Hi Friends,
Well after a terrific summer, I arrived back in Minnesota and slept in my own bed for the first time in 3 months. There are so many things that I want to share about my time in Nepal, that it will certainly take more than one newsletter. So, we'll look at this as the first installment.
I wanted to start with a huge THANK YOU to everyone who sent me letters, cards, and packages to Training Camp. You have no idea how much that meant to me. We had some pretty long and intense days and to come into the office to an encouraging card just made all the stress seem...less stressful and reminded me how many people are praying for me and the ministry of Royal Servants. Also, thanks for your patience with my lack of communication this summer. This summer was amazing and very full. When faced with the choice between meeting with a student, sleeping, or emailing home...well, I guess you can guess which one didn't get chose. Hopefully my next few emails will make up for that!
With that in mind I would like to share this great story with you. There was a young girl (lets call her Stacy (that's not her real name)) who signed up to go on the Nepal Trip with us. Stacy comes from a difficult and tragic background and we came to realize that although she knew of God, she did not know God. As a ministry focused on sharing the Gospel, taking students who don't know Jesus can be a tough decision, since they are not able to share the Gospel like the rest of the team. However, we know that in many cases that the opportunity for that student to hear about Jesus in such a safe and loving atmosphere may be a once in a lifetime. We believed Stacy needed this opportunity to be around people her own age who had been through similar things in life and who chose to follow Jesus and allow Him to guide their life.
By the end of Training Camp she was moved by the love of Jesus and began to believe in His love. On our second day in Nepal, Stacy and I stayed back to talk. Stacy and I discussed her past, her present, and where Jesus is in all of it. I was delighted when she confessed her unworthiness in light of Jesus' sacrificial love. I agreed with her. She is unworthy, and so am I, and so are you. But that's just one great part of our God, He loves us past our faults.
Before the team returned, Stacy had looked at her past and her present square in the face and decided that Jesus was going to be apart of her future. Stacy spent the rest of our time in Nepal discovering more of who Jesus is and who she is in light of that. It wasn't always easy, the enemy tried to take back what Stacy gave to Jesus, but Stacy, her staff discipler, and our leadership team stood by her fighting and praying with her.
Will all of Stacy's problems and pains go away now that she has a personal relationship with Jesus? No. In fact, as Jesus starts to clean out those wounds in order to usher in healing, it will often hurt worse for a time. But He promises as we keep our eyes fixed on Him, healing will come.
Because of your prayers and support, many people (all around the world) like Stacy are coming to know Jesus every summer. Through your sacrifice, they are being given a hope and a future. They are accepting love that they never knew was available to them. And they are turning around and sharing that love with others. Talk about an inheritance!
Thank you for all of your prayers and support this summer. I look forward to sharing more pictures and videos with you!
Love you All!!!
Mags!
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