Nepal Update 7

So, we have been in Pokhara, Nepal 6 days now. Pokhara is a much cleaner and quieter place. It's nice to breath fresh air and to not be woken up by honking horns. Also, on clear days (of which yesterday was one of) you can see the Annapurna Range of the Himalayan mountains. We can't see Annapurna first (which is the highest peak of the range) but we can see the "fish tail" which is really just as awesome. Some of our students really got some amazing pictures.

I know some of you had been wondering about our ministry at the Leper Colony in Kathmandu. As it turned out, one of our team members was sick and unable to make the journey so I ended up having to stay back at the hotel with her. Although, I would have loved to be apart of that ministry opportunity, I know also that my role means ministering to our students who are ill. The rest of the team, however, had an amazing experience. They played games (board games and card games) and just spent time with a people group that other people just don't spend time with. Also, our students took up a collection to help the people in this place and collected $294 of their own spending money. To give you an idea of what that means...each person at this colony gets 60 rupees a month from the government to live on. 60 Rupees is less then $1. What we were able to give is the equilvant to the average Nepali's years wages.

Sunday and Monday, Dave, our team leader traveled to Kathmandu to pick up his wife to join us for our last 2 weeks of ministry (I am super happy about her being here!!!). During his absence I stepped in as Team Leader. But with Becky (our other senior staff member) and our two translators, Kumar and Dependra, I had total confidence that it would be just fine (oh, yah, and of course I fully trust God!!!!).

We didn't have any major problems, so that was a blessing. But satan was certainly on the prowl. We had several, nearly situations. One of them involving a young man desperate to get to America wondering if he married an American girl if that would help (the problem being that he then asked me if he divorced her if he could still get into America. Hmmm...I said no, they'd send you back. Which he followed up by asking what hotel we were staying at. I then quickly reminded our team that we don't tell anyone what hotel we stay at.).

I also had the opportunity (and responsibility) to have several very meaningful conversations with students over the course of the last few days. Something that I learned a long time ago in youth ministry, you can never truly know what a student is or has gone through in their life by their current behavior. So often, it is the ones that seems the most "together" that are hurting the worst. What has been truly amazing though, is the amount of scripture the Lord has brought to mind when speaking with these young people. He is so faithful to give us what we need when we ask for it (actually, I'm pretty sure His word says that somewhere too!!! Wink!)

One last story for tonight before I leave you with my prayer requests. So, yesterday we spent a few hours at a school in Pokhara for children with mental and physical disabilities. I wasn't sure how that ministry would be because we were asked not to share about our faith, and plus the students were such that they didn't have the capacity to truly understand had we tried. So, instead we went with the goal to love on them. Can I just tell you...I LOVED IT!!! There was this one boy, I called him sneaky pants. He had this gleam of mischeviousness in his eyes, but yet so very innocent. Uh, when he smiled...I was just in love. Even now, picturing him playing and putting this puzzle together, makes me wish we could go back. Those children have such an innocence to them that is almost indescribable how beautiful it was too me. It makes me soo much more in love with my Savior know how much more deeply He cares for each one of them. I don't know how they will ever have the opportunity to understand let alone come to make a decision to follow Christ, but I know and can trust that when Jesus says that He desires for all to come to know Him and not a single one to be lost, that He will make a way. I don't need to know how.

So, prayer. Would you please pray for Dave, Becky, and I as we walk through some tough things with some of our students? That we would have the right words, discerning minds, hearts overflowing with compassion and mercy, and be able to point all towards a more intimate relationship with Jesus.

Also, I am putting together some studies for a few of the students on the character of God. And one on the plan and purpose of our lives in Jesus. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.

Love and Blessings,
Mags