with them. We open in song and then get asked the question of the month. Apparently we have found a place that even National Geographic hasn’t picked up yet. Everyone we see asks us where we are from and why we are here. No foreigners come here. No one has come here to help or even to spread the word of God UNTIL NOW. So we share where we are from and why we are here. We got to share Jesus at a public school in a primarily Hindu nation. Something isn’t right. I got to share Jesus in a government owned school in a Hindu nation when I can’t even so much as pray in a public school in America? Interesting…Next we are asked to teach them a song. My team leader proposes we teach them a chant that our squad loves. So we teach them “Hail Hail Lion of Judah”. They don’t know what they were saying, but they were praising our God! I pray they come to know our savior personally.
The students then entertained us with a few dances of their own. We closed out the meeting and we asked inside to talk with the leaders, principal, and teachers. They treated us to a delicious meal as we sat around talking. We soon learned that we were the first Americans to ever visit the school! This was probably our ticket into the school, but Jesus works in crazy ways. The only teacher who spoke English translated for us. She was a tiny Nepali woman with a very sweet heart. We gathered that she was a Taoist, but we plan to help her change that before we leave. They all asked us a question that I don’t think I have been asked in many years. They all wanted to know if we would just be their friends! How touching. We all of course voiced our happiness to be their friend. The principal and all the teachers wanted our Email addresses to keep in touch. It is crazy to think that we were the first Americans to visit the school and the only foreign friends they have. As I said the bad day I was having was completely changed. The Lord lathered his love all over me through these people and I hope that I did the same for them.
