Hello from the streets of Kathmandu, Nepal!
I’m here to catch you up on the latest and greatest of the last couple weeks! My team and I wrapped up our time in India with the absolute rowdiest, most Spirit-filled ministry of our month there. We painted an entire foster home (houses are HUGE in that neighborhood, so it was definitely a medium-to-big deal). We took a whole home of foster girls to the park one last time. And, after about five insane turns of events, we rode an overnight bus to the EAST COAST OF INDIA! The time we spent in that small town was possibly the sweetest of the whole month. We lived on the rooftop of one of our host ministry’s foster homes in the town, ate suchhh good street food, and saw the stars above Asia for the first time.
Our first day in the town was dedicated to ministry. We took more adoption photos, worked in their vocational program for individuals who age out of adoption eligibility, and listened to their ayas and teachers speak the abundant kind of Life into each of the homes there. When I get back, please ask me specifically about this day, because I have a story too sweet for typed-out words to share with you.
The second day in that town was our final day off, so we traveled even farther out and spent the afternoon on the beach of the Indian Ocean. It was absolutely incredible, and such a sweet day of worshipping the Lord and praying over India in the grandeur of His creation.
Then, after a hilariously loud, sleepless and off-road overnight bus ride back to Hyderabad, we spent the day cleaning and packing for Nepal. Late in the afternoon, I went with a few others to shop and grab one last Indian dinner. I wanted a masala dosa so badly, and my teammate Alora was kind enough to walk with me. While we waited in line, a foreigner asked if he could take a selfie with us. His respectful demeanor and rich African accent had us giving him a quick ‘yes’ that turned into an hour-long conversation. The encounter could make an entire blog post in itself, but here’s the highlight reel: his English name is Charlie, his Kenyan name is Lwanga, he is in India for the sole purpose of helping a little girl from his village get cornea surgery, and he’s a Catholic believer. Also, when we were interviewed about International Women’s Day (yes, Humans of Hyderabad interviewed us), he used the opportunity to advocate for the single mothers of Africa. To say Alora and I were in LOVE with God’s ability to create international community would be an understatement.
Anyways, after that, my team rejoined the other team on our trip and we all flew to Nepal. The travel day was only sixteen hours, but it was preceded by three sleepless nights for me. You can imagine the way my introverted soul leapt straight up to Jesus when my leader gave me a hostel room to myself for our three-day debrief. We stayed in Thamel, which is the tourist district of Kathmandu. I can’t say I was a huge fan of the large number of foreigners (it seems like such an invasion of the culture and nation), but it turned into an opportunity to support the tourist industry as the backbone of Nepal’s economy and a chance to form relationships with dozens of local businessmen.
The third opportunity I had during debrief was not something I anticipated. When I was in India, I did not think much about Nepal. My team had too much going on to think that far ahead, honestly. So, while it did not surprise me upon our arrival, I had not previously contemplated the dynamics of the tourist population here. From spiritual yogi gurus to agnostics and atheists, almost every trekker here is lost in absolute darkness. The gravity of their spiritual state hit me hard the moment we joined the visa lines in the airport. So, while debrief was a time to process India, provide team feedback, rest, and worship, it also became three days of prayer for the souls of people from hundreds of nations.
My half of the big team wrapped up debrief with a sunrise hike to the peak of a foothill overlooking the Himalayas, which was one of the most worship-inducing views of my life. The six-hour adventure also gave me just enough time to get to know our guide and share the Gospel with him in a not-technically-illegal way, which was really cool. He describes himself as “50/50 believing and not believing” in Hinduism. Prayer request: that his statistic transforms into a 100% trust in Christ alone.
After that, our whole team moved from Thamel to our home for ministry, which is located in an outer district of Kathmandu. So far, we’ve met our ministry host and part of his family, attended an international church service, and survived a mile-long walk with heavy groceries in pouring rain. Monday was our first official ministry day, which we spent hiking to the highest point of Kathmandu. We stopped along our way to sing, pray, and build an altar on behalf of the city. Then we entered the Hindu temple of fertility, which sits atop the foothill. We took those steps in boldness, knowing the darkness there had no authority over us. But it was heavy. Because I believe the power of prayer transcends physical distances, I ask that you watch this video of what I saw at the temple and intercede for the souls of every Nepali man, woman and child searching for hope in the darkness there.
Yesterday, we were introduced to our ministry’s vocational program for rescued women. We will have the opportunity to help them develop job skills so they can support themselves now that they’re out of abusive homes and the sex trafficking industry. We will also get to teach English to the women, which will expand their business opportunities significantly. Of course, the primary purpose of the ministry is to equip them with the Gospel as well, then send them back out into society as local missionaries. Really, it’s like this ministry is made of the fabric of my heart. And because I am using this trip to complete my undergraduate internship for Missouri State, I also get the chance to start a fundraising/sponsorship campaign for the women’s education. You’re not crying, I’m crying.
So, all that said, I ask that you pray over my project (and consider becoming part of it!) and my team’s upcoming ministry and the country of Nepal. I it is all a lot of information, and I am honestly a little surprised (but grateful) you read this far. But I truly care for you to know what God is doing through and around me as a representative of you as the Body behind me, and ultimately as a representative of Himself. This week, it’s prayer treks, informal education and VBS for street kids, and speaking at a Nepali church. Next week, we will add women’s ministry and more. I cannot wait for what is in store, and I cannot wait to tell you the hundreds of stories when I get back.
Peace & blessings,
Sarah
