OK, I don’t know if I can name all of our new experiences…
-We each at some point rode on the back of Pastor Bishwa’s motorcycle through the motocross that is the Nepali highway system.
-We stood before many of the countries’ Christian leaders and spoke to them on topics concerning how to live their lives according to Scripture.
-Of course there was the marathon of Airplanes and layovers.
-Began every one of our days between 2-3am due to the difference in time zones.
-I won’t even discuss the meals. Except to say that Bishwa’s wife made pretty good fried chicken and French fries the night we were guests in their home.
-We got to be a part of 21 baptisms near the border in the river. The water could not have been more cold, the river was running out of the mountains that we were in and it was a true testament to their faith and willingness to follow Christ to allow themselves to be fully submerged here. Seriously, it was so cold I need to come up with a new word for how cold it was, like… if there’s cold, and then really cold, and maybe simon birch cold, this is like 4 levels above that!
-Last night I slept in my pj pants, pants, shirt, sweater, and coat because the air so is damp here that my blanket, and pillow were wet and it was cold!
We’ve heard testimonies from some of the people here about what they’ve learned or how they’ve grown from the teaching so far and I’m excited about that, but probably more excited about what I’ve learned and how I’ve grown from this trip.
A new excitement has been lit in me for the ministry back at home. Here we’re learning the importance of training “soul winners” for Christ instead of just “reaching souls” for Christ. Not to downplay winning souls to Christ because that is what it is all about. The key is that here I know I can’t have the affect on the people that the believers can because they’re here for the long haul. What I can do is teach them to do the work more effectively and help give them the encouragement they need to continue on.
That excites me about what we’re doing back at home. I sometimes get upset over how many actual students that I may or may not be impacting due to numbers and such, but God is doing great things in our church and community. We do have students that are passionate about God and share Him with their friends. We have students that are passionate about God and share Him with strangers regardless of the beer bottle in their hand. That’s understanding the sinner! Not judging and condemning but loving and caring. I see our students being the current and future generation of Soul Winners and that excites me. I can reach only those that God puts in my way, but our students can reach those that God puts in their way, and I know they will!
