In October of this year, Navigate adventure went on an extreme trek to Nepal. Our group of thirteen experienced everything from moving personal testimonies and breathtaking views of God’s creation to the physical challenge of hiking up mountains. One of the most prominent experiences was our visit to Green Pastures Hospital, run by International Nepal Fellowship. There we met with doctors and nurses to hear about the incredible work they are doing. The hospital also has a leprosy ward where we were given the honour of visiting some of the patients.
As we walked in, we were greeted by five smiling women, of whom three were Christian. We sat next to their beds and heard the Christian women’s testimonies. Each testimony contained persecution, from being kicked out of their family to not receiving help because of their condition. As someone who lives in a country with religious freedom and easy access to medical services, it was gut-wrenching to hear.
I sat next to a lady who had no feet and, through my tears, I heard of her incredible strength as she crawled and limped for eighteen days to get to the hospital. I was in awe of her faith in God. Sadly, leprosy still has a stigma in Nepal as being contagious by touch. The simple act of reaching out and holding their hands had a profound effect on each woman.
By the end of our time there, we had an overwhelming sense that we were in the presence of royalty. They were daughters of the King. They are our family. We could not speak their language, but we could see their hearts, and how dearly loved they are by their Heavenly Father.
Each member of Navigate Adventure has walked away from Nepal with a new experience of God and His incredible love. Our hearts and minds have been opened to the suffering of our family members from all over the world. Our family is suffering, but they are also thriving in their faith in God. We, as brothers and sisters, need to be willing to open our eyes and ears.
If you would like to support Green Pastures Hospital or find out more, please go to www.inf.org.
Jessica Norman
Navigate Adventure Student 2019