loving for Jesus: Blog 8 -- Worship in Pokhara

As I sit here sipping a hot cup of Masala tea, I am eager to tell you about our second day in Pokhara. I have been so busy writing blogs for our read through the Bible in a year that I haven't had time to tell more about our Nepal trip. Saturday, November 20, 2010, was quite a day for all of us and especially for me.

In Nepal, Saturday is their only day off from work. So Saturday is their day to worship God and hold church services. Of course, only 4% of the people in Nepal are Christian, so many others spend their Saturday working in their garden, gathering with family, or visiting the temples to worship the Hindu gods.
For us, the day began early as we awoke to get ready for church. As I told you in my last blog, I woke around 2 am and prepared the Bible study I would share with the women after church. Then I went back to sleep for a couple of hours before rising to get ready for the day. We hadn't been up for long when we received word that Sasha was very sick. She had been up all night vomiting and feeling miserable, so we weren't expecting her to make it to church that morning--which would have been so sad after all of her excitement to teach Sunday school and hand out the t-shirts she and Om Maya bought for the kids. This would be our only church service while in Nepal, and we hated for her to miss it.

But God is good! Sasha managed to get herself ready and make it for church that morning. She was still feeling rather gimpy, but when you've flown half-way around the world you just don't give in too easily...especially when you're Sasha and there's children to dote all over. :)

Michael and I went into town that morning with Rabin to a place where we could call our kids back home. The two of us squeezed into a tiny phone booth and enjoyed catching up with our precious kiddos. Then we headed back to get ready for church.

Sasha and Gil came over, and we all walked a short distance down the road and around the corner to the church that Abraham and Om Maya planted 10 years ago. We were so excited to finally be there! We met the people and settled onto the floor for worship. Then Om Maya's brother Arjun got up front with his guitar, and he and some others led the worship. It was beautiful! They were singing their hearts out, praising the Lord, clapping and raising their voices to God. We loved it!

An elder of the church who does most of the preaching and leading of the flock now that Abraham is gone got up and spoke (in Nepali, so I have no idea what he was saying) and led us in prayer. They prayed just like the church-planters--all at once. Such a powerful way to pray. Then we had more singing as a young girl went around with the offering basket.

Finally it was time for Michael to preach and Sasha to go lead the children in Sunday school.

Gil actually started us off by bringing greetings from LifeBridge Church back in America and sharing a little about our church. There were actually a few English-speaking folks there--some missionaries we had met at YWAM the previous night, some family visiting them, and some others that were visiting in Pokhara and had heard an American would be preaching that morning. But for the sake of most of the group, Rabin translated for Gil and Michael.

Then Michael gave the message. I don't know how he did it, after all the speaking he had done with the church-planters the last few days. At least he had a day to rest in-between. God definitely took over and used Michael to reach those people on the other side of the world with His message of love for them.

I didn't hear too much of the message because I spent most of my time over with the children, which was in another building. It was true entertainment to watch Sasha in action with those children! Ranjana (Rabin's sister) translated for us, and we enjoyed hearing them sing songs of praise to Jesus.

Then we had fun teaching them "Jesus Loves Me" in English. So precious!

Sasha read them a children's picture book about the birth of Jesus, which most of them had never heard before. You see, most of these children have come to the church because of a phenomenal after-school program that Arjun and Pratisia (Om Maya's brother and sister) run at the church. These children are poor, and many do not have basic school supplies. So the church helps them in various ways. This program was actually begun by Abraham and Om Maya while they were on staff at YWAM Pokhara, and you can read about the outstanding work of this after-school program at the link to their website from those days: Abraham and Om Maya

For some of these children, this would be their first Christmas to celebrate as followers of Jesus. Some of them were still seeking, not sure yet what they believe. Needless to say, because of the after-school program and VBS programs done by this little church, children are coming to faith and then bringing their Hindu parents to church...and eventually some to faith in Jesus Christ. Glory to God! "And a little child shall lead them." (Isaiah 11:6b) I love the way God works.

Of course, Sasha couldn't be around all those children for too long without handing out Pixie Stix (she could keep that company in business if she goes on too many more mission trips). Then we handed out all the coloring books and crayons we brought--a total thrill for these kids. Finally, Om Maya and Sasha handed out the shirts they bought for the kids. Pretty soon there were kids running around with "Houston, TX" and "Jesus Loves Me" on their" shirts. What a sight! We definitely left our mark on that community.

After church and Sunday school ended, some ladies handed out Samosas (yea!) and this incredibly sweet and gooey treat made from honey. It's like a funnel cake made from mostly honey, if you can imagine that. Very sweet and very gooey. Too much so for my liking, but the children devoured it. I totally enjoyed the Samosas, however, which are one of my favorites.

Michael, Rabin, Gil, Arjun

Then it was time for the women's fellowship. The men and children hung around and visited with Michael and Gil while we were with the ladies, and Arjun gave his testimony for the guys. But this was our time with the women, and since my passion is for sharing the Word of God with women, I had been eagerly looking forward to this.

What God had strongly put on my heart to share with these women he created and loves was this: The Story of the Bent-Over Woman, from Luke 13:10-17. I have to give Jackie Oesch, founder of the PLI Partner Program, credit for this, because she taught it to us on our first pastors' wives' retreat with PLI in 2006. I have since had the joy of sharing this beautiful message for women at women's retreats and in Bible studies several times. But this was my first time to share it overseas with women from a non-Christian background.

I'll share a re-cap of what I did with them so that what I share later will make sense. God did something that overwhelmed me that day. I still get choked up thinking about it.

I began with Psalm 42:11 (because Om Maya had shared with me the difficult lives of the women in Nepal)

Why are you downcast, O my soul?
   Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
   for I will yet praise him,
   my Savior and my God.

We talked about the things that can have us downcast in our soul, and how those things can cause us to become "bent-over." The weight of our burdens, our sins, our damaged relationships, others' expectations of us, our inadequacies, oppression of the Enemy...many things can cause us to become "bent-over" in our soul.

Then we read the story of the "Bent-over Woman"

A Crippled Woman Healed on the Sabbath (Luke 13:10-17)

¹⁰ On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, ¹¹ and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. ¹² When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” ¹³ Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

¹⁴ Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

¹⁵ The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? ¹⁶ Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

¹⁷ When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

Jesus saw her. He called her forward. He placed his hands on her and set her free. What a Savior!

We also read Isaiah 61:1-3 and Luke 4:16-21--Jesus' job description in coming to earth. He came to set the captives free. That's exactly what He did for the crippled woman in Luke 13. That's exactly what He does for you and me. Removing our burdens and carrying them for us, washing away our sin and giving us His righteousness instead, Jesus sets us free. We can now "straighten up and praise God."

Jesus didn't just heal her physical infirmity. He healed her spiritual condition as well, setting her free from demon possession. This is a common occurance in countries like Nepal. We met many people who had been healed of demon possession or came to faith because of a family member or friend who had, so this story makes perfect sense to these ladies.

I then had us read through Psalm 40 in which David writes about God setting him free from the weight of his struggles, pulling him out of the pit and setting his feet on firm ground.

Then I had Om Maya ask them (she was translating for me this whole time), to share what has them bent-over. I loved interacting with them in this way! It was so amazing to hear women on the other side of the world in a completely different culture share their struggles. We are all in this together, dear ones, no matter where we are or how we look.

We looked again at Isaiah 61:3 to see what our loving, redeeming God does for us. Then we turned to Ephesians 1 to read Paul's description of our value to God. In case you don't know, here is how you are described:

v. 3 - blessed

v. 4 - chosen, holy, blameless

v. 5 - predestined

v. 6 - adopted, recipient of God's grace

v. 7 - redeemed, forgiven

v. 9 - enlightened

v. 11 - chosen, predestined

v. 13 - marked (with the Holy Spirit)

v. 14 - God's inheritance

vv. 6, 12, 14 -- for the praise of His glory!

That's some pretty amazing stuff God says about you, don't you think?

When we talked about the description in v. 13, "marked" (which in some translations is "sealed"), I had them turn to Revelation 22:4. This one about took my breath away when God allowed me to "get this" during my early morning preparation for this study. Remember, nearly all of these women were former Hindus. Some were very recent converts. For all I know, some of them may have not yet converted. They may have been there out of curiosity. They may not have yet been marked by the waters of baptism, not ready to take that huge step of publicly renouncing the gods of their ancestors, dying to their old selves and becoming yoked with the one true God instead.

How do you know a Hindu when you see one? Right--the red dot on their forehead; and if you have recently been to a temple to worship, the Hindu priest has marked you with a thick substance that looks like a red wax seal (that, of course, you had to pay him to do...and it gradually falls off). They are "marked" by their religion so there is no doubt to what belief-system they belong.

Now read what God says about those who belong to Him through the blood of Jesus Christ:

"They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads." (Rev. 22:4; emphasis mine)

When this hit me, I was overwhelmed with the goodness and grace of God. These former Hindus, who had been marked all their lives on their foreheads because of idol worship, will one day have Jesus' new name on their foreheads forever! They will not have to pay a dime for it, and it won't ever fall off or fade away! HE HAS SET THEM FREE!!!

Only after our visit to the temple later that day and especially the next week in Kathmandu would I fully understand the depravity of idol worship and the extent of evil from which they had been rescued and set free. Actually, I'm sure I don't fully understand it yet, and I don't think I want to. What I saw was more than enough for me. (You can read my blog on Dec. 6, 2010, "Blog 2 -- Hinduism and our Trip to the Temple" for more on that. Just look at the archives on the left and click on "2010.")

So God had led me to close this whole time of women's fellowship with Revelation 7:9-17, which many of you know is the verse that has been part of my email signature for a few years. This verse is so important to me, because I know Jesus won't return until all peoples have heard the Gospel, and that we will surround the throne with believers from every nation.

What was I thinking?! I could hardly get the words out, I got so choked up! Here I was, reading about being around the throne with people from other tongues, tribes and nations, and I was actually sitting and doing what I love most--sharing God's Word with women--from another tribe, tongue and nation! I LOST IT!

The Great Multitude in White Robes (Rev. 7:9-10, 16-17)

⁹ After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they cried out in a loud voice:

   “Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”
¹⁶ Never again will they hunger;
   never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat upon them,
   nor any scorching heat. ¹⁷ For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
   he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Whew! Somehow I managed to pull myself together after the first few verses and keep my composure through the rest of it. But I will never read those verses the same again. That's for sure. I actually had them read some of it with me. Wow. I love God.

Then I spoke Jude 24-25 over them as a benediction, and we were done.

That was the most incredible thing I have ever done in my life. I don't mean that what I said or did was incredible, but rather the experience of what God allowed me to be part of that day was incredible. I hope to get to do it again some day.

We found Michael and Gil, visited briefly with some folks, and then headed back to the Lama's home. Michael and Gil were ahead of us a little, because Sasha and I were giving some last "high five's" and hugs to the children. Then I headed down the road, and finally Sasha followed behind me.

I turned the corner onto the main dirt road, and...

I was frozen. Shocked. On the verge of tears.

I turned to Sasha and called her name. She asked me what was wrong (she later told me my face looked like a ghost).

Walking down the road toward me, hobbling on a cane, was a BENT-OVER WOMAN. I don't mean a woman with a hump in her back like older ladies I've known and loved. I mean bent over at a 90 degree angle. Now what are the chances of that happening right after I finished teaching on the Bent-over Woman to a group of former Hindu women on the other side of the world?

HALLELUJAH and GLORY TO GOD! He got my attention that day. It was as if He was saying to me, "Well done, daughter. You did what I asked you to do. I love you."

When Sasha turned the corner and saw her, she started to cry. We both could hardly talk. I went over to this elderly woman and said, "Namastay," to her. She looked up as best she could and smiled warmly at us. She was obviously so pleased to have someone speaking to her. I placed my hand on her back and tried to speak kindly to her, which I knew she didn't understand a word. Then Sasha got her permission to take her picture.

We walked away in total shock. What just happened?

I have that photo on the end table next to the chair where I sit to have my time with the Lord each morning. Most people probably think it's a strange photo to have in our living room. I think her photo is the most beautiful one I have.