Nepal Update 4 - Pokahara

Pokahara is such an amazing city located around a beautiful lake with snowcapped mountain views- when the clouds will allow it. As much as the natural landscape lends itself to a relaxing atmosphere there is so much hard work and joy found in the ministry we do there, but isn’t that the way serving goes.

One of our first ministry days here may be our most favoritest day of the year as we headed to the disabled school to do our performances. The students and faculty went ape over our dance team which was led by Ellena P and Hannah S. As well, the students at the school do performances for us which makes our week. Also we have been able to be a little more vocal with the gospel here over the years. After our performances we break out the balloon animals and the place just erupts in a frenzy of sword fighting. Jentzen W. and Izzy H. were stellar in mixing it up with the students while taking a barrage of stabbings and smack downs from balloon wielding pirates.

A couple of days later we went to a school that I believe had 1.7 million screaming Nepali children. Our students felt like rock stars as they cheered for them as if they were the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show, (a reference the students wouldn’t get but I hope most of you do). 

There is a launderer here in Pokahara that several of us use there and my personal clothes came back moldy smelling so out of frustration I went to another one, whom I had used in the past. His wife and himself recognized me and knew I was the leader of the kind Americans that come by. He proceeded to tell me that his sister in law had just lost a husband due to a heart attack a month ago and was having a hard time and asked if we could go visit her. At first I was reluctant as our schedule was unbearable and the last two days, and I was personally fatigued but I agreed- even though I knew his estimate of 20 min drive time, 20 minute talk time and 20 min drive time would be way off. Actually a 50 minute drive time each way. When I told the students about this and asked them to pray for her as well as for Dipendra our interpreter and myself two of our girls begged me to take them, Madi O and Ellena, so we took them with us. When we arrived we were met by the widow and her two children and we were able to enter their home and share with them. The woman then expressed that she wanted to become a believer and follow Jesus and we were able to get her a bible. We actually bought three and gave one to the launderer as well as they were present and heard the gospel but did not want to receive Jesus but gladly took the book as a gift

Our last day of ministry had to be the hottest day I have experienced in my seven trips to Nepal, it almost felt like we were still in Chitwan. When we arrived at this school we were rushed up several flights of steps to the top floor where we entered a sweltering room. We closed out our last day dripping in sweat and one of our summer staff Ivy J. (whom I have nicknamed Jivy) was having a conversation with a male student who asked her about Jesus and she said she followed Him and then the student went into a rant about how he hates Jesus. This took her aback a little, but she learned how the gospel is not always welcome and that it was a joy to even go through the resistance like Christ felt as well as Paul.