Nepal 2019
Day 0_Monday

Lily Mak

Refreshing Start To A Grueling End

We’ve arrived at Kathmandu airport! Sylvia (who was my travel buddy) and I thanked God for our safe journey after a long grueling 20 hours from London Heathrow. We were glad to meet Joo Hee and David at the visa application area, it was our first time meeting them face to face. We then proceeded to get our 15-day visa; despite having the exact amount to pay in US dollars, we were told to pay in Singapore dollars and Sterling pounds, as per our passports. Once paid, we got through customs without any questions and happily went on to collect our baggage, which thankfully arrived safely. Praise the Lord!

Once we got out, we went straight to get a sim card and money changed while waiting for Joe (another team member) to arrive. Shortly after, Yang, Van, Hui Hui and Brenda met us at the airport. We then left for some food near the airport, as we had to wait for Henna who was to arrive in a few hours time. A few hours later, all of us were united. It was so good to meet the entire team, and that was how we began our “mission” adventure together.

Vania Tan

A Different Perspective

It was the first morning in Nepal, together with Hui Hui and Yang, who all arrived the night before. Together, we enjoyed a rooftop buffet breakfast. The morning air was cool and crisp, a refreshing break from the hot humid air of Singapore. I remember sitting there soaking in the surroundings in an attempt to adjust and familiarise myself with it. I was feeling thankful to have arrived safely and was in great anticipation yet apprehensive of what was to come for the rest of the trip.

Meanwhile, I saw a lady taking photos of the street view. I decided to do the same and started a conversation with her. She was a British lady who travelled alone, for the past three weeks, trekked and joined a Buddhist retreat.

That conversation left me thinking, how many have come to experience the beauty of Nepal and what it had to offer, but I was there, expecting a very different perspective of Nepal—to see how God is moving in this land.

We had a couple of hours to kill and so we decided to visit a missionary’s cafe owned by Yang’s friend, Matt. The cafe was a distance away, so we had to grab a taxi. Travelling through the city of Kathmandu in a taxi was a sure and quick way to get a good feel of what this city was like in its busiest and bustling hours. The side roads were narrow, jammed with traffic, and tourists lining the side streets. Every street and corner was bursting with vibrant colours, it was picturesque to me.

We finally reached our destination. It took longer than expected and breathed in more dust than we wanted. I was excited to hear from Matt why he decided to open this cafe. It didn’t take long for us to ease into conversation. He shared with us his journey of starting the cafe, the purpose behind it, and the challenges he faced along the way. I could tell he was a man of faith. In everything he does, he approaches the Lord humbly and depends on the Lord’s and the Holy Spirit’s guidance. The meet-up was a boost of encouragement for me, as I opened my heart more to what God will teach me and have me do during this trip.

A couple of hours later, we went to the airport to receive the rest of the team before we headed off to Ropheka Church (about an hour away), where we would be staying at. Along the way, what I saw brought to light just what a religious climate we were in. It was then that I remembered Ephesians 6:12 that our struggles are not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, and against the power and spiritual forces of this world. I was grateful I worship a creator God that came down from heaven and ripped himself of riches, became poor for our sake, so that we might be rich in grace, hope, love and peace. As it says in 2 Corinthians 8:9: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”

The team got along well with each other really quickly and that was such a blessing to see and be part of. I thanked the Lord for He was already uniting us.