We returned back to our cozy, familiar flat after our 8 day trek on Saturday morning. We headed out last friday at 5 am with our packs ready to go. we hopped on a five hour bus ride to the bottom of the mountain and rode in a jeep up the mountain for another 2 hours to get to Puma, the first village we went to on our third week here. Puma was the name I got in Kona, so I was excited to return to disciple and expectant to see what God was going to do. We were welcomed with smiling faces and open arms. Our hut was ready for us to stay in and our dinner was prepared. The first night we showed the Jesus film and had a big turnout. We prayed for healing after and just talked to the village. The next day we went around in the morning to different houses and prayed for families, we got to help women in the fields for the afternoon. Needless to say, we were probably no help compared to how fast they are:) That night we showed the Passion of the Christ in their native language. We all felt God was going to do something big that night. We prayed throughout the film for hearts to be opened and our translators gave a short message when the film was over. As I looked around at this village- they were seated on top of the most gorgeous mountain I've ever seen, with scarfs and blankets huddled together to keep warm, with eyes wide open to what they were hearing. Our translator asked anyone if they wanted to accept Christ. No one moved. We felt like there was so much fear in the room and we told our translator, Ganga, to tell them that there is nothing to be afraid of- that there is no fear in Jesus- and if anyone wants a relationship with Him, they can have it right now. Immediately one man- who was considered the lowest caste of the village and such an outcast that he couldn't even sit under the same roof as the rest of the village- stood up. Right after him was one of the most important women in the village who stood up to accept Jesus. the highest and the lowest of this village felt a tug on their hearts and were ready to let Him in. and instantly after these two stood up, literally the entire village stood. Tears were falling and fear had left. they all wanted to accept Christ.
as we went around and led them in the salvation prayer, I couldn't help but cry. This was literally the most beautiful scene I have ever witnessed. An entire village, buried in the himalayas, came to know Jesus that night. tears streamed. my heart was racing.
they are a new creation.
we handed out every Bible we packed and told them to come back tomorrow for discipleship.
we left Puma with about 75 new brothers and sisters in the Kingdom. HE IS SO FAITHFUL TO OUR HEARTS. Here I was, a little speck of a human in Kona Hawaii and I get the word "Puma". so I type it into my iphone and see that it's a tiny village in Nepal. our third week we go, we love, we share Jesus, a few come to know him, and we leave with light hearts. we feel like Gods work isn't done there. so week 10 we return. and He clearly wasn't finished with these soft hearts. He captured them. and I stood there just thinking about his sovereignty over his creation. and how much He seriously is after His people. all of them.
he was jealously running after Puma. and I can't help but think that heavens rejoicing and the Father is weeping with tears of joy over them.
I've never seen anything like this. and He's taught me so much about His promises. He really does speak to us, guys:)
We left Puma and hiked down the mountain. Spent a few minutes in a river before catching an overnight bus to another village, this one in the terrain of Nepal, about five miles away from India. We got off the bus around 5 am and instantly I felt different. hundreds of people were out walking to the temple when we arrived. we walked a bit to the village and arrived at the house we were staying in.
dirt roads. foggy air. mud huts. animals everywhere. manure every other step you take. children gathered over fires to keep warm. and every set of eyes starring at us.
we sleep for a few hours and awaken to the sound of dishes being washed and chickens making noise. unfortunately, I was sick for the next three days and laid on my wooden bed while the team did ministry. for the next three days, they went to different villages and showed the Jesus film and prayed for people. they saw hundreds healed. they saw witch doctors take the tika (the paint on their foreheads claiming their religion) off their faces. this place was so hungry for more. their hearts were wide open to the gospel. People were constantly on our front porch wanting prayer. Ministry was literally outside our front steps. The greatest miracle of salvation. this is what I have seen over and over again. A Father bringing home His sons and daughters. He's beautiful.
before we caught the bus home, we went to a hindu temple nearby. A lot of animals are considered Gods, which is why they don't kill cows in Nepal. Cows walk around the temple and people worship them, because they believe that a cow could be someone in your family who died reincarnated. This temple was filled with dirt, animal manure, flies, and many people coming to sacrifice and give all they have to the temple. we got to pray for a few people, and one came to Christ while others were healed.
and this last week is filled with cleaning a house. saying goodbye to people that have become family. christmas shopping. packing. and trying to process the past three months and all that God did in our hearts and in this nation.
It's a weird feeling knowing this journey is closing. That this school is coming to an end. and to think that i haven't seen my family in 6 months is crazy. i absolutely cannot wait to see them.
I have so much excitement. the 11th we head out and fly to Bangkok and south Korea and Honolulu and from there we will arrive in Kona on December 12th after 45 hours of traveling. from the 12th to the 16th we debrief as a school, hear testimony about what God has done all over the globe the past three months, and hopefully head to the beach a few times before i return to winter:) i will be in Chicago December 17th.
As this season ends, and another one is about to start, it's been hard leaving here with no set plan. I've had a plan my entire life. the funniest part, is that I have never been more excited about the future and what God has. So much has happened over these six months, so many relationships have started, and to think where He is going to take me with all of that is the best feeling.
and I find myself being changed by His beauty day in and day out.
He has become my vision. my gaze.
the song, 'come away' by Jesus Culture has spoken so much to me. I'm not sure what's next, but He has crazy beautiful plans for all of our lives friends.
be blessed. cannot wait to see you:)
