Greetings from Kathmandu, Nepal— one of the raddest backpacker cultures in the world! We arrived safe yet unsound on Friday morning after a pretty trippy journey on a 17+ hour night bus. Let’s just say that I have a new fondness for blaring native music at 1 AM under a hazy red glow. Also, I developed an extreme appreciation for Imodium. Diarrhea + “Squatty Potty” = EPIC FAIL! :(
Last Saturday and Sunday we were in Kalimpong—the town where Dr. and Mrs. Rai grew up. On our way there, we experienced our first significant Indian traffic jam which led to several dance parties outside our taxis on the side of the road. On Saturday night Dr. and Mrs. Rai showed us all of their favorite city spots [bookstores, silversmiths, restaurants and even a bakery!]. Then on Sunday we worshipped at two different churches. The first was the village church where Kingchur—one of the professors of the Bible school—grew up. They rarely have foreign guests come to visit and were very excited to share with us a special rendition of “Be Thou My Vision” they arranged in English followed by a potluck lunch. The second service we attended was at the church where Mrs. Rai grew up. It is very historical—set upon the highest hill of the city. The 6-story bell tower right outside the sanctuary provides a BEAUTIFUL view of the city. Five of us made it to the top—ankle-length skirts and all!
The rest of our time spent at the Bible school was split between finishing A Pilgrim’s Progress with the more advanced students and teaching at Mt. Zion—the elementary school connected to the Bible school for the children of the local Mirik mountain community. The first morning we walked in to classrooms to “help,” all the teachers immediately handed over their chalk and told us they’d be back for the afternoon session. We all had pretty interesting mornings especially when it came time to teach Nepali…
Our partnership with the Bible school ended with a mid-week Mexican fiesta. Half the team made beef fajitas and Mexican rice—complete with homemade tortillas—to thank the Rais, Kingchur and his family and all the other wonderful people who had been hosting us the past 2 weeks. After dinner we had a special candlelight worship service in the Bible school’s chapel where we exchanged teaching one another English and Nepali worship songs. We soon learned that several of the seemingly shy Bible school students were actually rock stars who enjoy jammin’ on electric guitar and a full drum kit.
Tomorrow we leave for a local village where we will be doing some ESL [English as a Second Language] training as well as leading VBS at a secular “Montessori” school. Praise God for hookin’ us up with the missionaries, Michael and Lupe, who we met at church yesterday. They have planted churches all over the Kathmandu area but had been praying for a way to get in contact with the Hindu community we’ll be serving. Apparently, our supposed scheduling faux pa turned out to be the answer to their prayers.
Expect a village recap in about a week and a half!
Prayer Requests
-Funding for the Darjeeling Hills Bible School
-Dr. & Mrs. Rai as they begin to share ministry responsibilities
-Kingchur’s ordination and provision for his family
-Arjun’s graduation and pursuit of full-time ministry in Nepal this fall
-Opportunities to boldly and effectively share the Gospel to the villagers
-Individual & collective growth according to God’s will
-Group unity
-Health
-Safety
This morning we flew over Mt. Everest. It was AWESOME! :)
P.S. I’ve single-handedly convinced a group of 10 other college girls that our evenings are best spent watching the World Cup in different culturally themed pubs. We collectively decided that the one ref who quite possibly made the worst call in the history of “football” in one of the most recent U.S. games is currently the most hated man in America. Not that we hate...
Monday, June 21, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Incredible !ndia
[So let's all pretend I was able to post this entry on June 12th like I wanted...An EPIC recap of this past week is coming soon. Stay tuned!]
I’m in India. Now. Writing this while resting comfortably against a cement pillar on top of the cement roof of the Sherpa Lodge in Mirik.
We are currently partnering with the Darjeeling Hills Bible School—a 60 year old ministry of the World Mission Prayer League [WMPL]. Students from the surrounding communities [both in India and Nepal] come to complete a Bachelor of Theological Studies through the 3 year program. After graduation they are expected to return home to share all they have learned with family, friends and strangers.
On Sunday we ventured to Darjeeling to worship at one of the 3 churches our host and principle of the Bible school, Dr. Rai, oversees. Its stone walls are set upon a hill. A banner outside hung between two trees reads “Jesus Saves Sinners.”
The service began with a session of contemporary worship. Some of tunes were recognizable but most were unfamiliar to me. The songs I knew, I sang along what I could remember in English. To those traditionally Nepali, I hummed and swayed. About halfway through one of the upbeat native songs, I realized the congregation was no longer singing a chorus in their language or my own but in the spiritual language of the transcendent “Hallelujah.” Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. The glorious cries. My body tingled as I closed my eyes and opened my hands envisioning eternity. All the Father’s children. Together. Forever. Singing our ending hymn.
God be praised.
Dr. Rai and Mrs. Rai have been keeping us fairly involved at the Bible school. When they learned Professor Lee was a professor of English Literature they asked him to lead a series of impromptu lectures on A Pilgrim’s Progress—the text the school is using with the advanced students to practice their [old] English. They have also asked each of us students to teach brief seminars on topics such as Christian Education and the writing process. Soon we will begin working with the children at Mt. Zion—the elementary school for families living in the surrounding mountain community.
Some highlights of our stay so far include spending an entire day in prayer and meditation, completely owning in soccer [I scored 8 of my team’s 15 goals!], drinking ridiculous amounts of local tea and accidentally going on a “secret hike” through the forest and ending up on the inside of a gated Tibetan Buddhist monastery…
This weekend we will travel to Kalimpong, the village where Dr. and Mrs. Rai grew up, and then return to our encouragement of the Bible school.
Prayer Requests
-World Mission Prayer League
-Faculty, staff & students of the Darjeeling Hills Bible School
-Funding for the Bible school
-Surrounding Hindu, Buddhist and Animist communities
-Safe travel
-Health
Also, please pray that God would reveal His will for us in Nepal. We just received an email from our ministry contact in Kathmandu which read: “Hello! I have just been accepted to seminary in India. I leave tomorrow. God Bless!” We have a few back-up options but things are a little uncertain at the moment…
In other news, stories, videos and pictures are up on our group blog! Check it out at www.cui.edu/india.
I’m in India. Now. Writing this while resting comfortably against a cement pillar on top of the cement roof of the Sherpa Lodge in Mirik.
We are currently partnering with the Darjeeling Hills Bible School—a 60 year old ministry of the World Mission Prayer League [WMPL]. Students from the surrounding communities [both in India and Nepal] come to complete a Bachelor of Theological Studies through the 3 year program. After graduation they are expected to return home to share all they have learned with family, friends and strangers.
On Sunday we ventured to Darjeeling to worship at one of the 3 churches our host and principle of the Bible school, Dr. Rai, oversees. Its stone walls are set upon a hill. A banner outside hung between two trees reads “Jesus Saves Sinners.”
The service began with a session of contemporary worship. Some of tunes were recognizable but most were unfamiliar to me. The songs I knew, I sang along what I could remember in English. To those traditionally Nepali, I hummed and swayed. About halfway through one of the upbeat native songs, I realized the congregation was no longer singing a chorus in their language or my own but in the spiritual language of the transcendent “Hallelujah.” Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. The glorious cries. My body tingled as I closed my eyes and opened my hands envisioning eternity. All the Father’s children. Together. Forever. Singing our ending hymn.
God be praised.
Dr. Rai and Mrs. Rai have been keeping us fairly involved at the Bible school. When they learned Professor Lee was a professor of English Literature they asked him to lead a series of impromptu lectures on A Pilgrim’s Progress—the text the school is using with the advanced students to practice their [old] English. They have also asked each of us students to teach brief seminars on topics such as Christian Education and the writing process. Soon we will begin working with the children at Mt. Zion—the elementary school for families living in the surrounding mountain community.
Some highlights of our stay so far include spending an entire day in prayer and meditation, completely owning in soccer [I scored 8 of my team’s 15 goals!], drinking ridiculous amounts of local tea and accidentally going on a “secret hike” through the forest and ending up on the inside of a gated Tibetan Buddhist monastery…
This weekend we will travel to Kalimpong, the village where Dr. and Mrs. Rai grew up, and then return to our encouragement of the Bible school.
Prayer Requests
-World Mission Prayer League
-Faculty, staff & students of the Darjeeling Hills Bible School
-Funding for the Bible school
-Surrounding Hindu, Buddhist and Animist communities
-Safe travel
-Health
Also, please pray that God would reveal His will for us in Nepal. We just received an email from our ministry contact in Kathmandu which read: “Hello! I have just been accepted to seminary in India. I leave tomorrow. God Bless!” We have a few back-up options but things are a little uncertain at the moment…
In other news, stories, videos and pictures are up on our group blog! Check it out at www.cui.edu/india.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Same, same...BUT different! ;)
Transportation Security Administration confiscated my peanut butter. :(
I am delighted to tell that we made it safely to Singapore after a 17 hour flight with an unexpected 1 hour layover in Tokyo. Hooray surprise countries! We arrived at our hotel—The Inn Crowd—[hehe…get it?] at 230 AM. Despite our best efforts to sleep in, the sound of religious chanting woke us all up by 8 AM.
I’m surprised at how much Singapore feels like America. We walked all around the downtown area this morning and afternoon. The streets were littered with 7-Elevens, Starbucks and even a Long John Silver’s. Also, we ate at China Town and are staying in Little India. With free WiFi at the hostel, almost everything seems the same…
Today at the Chinese market I saw a t-shirt accurately reflecting the philosophies of international merchants. As you walk down the streets of Singapore, you are likely to hear sellers attempting to convince tourists that Foakleys [AKA fake Oakley sunglasses] are the same as the ones sold in the prospective buyer’s native country. Everyone involved in the deal knows this is not the case. Despite the cries of “Same, same,” [the phrase on the front of the t-shirt] the back which humorously reads “BUT different!” reveals the truth of the proverb.
In my limited world traveling experience, I have found this saying to be deeply accurate. A huge realization for me last year in East Africa was that the people, the human beings, I was dwelling with in the slums, IDP camps and genocide torn communities are just like me. They have the same dreams, desires and devotion. Even our basic day to day lives including school, work and fun are the same—they just look a little different in each place.
I’m excited to actualize more enlightening “sameness” in the next few weeks as I abide with God’s children in India and Nepal. I hope to update with my reflections once a week.
Thanks again to EVERYONE who is praying for our summer. A few of the girls have been feeling sick so prayers of healing are appreciated. Also, please continue to pray that we would live each moment reflecting Jesus—our Light.
The darkness has been overcome.
Let us SHINE!
P.S. I got a henna tattoo of a butterfly on my right foot. For my “Happy 21st Birthday To Me,” this will become permanent!
I am delighted to tell that we made it safely to Singapore after a 17 hour flight with an unexpected 1 hour layover in Tokyo. Hooray surprise countries! We arrived at our hotel—The Inn Crowd—[hehe…get it?] at 230 AM. Despite our best efforts to sleep in, the sound of religious chanting woke us all up by 8 AM.
I’m surprised at how much Singapore feels like America. We walked all around the downtown area this morning and afternoon. The streets were littered with 7-Elevens, Starbucks and even a Long John Silver’s. Also, we ate at China Town and are staying in Little India. With free WiFi at the hostel, almost everything seems the same…
Today at the Chinese market I saw a t-shirt accurately reflecting the philosophies of international merchants. As you walk down the streets of Singapore, you are likely to hear sellers attempting to convince tourists that Foakleys [AKA fake Oakley sunglasses] are the same as the ones sold in the prospective buyer’s native country. Everyone involved in the deal knows this is not the case. Despite the cries of “Same, same,” [the phrase on the front of the t-shirt] the back which humorously reads “BUT different!” reveals the truth of the proverb.
In my limited world traveling experience, I have found this saying to be deeply accurate. A huge realization for me last year in East Africa was that the people, the human beings, I was dwelling with in the slums, IDP camps and genocide torn communities are just like me. They have the same dreams, desires and devotion. Even our basic day to day lives including school, work and fun are the same—they just look a little different in each place.
I’m excited to actualize more enlightening “sameness” in the next few weeks as I abide with God’s children in India and Nepal. I hope to update with my reflections once a week.
Thanks again to EVERYONE who is praying for our summer. A few of the girls have been feeling sick so prayers of healing are appreciated. Also, please continue to pray that we would live each moment reflecting Jesus—our Light.
The darkness has been overcome.
Let us SHINE!
P.S. I got a henna tattoo of a butterfly on my right foot. For my “Happy 21st Birthday To Me,” this will become permanent!
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