Picture post!

Enjoy some pictures!! 

First night in the five14 guest house. 

Children's home games. 

Bouda Stupa

This elderly woman was filled with so much joy and love for Jesus. 

A quick stop at this bridge on the way to the border. 

More to come!!

Banquet House

We had been briefed with a few details, but I still didn't know what to expect. The poor, sick and hungry would gather to receive food, love and prayer. I prayed that Jesus would give me His heart and eyes.  

We wound through the city and ended up in a small open building/space. Several smaller rooms housed a tiny clinic and "kitchen".  We were introduced to the staff and given simple instructions "love, just love these people like Jesus."

What followed was beautiful. 

I knelt down next to two young boys and smiled. In broken Nepali I asked their names and told them mine. They taught me a game played with fingers. We laughed and my heart loved without reserve. I prayed for them, and felt the love and presence of Jesus. 

Next, I paused. The room was crowded with men of all kinds, from all different places and with all different looks. Do I randomly say hello? Do I try to find an empty seat to sit down? What do I say? How do I act? And then my heart felt Jesus and all I saw was Jesus and heard these words in my heart.

"If you've done it unto the least of these you've done it unto Me." 

I looked around, and everywhere I looked I saw Jesus. The sores, the smells.. It all faded and I felt a peace and light around me like never before. 

Who cares if they thought I was crazy, I wanted to talk to every person and pray for them and touch them with Jesus. I'm sure most of the time they didn't understand me, and I sure didn't understand them... But they taught me Nepali words and laughed at my blundering attempts. I chatted in English and prayed over them and they smiled. Sometimes I just sat, words weren't needed. Jesus doesn't need words to give love. 

I wish I could describe the joy in my heart. The privilege I felt to be in that room. That word - privilege - kept coming to mind. What a blessing to be able to serve Jesus. 

The food was done cooking and we began to pass out plates. I walked passed the speakers and heard these words break through the air;

"My God is greater, my God is stronger..."

Tears filled my eyes as truth soaked my soul. God is bigger than the suffering. God is bigger than the poverty. God is bigger than the hurt. 

My God is Greater. 

"He brought me to His banquet table and His banner over me is love."

In Jesus there is Hope

We began to walk around the Budda Stupa, the opposite way as is customary. Chants, prayers and incense fill the air. Bowed heads, hands touching the prayer wheels and hearts longing for forgiveness, peace and life. 

A spirit of heaviness was evident and spiritual darkness was all around. Breaking into teams of two, my team began to pray against the darkness, begging God to use us to shine true light. Our team leader had one simple instruction for us - "follow the Holy Spirit and allow Him to direct your prayers and actions."

Crowds of people walk clockwise, circumnavigating the Stupa three times. Courtney and I walked the path counterclockwise, praying for these beautiful people, so lost, yet dear to the heart of God. 

We stopped to pray for an elderly lady. 

An old man with a prosthetic leg was put on our hearts. We prayed blessings and healing and that he would come to know Jesus - something changed as we proclaimed the name of Jesus. 

A tour guide greeted us and spoke English well. He offered to share his knowledge of the Stupa. We confessed we couldn't pay him, to which he responded "your happiness is my reward." For the next 10 mins he shared about Buddhism, and I shared about Christianity - and how they compare. We had to cut it short, and as I shook his hand I said "I will pray that you come to know Jesus!"

Will you join me? Join me in praying that God would reveal Himself to this tour guide.

We left, with hearts heavy yet full of God's faithfulness. We are simply to obey Jesus, plant the seeds of the gospel and pray - He will be faithful to finish the work. 

"Put your hope in God, for I will yet prose Him, my savior and my God." Psalm 42:5b 

The beginning

How can two days be so full of new things, confusing thoughts, fulfilled dreams and the birth of new ones?

A beautiful people, gorgeous countryside and yet so much brokenness? 

This place where I feel so foreign, yet so welcomed and loved?

In the midst of a country reeling from the effects of the recent earthquake I wonder why this single word came to mind as I started to write this post.  

Hope. 

My beautiful team. God is at work and it's a beautiful thing to watch unfold. 

My thoughts are all a jumble. So you'll have to bear with me as I sort out what to share. 

Our team leader is a champ. The fist full day included a cultural orientation and prayer, followed by scavenger hunt throughout the city. This taught us so much about the culture and customs, as well as some great team building and a by of competition. 

Enjoy a couple pictures...

Prayer Request:

- Continued team unity

- A teammates lost baggage 

- God's continues work in our hearts

- Visit to the children's home

This is so important. During a worship time last night God really began to work in my heart on some specific areas. And talk and praying with my teammates knew I wasn't alone. 

Thank you for you support and love. God is moving and working. It's a joy to serve Him. 

Ready to Go?

Don't ask...  let me.  Am I ready to go?  Here's my answer.

It's so hard to describe how I'm feeling right now.  The infamous question of "are you ready to go?" has had me wondering what to say. 

Of course there is still much to be done before I actually board the plane, but the lists will be checked off and the bags will get packed, they always do. 

Yes, there was a horrific earthquake that shook the country to its core, but does that cause me to hesitate - not a bit.  

The culture shock, different food, people, scenery, lack of "conveniences"... bring it!

Then there is my heart.  How will it respond, react?

My fervant prayer is that God would prepare my heart and mind, that I would be open to His voice, His leading, His plan.  God only knows what will happen - but in answer to your question...

Yes.  I am ready to go.

Ready for this dream to become reality, ready to love with abandon, ready to have my expecations give way to the will of my Father.

--------

Practicaly speaking...

As I ended the Skype call with my team leader this evening I had to breathe an extra breath.  It's happening.

What a blessing to know God is preparing my heart, the eight other girls, AND our inter-team relationships, in advance.  Hailing from all over the country, yet joined with one mission and purpose.

Yesterday one of my teammates was randomly coming through my city.  We met up with each other over a cup of coffee - or in my case a frappe and she a dirty chai.  What a blessing already it is to share our prayers, dreams, excitement, concerns.

And in other news, my rain jacket arrived in the mail and my hiking sandals close behind.  I just can't wait to get that suitcase packed.

#2weeks

24 days

Life is surreal.  Only three short weeks and I board a plane for Kathmandu.

I'm not sure what to expect or how to even feel.  But I'm desparately praying that God would prepare my heart and mind for His plan and His agenda.  Nepal is a different place then it was a month and a half ago.  But Jesus, and His love, are the same.

The up and coming VisionTeam trip is still on the books and unfolding.  I have to admit I was a bit nervous that it would be canceled due to the devestation in Nepal, but those fears disappeared with emails from my team leader and a video conference call.

She explained the situation in greater detail and stated "God is definately in control of the timing of this trip.  You girls will be arriving at the perfect time.  The first response teams will be leaving and the people will begin the long and painful journey to recovery - emotional, physically and spiritually."

The day-to-day schedule will be different, but details have yet to be passed on.  My heart continues to trust that God is in control, and He doesn't make mistakes.

Thank you for your support and prayers.

Pertinent prayer requests for Nepal:

• Rest and energy for the Napali TinyHands workers, it's hard to take time to rest with so much work to be done
• Border station security - trafficking heightens during times of disaster
• Practical packing and essential "to-do's" before we leave

Fully Funded!

Exciting news to share!

If you're following my Facebook page, this will be old news, but I wanted to wait until my campaign page reflected the answered prayer - 100% fully funded.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, to each one of you who donated towards this trip.  I am so grateful to have such a tremendous support group of friends and family.

The date is quickly approaching, nearly a month away - although I just want to get on a plane already.

Important note: the funds raised beyond the trip total will go, in whole, to the 2015 VisionTeam trip and Tiny Hands International.