Posts Tagged ‘Nepal’

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A Lesson in Generosity

Friday, September 7th, 2012

When Scripture repeats the same word multiple times in quick succession, we need to pay attention. God’s trying to tell us something important, and repetition is the key. He caught my attention recently using the word generous. Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-13 and count how many times it, or a form of it, is used:

“Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.’

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

As the Scriptures say, ‘They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.’

For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to them, they will thank God…

Your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.”

God obviously values generosity. Sometimes I wonder, however, if fear gets in the way of our displaying the same quality. Know what I mean? We’re afraid to give generously lest we won’t have enough to meet our needs (or wants).

What does that say about us? It says we don’t understand the faithfulness or even the desire of God to meet our needs. It also says we don’t share God’s compassion toward those who are less fortunate.

When we lived in Nepal, the generosity of our villagers astounded me. At that time (1982-85), Nepal was the fourth poorest country in the world. The people with whom we lived had next to no material possessions, and yet they’d bring gifts of food to us. Their offerings, nay, their example, blessed us beyond words. How much more should I give freely to others from my abundance?

Opportunities to be generous abound because needs are endless. We can give through our churches, through mission organizations, through local charities, and through organizations such as World Vision (we support two children in India and Nepal).

Someone once said, “Give hilariously!” I agree. Let’s be more generous and less concerned about our lack. Because God’s a generous giver, we ought to model the same characteristic. Let’s give freely from our abundance, or even our lack, and trust Him to bless our obedience.

Photo courtesy: FreeDigitalPhotos.net (thanks for generously allowing people to use photos free of charge)

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Keeping the Sabbath

Friday, September 30th, 2011

Sundays were respected as a day of rest when I was a kid. The Sabbath was different than other days—no one in our family worked, other than those who prepared meals and helped with kitchen cleanup. My folks usually retired for an afternoon nap after lunch, and me? Well, I wrote letters or read and wished Mom and Dad wouldn’t sleep so long ‘cause the silence spelled b-o-r-i-n-g to me.

Boredom ended when my parents woke. If the weather was good, we’d pile into the car and take an afternoon drive or visit the nearby fast-food restaurant and buy soft ice cream cones. If we were really lucky, we’d take home a jug of root beer, too. In winter, we’d welcome guests or we’d ride our snowmobile until our noses froze. Yes, Sundays were different from the other days, and they were good.

Sunday as the Sabbath changed face for me after I married and moved to Nepal. In that culture, we worked six days per week, with Saturday being the day off. At first I felt like a traitor to my faith. Celebrate the Sabbath on Saturday? Really? If I was to be effective in that setting, it meant being flexible so I soon learned that regardless which day we refrained from physical labor, the principle remained the same: we worked six days and rested one.

Scripture contains many references to the Sabbath. Take these verses, for instance:

“Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don’t pursue your own interest on that day, but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the LORD’s holy day. Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day, and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly. Then the LORD will be your delight. I will give you great honor and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob. I, the LORD, have spoken!” (Isaiah 58:13,14)

God knows what’s best for us. He knows we need physical rest. And He knows we need time to withdraw from the rush. Let’s regard the Sabbath as His gift to us. Let’s respect it, enjoy it, and be grateful for the time to refocus and be refreshed.

How do you spend the Sabbath? Any insights you’d like to share?

Photo courtesy: Dreamstime.com

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Comfortable Christianity vs. Living by God’s Power

Monday, August 8th, 2011

“For the kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power” (1 Cor. 4:20).  Great statement, eh? But what exactly does it mean? Here’s my two cents’ worth: I believe it means that we, as followers of Jesus Christ, need to shed our comfortable Christianity and start living in a way that forces us to depend on God’s power to survive and thrive if we want to grow in our faith and understanding of who He is.

a Himalayan village nearly identical to ours

I grew up in a Christian home and chose to follow Jesus when I was eight years old. I attended church twice each Sunday, Pioneer Girls on Wednesday evening, and youth group on Friday. I went to church summer camps, attended Daily Vacation Bible School, participated in Bible quiz contests, played the piano in church, and sang in the girls’ choir. I later attended Bible college for three years and even returned to that college as a staff member for nearly three years following graduation.

I knew the right church vocabulary, the song lyrics, and the most commonly quoted Scriptures. By all outward appearances, I was an active citizen of God’s kingdom on earth. You could even call me an honors student in Sunday school theology. Truth be told, I enjoyed comfortable Christianity, but I knew little of God’s power. That changed when He asked me to do something that was ‘way beyond my human abilities.

I was 24 years old and married only five months when my husband and I moved to Nepal to work with a Christian organization there. At that time, Nepal was a Hindu kingdom.  Proselytizing was illegal. National Christians were imprisoned for their faith. In order for us to gain access, my husband worked as a civil engineer on a hydro-electric power project and I taught basic health care. We lived in a teeny mud and rock house with a thatched roof. No electricity, no indoor toilet, no running water.

Snakes, scorpions, and giant spiders invaded our house regularly. Mildew grew on our walls during monsoon season. People stared through our windows incessantly. And health issues plagued us from the moment we stepped off the plane. More than once, I felt like giving up and going home. Instead of yielding to that temptation, however, I cried to God for strength and the ability to stand firm. And He answered.

Saying yes to God’s assignment forced me to put my Sunday school theology into practice. Before boarding the plane to Kathmandu, I found it easy to spout, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Living out that truth in the midst of circumstances ‘way beyond my human capabilities was another story. It was tough, but that’s where my faith began to grow and I began to experience God in new ways.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not telling you to head for the Himalayas in order to deepen your walk with God. I am, however, telling you to say yes to God’s assignments even though the thought scares you. Move beyond the safe confines of comfortable Christianity and embrace opportunities to experience God’s power in new ways by saying yes even when it feels risky.

Perhaps that means crossing the street to greet a new neighbor when your natural inclination is to stay close to home. Maybe it means changing jobs, or taking a pay cut so you can pursue a career that truly brings you pleasure. Perhaps it means getting involved in your community as a volunteer among the helpless or hopeless. The thought of doing so feels scary, but if God’s the One nudging that direction, then say yes. I guarantee you’ll discover God’s power in new and exciting ways. Your faith will grow, and your kingdom-building influence will, too.

Here’s a question for you: How have you stepped beyond comfortable Christianity and discovered God’s power in new ways?

http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-image-mountain-village-near-chamba-in-himachal-india-rimagefree769313-resi3440358

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Modern-Day Idols

Friday, November 5th, 2010

Seeing the Nepalese people pay tribute to idols was part of everyday life when we lived in that land. Men and women alike placed dishes containing cooked rice or pieces of fresh fruit such as bananas, guavas and papayas before stone-carved deities. They laid marigolds at the idols’ feet, and they sprinkled red powder on their heads. On one occasion, we watched a group of men slit a goat’s throat and spray the blood over the idol to express gratitude for an abundant harvest.

Paying homage to idols

Watching stone gods receive such adoration saddened and sickened me. I found it difficult to imagine why men and women would lavish time and attention on a dirty rock. I knew with certainty that I’d never be so foolish. Idolatry would never be an issue in my life, I assured myself. I was wrong.

Nearly three decades have passed, and I’m a wee bit wiser. Today I understand the subtleties of idolatry. Stone gods don’t tempt me even a smidgeon, but the desire to have a nice house does. So does the lure of a good reputation. And the longing for an effective ministry. I must constantly guard my heart lest I lose my focus and lavish my devotion on these modern-day idols rather than on the living God Himself.

Ezekiel 14:3 says, “Son of man, these leaders have set up idols in their hearts. They have embraced things that will make them fall into sin.” As believers today, we might never consider committing idolatry, as we tend to think about it, by falling on our faces and worshiping a carved stone. But we can slip into idolatry in our hearts by giving our love to something other than God. A temporal object, a person, a goal…anything that seduces our affection away from where it belongs can be considered an idol. And God watches, feeling saddened and sickened just as I did when I watched the Nepalese worship stones.

Let’s give God the honor He’s due. Let’s be cautious not to set up idols in our hearts, placing more value on things or people or goals—albeit good ones—than on Christ. Let’s ask Him to make us super-sensitive to His Spirit so we’ll be instantly aware if we so much as tiptoe towards idolatry lest we fall into sin. The living God deserves our complete devotion, so let’s give it to Him alone.

God bless you today, my friend. Have a great weekend!

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Remembering Your Journey

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

Where has life’s journey taken you? Undoubtedly your path has led to a few mountaintops and through a few valleys. In some cases, it’s probably taken an unexpected detour or two – some delightful, others not. If you’re a follower of Jesus Christ, can you identify places along your journey where God has proven Himself faithful?

Personally, I can recall several such incidents. The most unforgettable was when our second child was born in Nepal and instantly diagnosed with hydrocephalus (too much water on the brain). We’d had a personnel interview with a career mission agency only one week prior because we hoped to devote the rest of our lives to the Nepalese people, but our daughter’s medical condition necessitated an immediate return to North America. Talk about a detour! And yet, in that very scary time, God proved Himself faithful.

He provided our little family with a place to housesit, gave my husband a good job, led us to a warm and loving church family, and paid for our child’s medical expenses through the Washington State Crippled Children’s Services. Was life easy along this detour? Not at all. But God was with us.

Another example was when I sensed God telling me to write. I remember going for a long walk every day and praying as I went. I’d say, “God, I desperately want to be a wise steward of my time, my energy, my talents, and my money. Please make Your will clear to me so I don’t waste them chasing after a silly whim of my own.” He answered.

First, He directed me to attend the Florida Christian Writers Conference, bringing impossible circumstances together to remove any doubt that this prompting was from Him. That’s where I learned how to write magazine articles. Several months (and many more walks and prayers later), He spoke to me in an audible voice, giving me the name of a woman to interview. I obeyed. One door after another began to open, and I walked through them (albeit sometimes with knocking knees). Each step of the way, God proved Himself faithful. Has it been an easy walk? Not at all. But God has been with me.

The New Year is only two weeks away. I don’t know what it holds. If it’s anything like the last two years, I may be in for a wild ride. Frankly, there are some aspects of my journey I’d rather not repeat, like watching elderly parents suffer and die (or worse yet, being overseas when they pass away). Or wondering how to pay next month’s bills, let alone the big expenses that come with owning an older home. Or struggling with the tension of wanting to write another book but not having the time to do it due to other ministry responsibilities. Or dealing with the disappointments that come with pouring one’s heart into ministry and not seeing results hoped for.

Yup, 2010 is a big unknown. At the same time, I know God will be faithful no matter what it holds. Micah 6:5 says, “…Remember your journey from Acacia to Gilgal, when I, the Lord, did everything I could to teach you about my faithfulness.” I plan to heed this advice; I’ll remember the journey in years past, and I’ll recall God’s faithfulness. And that’s where I’ll find joy and courage and strength for the days ahead.

How have you seen God’s faithfulness along your journey, my friend?

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Aha Moments

Monday, October 12th, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends!

This blog entry is the first one I taught on 100 Huntley Street’s “Truth to Go.” You can view it online at www.crossroadstv.ca. Click on “Watch Program” and go to the one that aired on Monday, October 5.

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Life doesn’t always turn out the way we hope or plan. Sometimes our circumstances don’t make sense, and we wonder if God really knows what He’s doing.

I wonder if that’s how Joseph felt at times. His story, found in Genesis, says he was only 17 years old when his jealous older brothers sold him into slavery. Potiphar, a member of Pharaoh’s staff, bought him and put him in charge of his household affairs. Trouble was, Potiphar’s wife wanted an affair of her own – with Joseph. He rejected her advances, she accused him of rape, and he was thrown into prison.

The jail cell became Joseph’s classroom where he majored in a 13-year-long course called “Character Development.” Psalm 105:18 and 19 say, “There in prison, they bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. Until the time came to fulfill his word, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.”

Joseph was 30 years old when he was finally released and suddenly appointed second-in-command in Egypt – a prominent, powerful position. Just as he’d predicted, seven years of prosperity gave way to famine. One day his brothers came in search of food for their families. Scripture tells us that Joseph recognized them, but they didn’t know him. He waited until they returned a second time before he revealed his identity.

Imagine the emotion of that moment! And imagine Joseph’s expression when suddenly his circumstances over the past 20 years made sense:

“You sold me into slavery,” Joseph told his brothers, “but don’t be angry with yourselves that you did this to me, for God did it. He sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. Yes, it was God who sent me here, not you!”

My husband and I lived in Nepal in the 80s. He was a civil engineer working on a hydro-electric project, and I taught basic health care. We lived in a mud and rock hut with a thatch roof, no electricity, no running water, and no indoor plumbing. I wrestled with culture shock, language learning, and loneliness. Two years passed before I began settling into village life. That’s when we committed our lives to ministry there. One week after our interview with a career mission agency, our second child was born with major medical issues. We had to return to North America within days. Then I encountered reverse culture shock.

Over the years, I often wondered what role that experience played in our lives. In 2007, we were asked to launch International Messengers Canada. One of our tasks is to provide member care for our missionaries. I shared my testimony with our women at the first IM conference we attended, and as I concluded, these words came from my mouth, “When you struggle with language learning, I can empathize. When you struggle with loneliness, I understand. When you struggle with reverse culture shock, I get it!” Suddenly everything made sense. God had used our time in Nepal to prepare us for a ministry that would come 25 years later.

Life doesn’t always turn out the way we plan or hope. Sometimes our circumstances are difficult to understand. But God knows what He’s doing. Our role is to trust His wisdom and His ways.

One day – if not here, then in heaven – everything will make sense. We’ll see God’s hand in our circumstances. We’ll be amazed, humbled, and awestruck. But until then, let’s allow Him to be God, to fulfill His plan His way and in His time even when we don’t understand.

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The Patient Traveler

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

Our kids learned to travel long distances from the time they were babies. Matthew flew halfway around the world twice by the time he was 20 months old; Stephanie made the trip from Nepal to the U.S. when she was only three days old. Kim was born in the States, so she didn’t accumulate frequent flier miles while still in diapers, but she was only 8 months old when she made the first of many road trips from Washington to Alberta to visit her grandparents.

Videos, ipods, and other techno wizardry didn’t exist back then, so our kids kept themselves occupied by listening to Focus on the Family’s Odyssey tapes and reading books galore. On one long trip to southern California, they enjoyed coloring books, water pistols, and bubbles that I’d packed to help pass the time and make it more enjoyable.

Yes, our kids were great travelers, even if they did ask the inevitable: “Are we almost there?” If they’d had a choice, they probably would rather have entered a time warp machine and pressed a button labeled “Instant Arrival.” Instead, they had to learn how to be patient and enjoy the journey until they reached the destination.

Just as we have to learn patience along a physical journey, so we need to learn patience along the journey of life. Sometimes that’s a tough lesson. For instance, we might set our sights on a goal or relationship and then head that direction. We want an “instant arrival,” so we put prayer on hold (ie: “I don’t have time to pray”) and try to take shortcuts, or we speed ahead of the proper process and procedure. What happens? We end up in trouble. I’ve done this myself, and I’ve watched others do it, too.

Becoming a patient traveler on the Highway of Life doesn’t happen overnight. It comes as we learn to trust God’s sovereignty. It comes when we begin to see our circumstances through His eyes and realize that He works on an eternal timetable. It comes as we learn to give our concerns to Him in prayer and then wait for Him to answer in His way.

Psalm 37:34 says, “Don’t be impatient for the LORD to act! Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you, giving you the land…” What does this verse teach us? To set aside our desires for an “instant arrival.” Practice patience. Relax, travel steadily and surely along God’s path for us. Resist the temptation to rush ahead of His timing by taking matters into our own hands. When we do this, we avoid self-inflicted trouble and we experience God’s honor and rewards.

Would you call yourself a patient traveler on the Highway of Life? If not, why not? What troubles have you encountered when you’ve been impatient? What blessings have you enjoyed when you’ve waited for the Lord to act on your behalf?

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God Controls Every Detail

Friday, March 20th, 2009

Journal Entry for Thursday, March 19 (cont.)

 Today is my eldest daughter’s 24th birthday. I remember all my kids’ actual birth days with clarity, and I treasure those memories. But this one held huge significance because her arrival changed the direction of our lives. We were living in Nepal and planned on being career missionaries there, but our plans changed because she was born with hydrocephalus and needed immediate and ongoing medical care in North America.

 God was obviously in control of every detail. And that experience was probably the greatest faith-building event of my life to date. Whenever the future seems uncertain (like it does in today’s economy, for example), I recall God’s faithfulness back then, and I find courage. Fear takes a back seat when I remember how He provided flights, friends, and finances to get us back to the States and settled amidst reverse culture shock and having a child in critical condition. Indeed He was good then, and He’s the same today.

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Wednesday, April 4

Wednesday, April 4th, 2007



My friend K. is truly a woman of influence in her culture. The 20 additional children showed up at the orphanage for an initial visit while we were eating lunch in her dining room. Without a word, she slipped outside and made sure their arrival was a smooth one. While we were there, she also checked the previous children’s arms for their TB skin test results. Seven kids showed positive. Now they’ll have to take one pill on an empty stomach every morning for a year – accomplishing that will take nothing short of an act of God.

The facility was spacious but very modest: A three-storey concrete building provides a sitting room, kitchen, bedrooms, shower and tub, a covered deck on which to play during the monsoon rains, and a study room. The eating area is a separate building that holds four wood tables and enough benches for 42 kids. Where the other 20 will eat is anyone’s guess. A third building, a narrow brick structure with a bare concrete floor provides indoor play space. It’s a far cry from anything seen in North America, but it’s more than what some of these kids have come from, and their smiles show that they’re happy to be there. One little fellow, maybe four years old, sidled up to me and slipped his hand in mine – he stole my heart in an instant, and then we had to say goodbye. Sometimes I wonder why life seems to be so unfair, especially to these innocent ones.

We spent the remainder of the day traveling across the city and then visiting a training institute for Nepalese church workers. There are 12 students presently enrolled in the five-month program. Again, talk about a modest facility! The director has to walk through the men’s sleeping quarters (a bare room with four bunk beds) to get to his office. Three female students share sleeping quarters on a different floor. The dining room has one table meant for four people – perhaps the rest spill onto the adjoining outdoor deck. The teaching room has six narrow tables barely long enough to accommodate two students each, and a small whiteboard on one wall.

Nevertheless, good things are happening in and through the lives of these young people who have decided to follow Jesus. Several have overcome drug addiction and are now helping others who are struggling with various issues in their lives. They remain steadfast despite persecution. It’s obvious they’re following the Lord because they love Him, not because of a false notion that He’ll make their lives peachy-keen.

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Tuesday, April 3

Wednesday, April 4th, 2007

An American gal who works in Katmandu told us about a coffee house with wireless internet access. We discovered that it’s only two blocks from where we’re staying! So, this morning, I sifted through my emails while sitting on a comfy sofa and sipping a vanilla latte. Nice!

God fulfilled one of my personal dreams today. Through divine networking, yesterday evening I located the woman who was my language helper when we lived in Boudha in 1982. We saw each other for the last time in January 1984 and have had no contact since then. We spoke by phone this morning and arranged to meet for lunch.

K. is a beautiful, strong woman who has endured much. For instance, she lost her husband five years ago when he was killed by Maoists rebels during a major countrywide political upheaval. Her family’s vehicles were burned the same night, and she was forced to flee with only the clothes she was wearing. K’s life flipped upside down, and understandably so. While weaker folk might have thrown up their hands in despair, she has chosen to persevere and try to make life better for others.

K. is now involved with a local orphanage that cares for 42 children. Another 20 will join the facility within the next two weeks. Recently she discovered that most of these kids aren’t really orphans. Some parents lie about their children’s status to the government-run Children’s Welfare Organization in order to secure a guaranteed education for them. Others have one parent who works for 12 hours a day while their child or children sit alone at home or run the streets. The CWO then labels the kids as orphans and places them in facilities such as the one on her property. Granted, the kids are well fed and educated, but under false pretenses. They’re also filling space that should rightfully belong to children who honestly have no one to care for them. What to do when the needs are so great?

K. told us how strangers visit rural villages and tell parents that, for a price (about $300), they will take their children to the big city and place them in a boarding school to receive a good education. The parents believe them, pay the price, and bid their kids farewell. The strangers then deposit the kids at an orphanage and walk away with the money in their pockets. Sometimes those orphanages sell the kids into the sex trade industry or pass them along to another facility. Meanwhile, back home, the parents are thinking that their kids are being well cared for. Only when they try to contact their children do they realize they’ve been duped. Tomorrow we’ll visit the orphanage where K. volunteers and get an up-close-and-personal peek at what’s happening there.

Thanks to technology, K. and I can now stay in touch via email! With all my heart I believe God has reunited us for a reason.

The day ended with dinner with an ex-patriot family we’ve supported for more than a decade. What a joy to hear first-hand of their work and to see that they’re doing well. They spoke about the cause of the political unrest here – simply put, the Maoists want to throw out the existing government and establish their own.

We saw results of that unrest while trying to travel through the city today. Mass traffic jams resulted when Maoists demonstrated their displeasure at the massacre of 29 of their comrades last week.

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