It’s always stunning how much historical events can shape a nation and how the cultural values that are either eliminated or brought forth in the wake of such events shape everything, down to the very situation that I find myself living in. The history of Nepal has defined the stories I haven’t even heard and was requested to not even ask.
Some results of a national past bearing the culture of war and dynastic power struggles has been a desire for the provocative and a lack of value given to young girls. Most girls are simply viewed as another man’s property to be claimed in future marriage; essentially, they are not considered part of the family. If women are merely a commodity to be traded in future marriages, why bother to make an investment in them as they grow up? Why strive to give them an education? Why care to build a relationship?
This is the kind of thinking that shapes an entire nation. The formerly trafficked women that now live at Asha Nepal have certainly felt the repercussions of that kind of thinking. Additionally, somewhere along the line, the kids here had a moment where their parents dipped out (which we witnessed for one girl this past week), while others went through the tragedy of losing a parent in the decade-long civil war only to end up orphaned and at risk for trafficking. As I write these things, I can’t help but think that these are the kinds of stories you only hear about, and yet here I am living in the middle of it. At Asha Nepal I eat with orphaned kids and chat and worship with women who were rescued from the brothels of Mumbai.
Asha Nepal has been through it but this place keeps pushing forward to change this kind of thinking and put and end to the pattern of trafficking. To get the word out, the glory of my service for the past 2 ½ weeks has been developing promotional designs and a video depicting life at Nepal and what God is doing here. Feel free to download the flyer and use the video to get the word out about Asha Nepal!
If you are interested in connecting with Asha Nepal to support the women through re-selling their products in the United States, send an email to maryafabor@gmail.com or visit www.ashanepal.org.
Nepal has shaped up to be a hit. It’s one of those places that I never really thought too much about besides that it would be Asian; it’s definitely the kind of awesome that I never saw coming. I’ve been having a great few weeks serving at Asha Nepal, loving and living with former sex-trafficking victims and children orphaned from the civil war (more on that later). In just few days we’ll be heading out to hike to villages in the Himalayas and Kathmandu Valley to share the Gospel. Needless to say, I am in obsessed with this place and loving what God given me here. With that being said, here’s a few reasons why I love Nepal:
1) Rooftops. Everyone in Nepal loves to hang-out on rooftops, which is perfect because that's totally somethng I can get behind. This means that I get to have amazing views of the Himalayas and the Kathmandu Valley as I eat meals, I can have “Zen” ab workouts and lunges overlooking the most stunning scenery, and I get to play guitar & worship Jesus and literally sing from the rooftops.
2) I’ve found Dr. Pepper, Nutella, and McVitties, as well as British deliciousness from my childhood.
3) The smell of curry is in the air everywhere you go. Mmm Mmm.
4) I prayed for a good book to read. I found Tim Keller’s Counterfeit Gods on the bookshelf at Asha Nepal. I prayed for sustainable internet. I have wi-fi at my residence for the first time on the Race. Bi-Winning: I win here, I win there.
5) I get to tutor precious Nepali children and help them with their homework. I’m kind of all about it.
6) This place is teeming with adventure. My most recent one involved exploring with Spencer, sneaking into a Hindu temple and finding a rooftop overlooking the Ganges River. In a few days I get to go trekking in order to share the Gospel. Sounds like a perfect ministry. Could anything be better?
7) I get to witness God at work for Asha Nepal: the director was able to meet and get the support of the President of Nepal (WHAT!?), the women and children are growing in trust of one another under honorable & genuine Christian leadership.
8) My daily life involves marinating in creative juices. Alongside Jack & Loren, some of my service for the month has involved creating a marketing strategy and promotional material to get the word out about Asha Nepal. Basically, I get to film, edit, and design all day in between hanging out with the kids & women.
9) Nepali Milk Tea EVERYDAY. Think like a chai latte, but better. Enough said.
This list is not conclusive.
Every new experience here gives me more & more love for this place and the genuine people that I’ve met here. I'm sure next weeks excursion will bring even more reasons to love Nepal!
When I signed up for this whole World Race thing, I pictured myself working day in and day out and doing all sorts of things in order to somehow earn a right in my own mind to tell people about Jesus. But the World Race is different than that, the entire experience is about more than “ministry” as we all know it. It’s about seeing what God has for people and the things he wants to teach all of us about Himself and about the Gospel. Lately, it’s been about finding the rhythm of work and rest.
Ironically, these days my best rest looks like movement. Basically, when I am moving, it seems like I connect with God the best. When I was in Moldova, I would go on long runs, over rolling hills on two-track dirt roads, running as far as the uneven ground below me would extend. Some people like long conversations over coffee, but I prefer long conversations with God over landscapes. In those moments I could feel my pulse beating in my ears; I was certain of my existence and aware of everything around me. I was overwhelmed with the sense that I was alive and that there is a God who created everything as far as I could see, and yet He is closer than my skin.
Likewise, when I flew into Kathmandu last Thursday, I couldn’t help but think of how anyone could possibly live here and not be compelled to worship something. How could they possibly live refusing the compulsion to rest in God's presence that a place like Nepal brings? I think that’s why religions like Hinduism and Buddhism thrive in this place; I totally can see how someone would be enamored by their surroundings and want to aspire to greater things and to meditate and be still because of what’s before their eyes. How could you not worship something? How could you not want to stop and rest?
And this makes me ask, how do each of us find rest? And really, what is rest?
The Pharisees had their answer all to this question screwed up. That’s why they got on Jesus’ case so much every time he showed his power on the Sabbath. They couldn’t handle a picture of what rest really looked like and that sometimes it looked like actions that were out of line with their theological system.
I pause by running.
I am still while exploring.
I am quieted in the fellowship of good conversation.
There is rest for each of us in what others may consider unlikely places.
Because in the end, rest is about His presence and sometimes it's found in the exact opposite place we would think to look.
Our Moldovan contact Andrei and his wife Larisa are awesome people. And by saying that I mean more than just that I think they are cool people that I enjoy hanging out with; they are passionate about loving people and about making the Gospel known in this community. They passionate about the freedom of Christ, a freedom that stands in contrast from Andrei’s own past of drug & alcohol addiction. Not to mention, it’s nearly every other day that Larisa tells me of another person whom she was able to “speak speak” with about Christ.
Many Moldovans seek to flee to Italy or Spain for better work or are desperate to move to the United States, but Andrei and Larisa are both faithfully answering their call to Ocnita. As a result of this trend, many parents essentially abandon their children, but Andrei and the members of his church are always looking for ways to make their love a reality to the kids left behind or the ones that live with alcoholic parents who live an absent existence.
One way we got to be a part of what Andrei & Larisa are passionate about is through helping Andrei at his rehabilitation center in the village of Naslavcea. This place houses those getting sober from drug & alcohol addiction and seeks to show real freedom in Christ. Andrei has amazing vision for growth for this place to extend its’ reach and impact in the region. We were able to sift sand the "pioneer way" in order to make concrete for a porch under construction andwe moved a ton of firewood that will help to heat the center this winter. Another way we got to help out was through tearing down a wall to make way for a driveway so people can have better access to the center. Basically, we got to spend an entire day destroying stuff, uprooting trees, shoveling away excess dirt, and heaving stones in order to make way for the rehab entrance. It was grand.
before & after of the wall we tore down for the driveway.
doing work.
After a long and fulfilling day of work at the rehab center, we walked down the road, built a fire and enjoyed sausages over the fire and placenta (pla-chen-ta), which is a delicious pastry type thing (not to be confused with the placenta you may know). After this took part in the Russian Bath.
Now, when I heard “Russian Bath” first come out of Andrei’s mouth, I immediately began to construct images similar to my ever so delightful Roman bath experience in Budapest, Hungary. I figured the Russian version couldn’t be that different, it had to, at least in some respect, resemble this:
But in reality it was this:
A Russian bath is essentially a Finnish style sauna (dry heat) followed by a sprint down into a freezing Moldovan creek. This cycle is to then be repeated for hours on end. It sounds painful and horrible, as it is the first few rounds, but then it becomes strangely addicting. The transition from the sauna, which stood at a stifling 70 - 100 °C (158 - 212 °F), to instantly losing all feeling in the icy river became less and less dramatic and more and more enjoyable. I felt fuly alive each time I laid myself flat in the creek, and as I screamed the whole time as I trample-stomped out of water with steam rolling of my skin.
It was invigorating. I could have done it all evening. Our day in Naslavcea and in month in Moldova was the perfect blend of both work and play, just as I like it.
As my time in Eastern Europe is coming to a close, I have decided to pen a few proverbs that have been birthed out of my existence in Romania & Moldova. The wisdom that I hope you find in these short passages has emerged from lessons from the locals and the brutal teachings of humorous experiences.
I hope these enrich & bless your devotional time today.
Whoever runs early in the morning,
baring ones ankles in the cold,
will be presumed by all as pregnant,
as one inflicted with kankles under the burden of a child.
The right playlist makes all things possible:
those who hear it will be able to bathe with freezing water,
heave stones from here to there, with strength to spare,
change bed sheets laden in the hairs of swarthy men,
and scrub away coagulated garlic milk from an untouched kitchen.
The power in a carefully aligned sequence of music remains unmatched.
The woman who sits on cold concrete inherits infertility:
the bitter chill, stealing the life of generations to come will be the shame of her youth.
in due time she will be scolded by a Russian babushka;
only mockery in the sight of all remains.
A test of a true friend:
when a suspicious man follows a friend to the bathroom,
the faithful friend will then follow the dubious man,
poised with pocket knife.
When unwillingly presented with a feast of sardines,
the wise will teach them to swim upsteam or downstream
to an open mouth, a willing stomach;
but as for the man who leads his sardines to the ocean floor,
may his shame shall cover him sevenfold.
Between two tongues there is great confusion,
but “moment!” spoken with a upright hand
transcends language barriers;
the wise will see and understand it.
A woman who harvests walnuts with a sickle alone will fill her pockets,
but with the friendship of tree-climbing children,
she can acquire an abundance,
more than a season’s labor.
A haughty conductor will do anything to make a dollar,
demanding your sleeper mattress be rolled away on the overnight train.
But do not succumb, resist with all diligence,
showing that you do not understand.
With this, the dollar shall remain yours,
as well as any restful sleep.
It's pretty rare that two different squads cross paths on the Race these days, but my squad (A-Squad) and U-Squad got to meet up this past weekend in Chisinau, Moldova to hang-out and worship together. It was a perfectly timed weekend off and perfectly timed weekend with another squad who has gone before us and nearly run the Race through.
They were stoked for us to go harder, to do greater things, and to stretch and expand the Kingdom farther than they ever did. It was said over and over again that our floor is their ceiling. Their humility in making that statement and wanting every bit of it to be true for us was the best representation of the attitude I think the Church is supposed to have. It was a picture of people passionate about the Kingdom, but more importantly, passionate about their King. Thanks U-Squad.
And this view changed everything; in seeing them, I walked free of the fear of change in myself. I walked free of the fear of being unrecognizable. I walked out wanting to be changed to be more like Christ, however ridiculous that ends up. Like one of my favorite Lecrae songs talks about, I was reminded of the joy in playing the background and in that perspective a lot was shaken off myself and my team.
So for this month, I get a second take at playing the background. By the nature of the pace of the World Race, you’re here then you’re there, without a moment or a chance to go back and do things differently. But I’ve gotten a second take at making the rest of the month different.
And although there is change, we will be finishing out our next two weeks of life living much like we have the first: living in Ocniţa with Andrei, a pastor and history teacher, and his wife Larissa. We share a cozy home and are blessed to say we have running water and occasionally a fire-run central heating system. Together with Beauty For Ashes, we will finish our after-school English program where we get to play outside and play sports, converse, and teach English using the Bible. For our last week here we will be helping Andrei with some evangelistic outreach and prayer for the community. I think also somewhere in there we will go to some Russian baths and may take a dip in the river bordering Ukraine. POLAR BEAR SWIM FOR THE WIN.
God is doing a lot here, in a country a lot of people probably couldn’t even pinpoint on a map, or let alone even knew existed. People are coming to Christ, those addicted to alcohol and drugs and those who thought they were content without Him. Conversations are happening daily where people are asking more questions and wanting to know more. And that’s how it rolls, we just play the background.
People always talk about “the bush of Africa”, but it would be a shame if the world kept on living without knowing that there is in fact a “bush of Romania” and that Sistarovat is it. Over the course of my time in that place, I have learned that capsuni is the word for strawberry and anana means pineapple. So… in summary, the larger extent of the Romanian vocabulary I learned this past month was mainly derived from grocery shopping as opposed to learning from actual human interaction with living, breathing Romanians.
Maybe that’s because I can count the number of Romanians I actually know on one hand.
In this, it’s hard to not be searching for some kind redemption of my experience in Romania, yet at the same time there is a tremendous amount of relief surrounding the fact that I am moving on to something new.
Much like that strain, my entire month has been characterized by tensions. Tensions of the already & not yet, of only seeing in part, and of beginning a process or starting a fight, but not yet seeing the resolution. I’ve felt the tension while spending time with teenagers at a local church… only to be pulled back to endless responsibilities around camp. It’s been the tension between rejoicing in the gift of 24 days of amazing community that have shaped Team Shemah into a family... while still struggling with the lack of connection to the local people. It's the tension of recognizing & pressing into what the Lord is teaching… and yet knowing some things are designed to be a process. It’s been a month of living on the cusp on the Kingdom and seeing it advance in a very obviously oppressed place… and then feeling the heavy spiritual tension of living in a place where the light & dark spark.
And now it's taken waking up in Budapest and nomming on Honeynut Cheerios with a blank stare to realize what it really is to be a missionary in Eastern Europe and to live in this tension. My teammates and I are taking much needed time off here in Hungary before reconviening with all of A-Squad to move on to Moldova. Here in Budapest, we are staying with my good friend, Kirsten, who works as a missionary by teaching English and building relationships with her students. In the past day we've played basketball with one of her students, gone to a local bar for "English Club" with students of Corvinus University, and she feeds us American food that she harvested last summer from the States. Basically, it goes without saying that everything about our time here so far as been glorious.
While exploring the city last night and relaxing beside the Chain Bridge over the Danube (with my view being the photo above), we all shared in the sobering realities of being missionaries in Eastern Europe. The atmosphere here is just flat out oppressive; it wears on you. And then on top of that, much of the work you do rarely shows itself as obviously making a difference. As we dined on legitimate Turkish gyros & baklava we found mutual encouragment in just knowing that someone else is right in that place too and that in itself can really become motivation to keep going hard. Ministry does not always play out the way we hope & plan in our minds and not every act of service ends in salvation of thousands. I mean, I know these things, and most people know these things, but every now and again it’s just sucks to live in the reality of feeling like you are doing everything but yet nothing at all.
So as we head into month 2 in Moldova and as Kirsten continues to be Christ to the students of Budapest, pray for us! Do not be fooled: we do not live in a magical missionary fairyland where we ride unicorns and sweep people up on rainbows right to the feet of Jesus. Pray for Team Shemah and for Kirsten as we carry the love of Jesus & the love that we have for each other to the people we’ve met here in Budapest and the people of Moldova!
So this one time I got a taste of Romanian health care when I needed a cast for my sprained ankle. The doctor told me it wasn't the same as American style cast and then sought to reassure me of it's quality with the statement:
"Ehhh, it's ancient method....but its good!"
Naturally, therein lies the source of inspiration for the following promotional presentation. All matters discussed are based on true life events & experiences... It's always an adventure. Enjoy!
Here's a look at what life in Romania has looked like for me in these last 3 weeks:
Up the stairs from our house to the main camp building.
A view from the upper level of the cabin balcony, looking down toward Sistarovat and the house we are staying in (with the red roof).
Our evenings have been filled with soccer & volleyball with our contact Michael & some local Romanians. The feilds are a little rough, or in better terms, there is a giant hole on the edge of the volleyball field which I fell into and severly spained my ankle. It was fun while it lasted.
We've been spending a lot of time in the sun lately, sanding the rust from railings around camp and repainting them. Days spent outdoors, sharing conversations with my teammates, and finding tranquility in painting have been some of my favorite parts of the last week.
One morning when I was immobile on crutches, I got to sit and spend time scraping paint from the doors in order to repaint them. It was satisfying in a way that only other people that enjoy a good scab pick or sunburn peel could truly appreciate or understand. To say the least, it was a fulfilling morning.
This is the cabin that our men have spent the better part of the month powersanding. We are getting closer and closer to completion, but it's been quite the dusty task. This week we are sealing it and it will be finished!
Prepping for the sealant by dusting off the cabin.
Through a volleyball game with a few local pastors who were at The Seventh Spring for a retreat, we got to meet Doru, a pastor of a Baptist church just outside Arad. He graciously invited us to his church to share testimonies, lead in a few songs of worship, and give testimonies. So, for the last two Sundays, we have been able to be a part of their church.
We should have known it was going to be a great place when they welcomed us with pastries and Fanta Exotic, which is most definitely a product America is missing out on. Each time we have been able to worship with them it's been super refreshing and brought us much needed rest and relief from the daily grind of labor around the camp. It's such a cool place with a welcoming spirit, a mandolin orchestra, and awesome youth we only wish we could have spent more time with.
We have a few more days here in Romania and then we are off to visit Budapest before heading over to Bucharest to reconviene with all of A-Squad. October is here, so Moldova is next!
Around camp, my teammates and I have enjoyed joking with one another by making humorous “ministry is _____” statements when our work seems ridiculous, obscure, or hard. Ministry here does not look like working at an orphanage, running a youth camp, or spending time with gypsies, like one might expect of a missionary in Romania. The reality is, in the last few days, my life at camp in Sistarovat has looked like a life of isolation, with long laborious days of cleaning everything in sight and few interactions with the people of the local community.
At least there is peanut butter and Happy Cows Milka chocolate here. Between those two things and long runs through the hills while listening to my playlist, aptly named, “Running With Jesus For Sanity”, I have somehow been able to find Him. And somehow I’ve been able to maintain sanity while doing ministry indoors, trading the fresh air & sunshine for scrubbing with powerful Hungarian chemicals that could probably kill your small child faster than you could call the Poison Control Center.
Ministry is…
acting like you are playing Need For Speed: Eastern Europe in order to get back as fast as you can to respond to your ministry contact’s requests.
Ministry is…
making sure you rinse a dish with both hands.
Ministry is…
sanding an entire log cabin with fine grit sandpaper.
Ministry is...
Playing soccer & volleyball as much as possible with the locals and shouting "OHPAH!" at every good thing, even though I'm 100% sure that's not a Romanian phrase at all. (But it just feels right!)
Ministry is…
cleaning a kitchen for a health inspection, with only water, not chemicals. Ministry is also being sure not to use chemicals because “I will smell them when you do.”
Honestly, I have struggled in this ministry, to find purpose and to feel like I am valued and needed here, but the other night tonight I decided that those things aren’t the point. The daily tasks are absolutely part of it, but I just don’t believe that it’s all about washing dishes for 8 hours a day. It can’t be, for any of us. If that’s all there is, then I’ll continue to live like I have for the past few days: wondering where I left my positive pants while thinking that I probably should find them soon because I need to be wearing them as soon as I get out of bed in the morning.
It could easily be a month of just feeling busy, but there’s more. There is more for us to walk into, to press into, to live up to, to respond to in light of who we are. Our ministry is to one another as well. Our ministry is to build one another up in Christ, to spur one another along, as the church was made to do. None of us can live well-occupied & missing the point. In every season there is something sacred and there is something sacred here about the position that we are in as a team to amp up for these next 10 months.
So, with that in mind, there is a lot that ministry is yet to be:
Ministry is yet to be…
what comes of our daily bible study through Ephesians with one of our Romania contacts, Michael, who lives next door.
Ministry is yet to be…
the conversations I plan to have with the two teenage girls I always see and say hello to on my evening runs.
Ministry is yet to be…
what comes from leading worship & sharing in local churches, like in the church of our friend Doru, who has welcomed us and already taught us a lot about the Church here in Arad.
Ministry is yet to be…
what comes from late night conversations, much like the ones I’ve had with Loren & Elizabeth while sitting on the bathroom floor.
Ministry is yet to be…
spending time playing with the two little boys and little girl that ran alongside with me and Elizabeth last night as we passed their playground.
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