Harmi, baby! What happened?!?!?!

So we just got back from our week in the village! Despite our original plans for Nepal falling through, we were able to team up with Michael and Lupe—a missionary couple originally from Silver Spring, Maryland! :) They first came to Nepal in 2001 through a short-term mission with their home church and instantaneously fell in love with the Nepali people. They have served as church planters in the remote villages of Gorkha ever since.

While Michael and Lupe have passed through the village of Harmi many times on their treks to show the Jesus film to the unreached Hindu communities, they had yet to find an opportunity to minister this particular area. Michael’s Nepali friend, Iswori, is the only Christian in Harmi. He begged Michael often to come and teach English to the teachers at the local elementary school and have fun with the children but their plans never worked out. Insert two certified ESL instructors, three camp counselors, a VBS teacher, a worship leader and several experienced babysitters and suddenly things clicked.

After meeting Michael and Lupe at church on Sunday, we left early Tuesday morning for Harmi. We took a 6 hour bus ride followed by a 2 hour muddy jeep excursion—we got stuck twice. We then hiked another hour to the house where we would spend the next three nights. We all got nice and cozy sleeping 6 people on thatch mats in two 12 x 7 ft rooms complete with a sacred Hindu shrine featuring Krishna, Buddha and special guest star, Jesus!

The next morning we woke and scrambled to create English teaching lesson plans for the teachers as well as a 4 hour VBS program for the children centered on the theme of Super Heroes. We divided into teams to act out Bible stories, create crafts, lead songs and teach games. The first day was pretty difficult as we tried to get a feel for what the kids liked and didn’t like as well as what they could understand since they speak very limited English. In addition, it was the first time most of us had ever done any sort of service with a completely secular organization.

With the exception of Iswori and his family, everyone else in the village of Harmi are practicing Hindus. While most people we met—children and adults alike—were eager to learn about Jesus, they do not recognize Him as their Savior. One night we invited all families in the surrounding area to watch a version of the “Jesus Film” which sparked some interest and questions. Several people asked for Nepali Bibles but we only had our English ones to give them.

I have never in my life wanted more urgently to tell anyone about Jesus. I also have never in my life felt more helpless to be able to do so. Aside from the obvious language barrier, there was a definite shadow cast over the otherwise joyful village manifest in the lurking Hindu priest who frequently poked his head in our classroom windows to see what we were up to. One afternoon, when walking with one of the village boys, Penchandra, I asked him about the village god. He led me to the public shrine where a picture rested locked in cage. I asked him how often the people of the village came to worship this god. Some everyday. Others only on special occasions. As I stood staring into the cage my heart cried. This is what my beautiful new friends believed in. My friends who slept outside on their porch through premonsoon thunderstorms so I could rest dry inside. My friends who fed me countless packs of Nano [Nepali Top Ramen!] and chapatti with bananas because my stomach couldn’t handle anything else. My friends who celebrated starlight dance parties and held onto my arm and laughed and laughed and laughed when they would tell me stories in Nepali that they knew I couldn’t understand.

Now that they have substantial contacts in Harmi, Michael and Lupe plan to visit again in a few months after the monsoon season to continue sharing Jesus in an area where we were the first foreigners as well as the first Christians to visit in decades. I hope the village’s fascination with Jesus will last ‘til then. God is in control.

Some highlights of our week with the “Village People” include…
1. Learning to dance the “P. Diddy”
2. Singing the 13 minute version of “Every Move I Make”
3. Riding a tractor through a river followed by 10 miles of unexpected trekking
4. Catching “june kitties” [fireflies]during lightening storms
5. Learning to become sisters…for REAL

Prayer Requests
-Pechandra, Dipak, Ramona Debi and all the other villagers curious about Jesus
-The lurking Hindu priest
-More English learning opportunities for the teachers and students
-Accessibility to Nepali Bibles
-Future Christian partnerships in Gorkha
-Ministry of Michael and Lupe to the Nepali people
-Individual & collective growth according to God’s will
-Sisterhood
-Health
-Safety

We’ll be spending the next few days relaxing in bungalows for our mid-trip retreat in Chitwan National Park. We get to sleep in, eat french fries and ride elephants! Hooray!

Talk to you in Varanasi!

P.S. We’re a lil’ behind on our story writing. Sorry! Expect loads in the next week or so. I have two acomin’!