Honeymoon's Over

Well, if it was 'Up' in Koth Gaun, it's 'Down' in Kathmandu Valley. We've been here just about 3 months now and the last few days have been the hardest - minus the bouts of sickness we've experienced. It's not that anything has really changed - except that we found out our visas had expired last month and now it's become an added stress, big fine and inconvenience for everybody, everything from pulling the girls out of work early and Pastor Raju back from meeting an arriving team at the airport. But it's more like finally admitting what's been building up for awhile and finding out that all 6 of us have been feeling the same thing: discouragement. What? But God has been doing amazing things; we've seen wonderful works. Yes, He has and yes we have. It started with our 'faux pas' - taking the boys out to a Mexican restaurant with the Hong Kong Jackie Pullinger team. What was wrong with that? you say. No rice, no curry, no chow mein. Big 'no-no'. We found out later that some boys didn't even eat. Talk about feeling bad. In fact, one boy was quite angry. It came on the heels of the visa episode. That's when we all opened up and shared what we've been experiencing. Like we're pouring out our lives here, teaching Bible studies with the boys, taking them out for treats/meals, all 4 girls teaching at schools, painting murals, doing music & worship, etc., etc. (sorry if it sounds like a litany of accomplishments). But it's so hard to give out constantly with no returns. It's just not Nepali culture to express appreciation. I guess we Westerners are seen as being the source of all their needs. Even the schools just ask for more and more, even though none of the girls are experienced teachers. And how can we expect formerly abused, unloved street boys not to criticize but say 'thank-you'? And of course, we are seen as the source of funds because we do have so much more than anyone else.

But tonight we all learned something. First of all, we hadn't prayed as a family for quite awhile (I mean, community prayer-and-fasting days don't count). Then finally after we opened up and shared honestly with each other what we all felt, it led to a family prayer time. Some of us cried and asked the Lord for some kind of encouragement, some lifting up of our spirits. That led to some keen insights and words of wisdom from (who, Mom or Dad?) - No, from the girls themselves. And that led to the girls playing and singing worship music. And you know what? My own little weak discouraged family were the very ones to lift each other up. It didn't need to come from outside, from our own poor, beaten-down, struggling Nepali brothers and sisters.

So why at this time, in the middle of the 'highs' of youth missions trip to Gatlang, Ken's trek to Gorkha (Pastor Raju's village - he'll share about that next), John Wimber's associate Alexander Venter bringing a very encouraging and strengthening teaching on Saturday, these troubles should come and hit all of us, maybe we will understand. Maybe God has already accomplished something good out of it (and He has). We only have one month more. We don't want to just 'get through' it; we want God to do everything He can through us. But we need His strength. We almost ran out of our own steam. Ha! It turns out we have to practice what we preach. Thank-you all for listening. Thank-you even more for praying for us. Without you, we'd be toast.