Hello friends and family. Today is our day off which has concluded to exploring more of the city and now in the middle of watching The Help while sipping on a cuppa tea and eating reeses cups.. also writing up the weekly post.
(Pre-warning: It’s a long post, but it’s filled with goodies!)
So much has happened this week.. Starting off this week, lets just say that I was not excited… We arrived to the hottest city in all of Nepal. Our first day was 39 degrees and I was not excited about it at all. I mean, yes sure I’ve grown up in Australia where it’s hot all the time, but man I just couldn’t handle it. We arrived early Friday morning as we took a night bus from Kathmandu. We had the whole day to rest and prepare for tomorrow as we were going to split up and go to two different churches. Here in Nepal, they only have Saturday as their weekend, so we have church on Saturdays. Which at first was really weird to see children go to school on Sunday, but they have so many holidays here, it pretty much makes up for not having a two day weekend.
We made it to church and it was HOT. I was seriously sweating like a monster through my kourta (Nepali women traditional style clothes) and man I did not enjoy it. Although there were fans, you could still feel the pain of the heat. We then went out and did a prayer walk around our neighbourhood. We met a few kids who taught us a game and ended up running home because it started raining.
On Monday we went to do evangelism in a university until we found out that it was a public holiday and children had already finished class, we then walked for another 15 minutes to see if any other schools were still open and we came across one that was still in class. We talked to the principle about the possibility of coming into classes and sharing about our culture. At first he seemed skeptical, but allowed us to come in on Friday. Tuesday we went to a village that was about a half hour drive and then a half hour walk. We shared with women who came and saw us, and saw four healings. Praise Jesus! We were on our way to catch our bus home but before that we were going to do another open air. And I can tell you now, we were all not feeling it. Tired, exhausted and I say again, HOT. Two of us were willing to share a testimony, but no one wanted to preach the gospel. As we prayed, I knew God was pushing me to share, but I kept coming up with the excuse that I was too tired, but really.. I was using that as an excuse to hide behind fear. One of the girls ended up suggesting that I share and I ended up saying yes, even though I really didn’t want too. Our leaders knew we were tired so we took a break before we started again. As we did, I continued with prayer. God really did a lot with me during that half hour. I realised that my heart, but mostly my attitude needed to change. Since I had gotten here, all I’ve done is complain. The heat. The people who constantly stared at us, but weren’t willing to speak with us. The language barrier and not having enough translators. I had pretty much questioned God on why would He send us to a place to make us suffer. He showed me the need of this nation, especially this city. That these were His people and they needed to be shown the way. But it made me realise- What exactly am I doing in Nepal, if I’m not being obedient to God and stepping out in faith. This was a turning point for me.
As I shared the gospel, I felt completely overtaken by the Holy Spirit. We didn’t see any salvations, but we did get a chance to pray for people and connect with them. We then went on to wait for a bus to take us home. An hour gone by and no bus. An hour and a half and we knew there wasn’t going to be a bus. We found out a wedding nearby had hired all the public buses so we literally had no way home. People were taking tractors, but none were willing to carry 11 people. Luckily a school bus came by and we made our way home!
On Wednesday we had ran a youth service for all the youth and young adults from the churches that the team here has connected with. We saw around 80 youth come and were completely amazed by their hunger and hearts that were so on fire for God. It was incredibly!!! On Thursday, we spent the whole morning in worship, prayer and intercession. And man, I felt all prayed out after it, but God is so worth it.. and more. At night time, we went into another village and showed them the Jesus film. We saw a total of around 150 people show up, and all of them left with tracts, and a few with bibles and also more of a hunger to know more about Jesus. IT WAS AMAZING!
Friday, we went back to the school and got to share on our cultures to three different classes. Three of us took a year 10 class and at first it was a little nerve racking. We were almost as shy as the students were to ask us questions. By the end of it, they were so open to asking questions, it got a bit daunting. Especially when they were asking me what kind of minerals grow in Australia. (the heck?) Haha. But man, those kids were so amazing. We talked ALOT about cricket. One kid asked me how did Australia come to win 4 world titles.. All I could say was because we were too good, but we kind of suck at the moment. I taught them the Aussie OYE chant so that when we play, they could cheer for us even if we lose. Those kids were some of the greatest kids I've ever met. I walked away thinking man, alot of schools need to be like this. They were so disciplined, so respectful and so honouring. One time we all sang our own national anthem and they all stood up with their hand over their heart like it was their own anthem. Of course there were a few funny remarks made here and there but hey! They're teenagers after all. In the afternoon we went into an orphanage and got to love on kids. Man my heart broke and melted for these kids. I found myself hanging around the older kids more as alot of us went to the younger ones. It made me think of my church youth and how I miss them so much.! But man these children were so precious and so honouring. I swear I could’ve just stayed there the whole time.. but we had to leave. It was by far, my favourite day on outreach so far.
God really did alot for me this week.. And I feel like a completely new person. It’s been a struggle for me to have my quiet times with God here, but God STILL wanted to use me. Even at times where I felt guilty and unworthy, God still called me. I realised the lies that satan was putting in my head and I needed to remind myself of something God had told me before we came here. Too not be a breeze that just passes through, but to invest and be apart of this city as much as I can.
I’m reminded of this verse that popped up alot during lecture phase.. Ezekiel 22:30 “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one”..I don’t want to be a person who was not willing to make a change.. I want to be all that God has created me to be.. And He has called me here. And I’m going to be obedient and faithful that God has got some great things planned here. Even if they don’t understand what we’re saying or that they care more at the fact that we’re white (except me. They think I’m Nepali) lol… The greatest thing we can do is to love them. Because love is a language that doesn’t just require words. It also requires action. And man.. God seriously loves these people!!!!
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