When they say time on the race moves fast, they were not joking. I cannot believe that I am sitting here writing this coming into month five of the race. So much has happened since my previous post in Uganda. Since then we finished our ministry in Uganda, reunited with our squad, celebrated Christmas, traveled to Nepal, and began our ministry in Nepal! How God is moving.
In Uganda my team had the chance to partner with such a sweet organization called ChildVoice. This is an organization that specifically helps young women and mothers that have been impacted by war, or other hardships in their life. These women (and their kids) are taken to the ChildVoice location, where they receive education in language, sewing, hairstyling, and catering. Everyday they also have devotions in the morning and the evening. This is a time where they get to worship God and teach from the Bible. The women stay in this program for two years, and then they go back home, or they can apply to intern at the organization for the next group that comes in.
Our time with this organization was so sweet and growing in many ways. While we were there we lived in guest huts they had on the compound, and got to do life with these girls for five weeks. However, because the girls had school everyday, our day to day ministry could look different. For our team, this meant a lot of dependence on God for what we should do each day. Since we had freedom from our organization to do as we felt called, we got to partner with God in so much! We got to seek Him each day on what we should do, and often times this looked like spending time in prayer together as a team. We spent time praying over the women, what we should be teaching, and our squad as we prepared to come back together. Having this ability taught me the beauty of looking to God first. So many times throughout our days, we act before asking Him. When the truth is, there is so much joy and peace that comes from partnering with Him in what He is already doing. In our circumstance, we are partnering with God and what He is already in doing in these ministries and organizations in these countries. For this reason, we should be going to Him first, to see what He is wanting to do. However, this mindset is so much greater than just for the mission field. Asking the Lord, as a follower of Christ, should be our mindset at all times. This is something the Lord started teaching me in Uganda, and is continuing to do in Nepal. It’s a posture of surrender, of dependence on Him. I don’t want to do something, to act, before seeking Him first. When I do this, I am missing the opportunity to partner with God, and align my heart with His, and what He has in that day. This is a heart posture I want to live with, not just have on the race! So I encourage all of you reading this, to ask God what He has for you everyday! Who does He have for you to talk to? Is there somewhere He wants you to go? Or is there someone you should call? Every little decision can lead us closer and closer to Him and it is beautiful!
Finishing up our time in Uganda was so sweet, but also very emotional to leave. We were able to develop friendships with the girls and staff there and truly loved them so much. The Lord also gave us opportunities to speak His word to them, and for Him to teach them through us. Getting to do life with these girls, and talk about the Bible with them, were some of the most precious moments on this race, and I am forever grateful.
Once finishing up at ministry, we traveled to meet up with the rest of the team where we came together to celebrate Christmas! We got to be together, give gifts, and praise the Lord! What a special Christmas!
After Christmas we then began our travels to Nepal. After two plane rides and a couple bus rides we made it to our ministry, where we have been for 3 weeks! We have been partnering with a local church here, doing various things including house visits, going to schools, and participating in church services. On top of this we have also had “ATL time” in our teams, which stands for “ask the Lord” where we get to seek the Lord on what He wants us to do (as I was mentioning above in this blog). We have also gotten to adventure around Nepal and even see a waterfall! We leave tomorrow morning for our next ministry and I am so excited and expectant of what God will do! He is teaching me so much, and opening my eyes to Him in so many ways. And I cannot wait for Him to continue to do this and partner with Him in what He is doing in Nepal! What a blessing!
Prayer requests:
- Safety for travels
- For our physical health as we travel and begin hiking!
- For the softening of hearts for people here in Nepal! For their eyes to be opened to their need for God.
- For God to continue to grow me in my sensitivity to Him!
Thank you all for reading! God bless you all!
With joy,
Emma
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