When God calls you on an adventure, you say yes. No asking questions or checking your schedule. Just a simple, no second thoughts, YES!
So with one month left of traveling the world, eating what is set before me and sleeping anywhere, I am now saying yes more than ever.
It started with a trip into the foothills of the Himalayas to a small Sherpa village. So with an 'off road' bus we traveled for 10hours on a gravel road and then some with a jeep or two. We arrived at our destination after sunset and were welcomed by the Sherpa family and sweet spice tea. For the week we lived in large tents set up on potato flieds (so that we too may have faith like potatoes ...hehehe joke). Wow, I woke up every morning with towering mountain tops all around, some covered with snow. Probably one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. We spent our time digging out and carring large rocks our of the mountain to the grounds allocated for a new church building. No matter how much I felt like a mining dwarf at the time, the high alitude made it difficult to 'whistle while we work' (yes I tried). Every evening we would walk home, covered in glitter dirt, have some warm juice (they boil it?) and head to the stream for a swim. The cold mountain water was heavenly for our sore muscles. Then back for an amazing organic dinner off the land.
Every now and then we got some free time. I used mine to go on adventures with God. One day I went boulder hopping up a ravine (kloof) next to a roaring river. I went as far as I could without absailing gear and marvelled at my amazing view. At that point I realised how irrisponsible I was: no one knew where I was and the terrein was trecherous! So I prayed and God simly said 'just enjoy yourself'. So I did what any sweaty adventure lover alone in a mountain would do next to a dangerous river: I stripped down and crab climbed my way into the water. AMAZING!!!
During our time there we prayed for many people, whitessed more believers joining the family through baptizm and walked ALOT!!!! The very small church community honoured us with traditional Nepali scarfs and we realised that most of them have walked half a day just to have fellowship. WOW! It was all worth it! A freindly trackter driver took as back to the bus and we headed back to Kathmandu.
The next week we spent at a different church, preaching and sharing testemonies. Everyday we would travel for hours (on busses that are completely overcrowded with an occational goat by my feet) to a small church, fellowship there and share a meal, then go to the next. Each team member got a chance to preach and share testemonies. I love this lifestyle! I feel like an apostle, spending my days traveling and preaching. What a priviledge!!
My sermon was pretty simple (The priviledge of His presence) but great! I could have spoken for hours!! I ended by singing a prayer. I never thought that I would be in Nepal, or preach, or lead a congregation in worship...Wow, how God changes us!!!
I also got the oppertunity to visit the local hospital at 1am (not for me, a different team member) and while hanging out in the emergency room, I realised how much I miss medicine. I even considered spending my next 6 years studying to be a doctor (but that's just me, not God). The next day I got to see an endoscopy!! Coolest moment ever!!
What I have learned so far:
1. Finish strong (even if you are tired after traveling for 8monhs, still treat every day as the first)
2. I love public speaking, especially when I get to talk about God.
3. I want to spend every free second worshipping God in every way!
4. I can now sing alone before people and enjoy it.
5. A part of me will always love medicine and helping sick people, even if I don't practice as a dentist
6. God loves taking us on adventures!
7. Sometimes you go through tests and it could cost some monies, but in return you will have them testemonies! (spoken with a gangster voice) I was tested in grace when a team mate broke my laptop and even though it cost me some money to fix, it is now one of my favourite testemonies of how God changes hearts
There is still about a week left in Nepal and then we leave for 25days in India. I cannot wait to see more healings, more people set free from bondage and maybe have the chance to teach again.
I cannot wait for the next crazy thing I get to say YES to....
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