Last Day in Nepal...

Well, the day has finally come; the day we’ve all been dreading: today is our last day in Nepal.  I can’t believe how quickly this trip went. Though my bags are ready and waiting at the door, in my heart, I’m simply nowhere ready to just pack up and leave. I hate goodbyes (just as my friends – we’ve made an official diagnosis: separation anxiety lol) and with the depth of the bonds that have been created this week, I don’t honestly know how I will be able to turn and walk away from all that I’ve grown to love this week.

We finally got to do some serving yesterday, which was nice.  We laid bricks on the ground that the guys had prepared the day before, and that was pretty cool! I love working with my hands, and aside from smushing my pinky finger between two bricks that I was trying to shape (don’t worry, it’s fine – I’m just a woos), it was a really great morning. It was nice to do some manual labour for a change – they haven’t let us help with much on this trip.

In the afternoon, we all piled into the van and took the youth group to a nearby soccer field. Not five minutes after we got there, little Solomon (10 years old, son of Harvest Kathmandu elder Sanjiv) had a little collision and fell on a rock, slicing his finger open. Solomon and I hopped onto the back of Samuel’s bike (always wanted to ride oen!) and we took off in search of some medical care. All the pharmacies we passed were closed. While on the back of Samuel’s bike, I started praying aloud (Solomon speaks English, praise God!) that his finger would heal (the Kleenex holding the end of his finger together was soaked in blood) and that we would find a pharmacy. Finally, we did. They took him into a dingy back room, where the poured this disgusting black goop on his finger. I wouldn’t let him look, and felt queasy myself. I held his face and hands as the tears streamed from his eyes and the wailing continued. I could only pray. Once they finally got his finger bandaged up, they pulled out a needle for tetnus and stuck it into his bum. Samuel had to hold him down, and he was squirming so much, the “doctor” lost his grip on the needle while it was in his bum and it was moving all around – extremely painful. Poor little Solomon was so upset and it was honestly a little bit traumatizing for me. We took him back to his parents and Samuel and I returned to the soccer game. Once back at the church again, I went to see how he was doing and he started to cry when he saw me (I have that effect on people lol). We prayed together again and I just really pray that his finger heals properly.

Today we will be going back to the church for a service, and then to the market to share the Gospel and pick up any last minute souviners. Can’t wait to talk to Hindus and Buddhists about the one true God. Please keep these conversations in your prayers!

Thank you for your continued prayers for us on this last leg of the journey. The Nepali dust will soon be washed from my skin; the pollution will soon be gone, but the memory of our time here will forever be written on the pages of my heart. I love these people, I love the country, and most of all, I love our God. The unity we’ve experienced with these brothers and sisters reminds me a lot of what heaven will be like, except there will be no language barriers. The thought of leaving these people makes me feel anxious and upset, but I trust that God will prepare and equip myself and the rest of the team for a smooth transition back into our first world nation – the place we call home. Please pray for safety for our flights, for good rest and for joyful attitudes. 

Thanks again for your prayer support. We have felt it every day, and are so blessed by your ministry to us. Love you all and looking forward to worshipping with you all on Sunday – in a tongue that I can actually understand!  Can’t wait.

Love in Christ Jesus,

Courtney