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The Moment of "Oh No!"

3/25/2012

16 Comments

 
I'm so glad you are here! I hope during your visit you get a glimpse of God's heart for we become what we are gazing at. I want to be a blessing to you so I've made these Resources available to you and have the Missional blog tab for practical ideas of how to live on mission right where you are. 

Currently I am writing my way through Judges sharing glimpses of God's heart and character for a weekday devotional. To check out the entire series so far head on over the the Judges Devotional. And if you are a blogger, come on over on Friday's for a blog hop. 
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In 2000 I went on a 2 month long missionary training trip to Nepal. We shared the gospel with a guy named Ram(the Nepalese man in the left photo) and he wanted to take us to his village to tell his family (top picture) about Jesus. So Steve, Joel and I began the exciting and terrifying journey to his village. Our 24-hour journey started on a bus bursting with people, luggage and chickens. During the bus ride a strange Nepalese lady whom I didn’t know from Adam, apparently got tired and rested her head on my lap as if that were totally normal. We continued through the extremely windy mountain pass with a huge drop off on one side of the road, going what seemed to me 70 mph until we came to a halt for quite some time. Turns out the road had washed away and they had to rebuild it "really quick". We would then be the guinea pig bus to test the newly built road. We got off at the end of the road and our 22-mile uphill trek began. 

I thought I was somewhat in shape, ha! It was like walking up stairs wearing a backpack as big as me (It's much bigger in my memory than in this picture). I could only take a few steps without having to stop for a breath. Ram, have you noticed how big he is in comparison to me? I'm 5'4 people! Not exactly a giant but sure felt like one standing by him. Well he took my backpack from me seeing I was struggling so much. Our pace picked up and we came to a wooden bridge you would expect to see in an Indiana Jones movie, ricketedy, swinging and all. (But now that I see the size of my backpack in comparison to my memory, maybe the bridge wasn't so bad. But I remember as 150 feet in the air, with crocodiles at the bottom. ;) Well we crossed it and saw multiple men the size of Ram carrying couches and fridges on their backs. Couches! Plural! Two of the fit inside of each other. And a fridge! I was seriously in shock. I couldn't even carry my backpack and these guys, smaller than me I might remind you, were carrying heavy furniture up what had to be a 12,000 foot mountain! Need I say their muscles looked like they were going to bust out of their skin. Most of my time on the hike was spend in shock. 

At one point we talked about praying. Ram had no idea what prayer was, so we told him it was just talking to God. So he did.  He began to describe to God where we were, what we were doing, what the day was like and so on. Later I realized that Ram had no idea that God knew everything. What a huge understanding of God that I totally took for granted. But the truth is, many people in other countries have no understanding of God at all. And the more interesting thing is that though in the United States we are greatly blessed with a lot of knowledge of who God is, we can sometimes act just like Ram, thinking God knows nothing of our situation and is powerless to do anything about it.

We finally arrived and went straight to bed. When we woke up I looked around to see what I could do to help the ladies around the village. So what were the ladies doing? Shoveling manure into a basket, do able right. Except she was using her hands! How in the world could I do that? I just couldn't bring myself to join her. Later we got a tour of the village, super cute in a 12,000 foot side of the mountain with tons of terraced rice fields sort of way. On the tour, Joel commented on their goat. Their one and only goat. That night they slaughtered it for us. Talk about a moment you completely didn't expect but totally regret. They killed their goat to feed us. I felt awful! At the time Joel made the comment about the goat we had no idea they would do this. Then the moment came when we had to, out of respect and honor eat their goat with the skin still on. Gross! The taste of guilt.

I bet this is a bit what Samson felt. After the fact, realizing, "Oh! Oh no!"

"When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, "Come back once more; he has told me everything." So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. Having put him to sleep on her lap, she called a man to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him. Then she called, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you!" He awoke from his sleep and thought, "I'll go out as before and shake myself free." But he did not know that the LORD had left him. Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding in the prison. But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved." Judges 16:18-22

But even this instance wasn't outside of God's redemption. He truly is worthy of all our hope!
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#420 Memories of Nepal
#421 Anticipation of Austin getting home in 1 hour!
#422 Anticipation of hearing his stories of Cambodia and what God is doing there.
#423 What seems to be a break through for Asher. He stayed in control multiple times today!
#424 Asher writing the entire alphabet all by himself for the first time.

I'm linked up with the beautiful ladies at  A Holy Experience, The Beauty in His Grip, Nebraska Graceful, The Wellspring, The Better Mom, Homestead Revival, Pause on the Path, Create with Joy, Carissa Graham   
16 Comments
Name link
3/25/2012 11:19:12 pm

What an exciting adventure for the Lord! Goat..yummy! (lol) When we put ourselves out there for Him, He will do many wonders through us! What a blessing to serve Him!

Reply
Laura link
3/26/2012 07:10:37 am

When the people wernt looking I put my plateful of goat fat with skin on Joel's plate and said, "You got us into this, you have to eat mine." lol! Sure a sweet missionary thing to do huh.

But my life sure is an example of how God uses the weak and foolish of this world. ;)

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Beth link
3/26/2012 12:41:50 am

I know that going on a mission trip to a far away land like Nepal has to open your eyes to so many things that we accept as normal in the US. But truly, their sweet spirit is a result of all that they struggle against daily. I'm so glad you had that experience and could share not only Jesus' love with them, but how it impacted "you" with us, Laura!

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Laura link
3/26/2012 07:16:31 am

Thanks Beth. It was VERY eye-opening. I think the biggest thing was on dating and marriage. We went to this huge church (which also burst my bubble. I thought I was one of the only believers in the country) and during the announcements they said, "If you're approaching the age to get married come talk to the elders and we will match you." Literally! At church, they said this. God opened my eyes to the fact that how we do dating or courting or whatever here in the US is not in the Bible. Going to the world has a way of exposing things in our hearts that need to be exposed.

And I have had the same conversation with the Lord before about apologizing to my husband. ;)

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Kelly link
3/26/2012 02:14:23 am

lovely list- but lovelier still to meet a like-minded missional woman! greetings from Uganda!

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Laura link
3/26/2012 07:20:18 am

Yes! Kelly, thanks for stopping by. I love your blog and your pictures and of course your heart to serve, love and walk with the King! :)

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Nona link
3/26/2012 06:01:48 am

Amazing the journey the Lord took you on. I love how beautifully you described it all. Even the goat with hair dinner of guilt. I can imagine how that felt. All they had they shared with their honored guests.

Reply
Laura link
3/26/2012 07:32:56 am

Thank you Nona!
And what a beautiful attitude you have about your brother!

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Laura link
3/26/2012 06:33:44 am

Oh, Laura. Thank you so much for sharing this experience! I am so in awe of it all. Bless you for sharing Jesus this way.

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Laura link
3/26/2012 07:34:02 am

Thanks Laura. And thanks for hosting your link up. :)

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Brandee Shafer link
3/26/2012 09:52:55 am

I enjoyed visiting Nepal through your memories. Much moreso, I think, that I would've enjoyed visiting it in real life. (I can be a bit of a wimp.)

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Michelle Eichner link
3/26/2012 09:28:24 pm

I love your point about how we in the US know lots about God but act like Ram - that God's not there. What great insight! And what a good reminder for me as I go about my day today. Thanks for sharing.

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Denise link
3/26/2012 10:54:20 pm

Such an amazing journey.

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Sarah
3/28/2012 10:07:59 am

Memories of Nepal, you will cherish for always. For me, the memories of many nations I carry tucked in my heart down deep.

Splashing around in God's goodness today ... Had to stop by and wade in this glorious place. Hope you don't mind if I stay a bit and let joy soak deep down.

Splashin'
Sarah

http://justsarahdawn.blogspot.com/

Reply
Coach Outlet Online link
4/18/2012 12:16:17 pm

i trully enjoy most of your articles and your different point of view. Thanks.

Reply
ares lite link
10/6/2012 02:19:05 am

Hello

Reply



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  • Home
    • Ministry Resources for Women >
      • Beholding Him Freebie
    • Contributors
    • Statement of Faith
  • Blog
    • Ministry >
      • Evangelism {Win}
      • Discipleship {Build}
      • Living Missionally {Send}
    • God's Word >
      • Bible Study
      • Prayer
      • Devotionals
      • Bible Studies
      • Apologetics
    • Relationships >
      • Marriage
      • Singleness
      • Dating
      • Family
      • Friendship
    • World >
      • Social Justice Issues
      • Internet & Social Media
      • Politics
      • International
      • Science Revealing God
    • Life >
      • Image & Idenity
      • Health
      • Fashion
      • Food
      • Organization
  • Bible Study Resources
  • Prints
  • Stickers
  • Quiet Time Journals
  • Courses
    • Discover God's Calling
    • Women's Ministry Training Promo
    • How to Study the Bible
    • Women's Ministry Training Course
    • Growing in Your Faith Mini Course
  • Retreat
  • Video Bible Studies
    • Matthew
    • John
    • Galatians
    • Philippians
    • Know your Purpose
    • Creation Reveals
    • Ministry
    • Heart Growth
  • You Are Unshaken Book
    • Unshaken Groups
    • You Are Unshaken Launch Team
    • You Are Unshaken Paint Party
    • Unshaken Freebies
  • Shop