While the past few weeks have presented many challenges, the last couple of days of every Mission Helper Trip come with their own unique set of challenges. Emotionally we try and balance our love for Nepali brothers and sisters in Christ along with all the people of Nepal with our love for friends and family back home and our longing to be with them. We are physically exhausted, sore, and blistered and we are so ready to be back to the cushy comforts of home and yet we know that our own "sacrifices" are nothing in comparison to the ultimate sacrifice our Savior made for us and even the sacrifices our fellow Christians here in Nepal make everyday for the sake of the Gospel. We are troubled and our hearts ache with compassion because of the great needs we have witnessed the past few weeks and yet we are confident in our heavenly Father's good and gracious plans! We are full of joy for the privilege and opportunity to have proclaimed the Gospel to so many and yet overwhelmed by the great need and the work we have left undone. We are hopeful as we consider the potential for a great harvest and yet struck with the saddness of witnessing firsthand the darkness of the idol worship that dominates every aspect of the lives and culture of the beautiful people that dwell in this incredible land.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 4:20-21
Thank You Lord for faithfulness to Your promises and blessings too abundant to list. Thank you to everyone for following along with this blog, for your support of this effort, and for your love and concern that led to your many prayers on our behalf. Thank you to wives and families and friends who encouraged, supported, and sacrificed in the absence of their loved ones so this Kingdom work could happen. Thank you to Raju, Rajan, Suraj, and Julia for your patience and loving care in making all the preparations for this trip and for using your amazing translating abilities and other God-given gifts to help us proclaim the Gospel. Thank you to this year's sixteen Mission Helpers who meshed so well together to wllingly give of themselves in so many ways to carry out this glorious work of proclaiming the Good News of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life by Grace through Faith in our Savior Jesus!
"I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you..." Philemon 4-7
