The trip to Kathmandu was uneventful. We visited two more churches on the way. And arriving in Kathmandu around 6pm which I presume is some sort of rush hour, it took us another hour to crawl across town through traffic to our hotel.
Then yesterday we clambered back in the 4×4 for a 6.5 hour drive south to the area of Sarlahi. This is in southern Nepal just 30 minutes to the border with India. It’s flat-land instead of the hills we were in earlier this week. There are only three of us on this trip.
Passing through Kathmandu to the south and east we head into more hills. Kathmandu sits in a valley amidst a range of hills. My flight in last week passed over these hills we’re driving through now. Hinduism is the major religion here – with something above 80% of the population describign themselves as Hindu. Hence things like this major sculpture of a Hindu god on a hilltop facing Kathmandu.
A short time later, we summit one of the hills and are pleasantly startled – in the distance we can make out the peaks of some of the Himalayas. Mt. Everest isn’t among these – it’s apparently a fair ways out of the picture to the right. We never did see it. And this is a terrible picture of the Himalayas but it’s one *I* took. Which is kind of cool.
The mountain passes are beautiful but the road is narrow. I’m told it was built by the Japanese at great expense and I hope that means it’s safe! I’ve done a fair share of driving mountain roads over the years and most of the safety rules I learned are not fully followed here. Or known. There are multiple close calls with the multi-colored buses that take people between towns. But I’m assured they make the drive so often they know how to be safe. I have to trust that’s true.
Much of this trip (and my work in general) is about trust. Faith. That I am not ultimately in control of my life – or death – and that my Lord numbers each of my days. I’m ok with that. I have to be.
We reach Lalbandi in the evening. The hotel is nice. Everyone here is nice. The air is thick with smoke and dust but I’ve gotten used to that. Tomorrow is Saturday and in Nepal that’s the day of worship because it’s the only day off they get each week. We’ll be gathered together in this beautiful country that’s so new for me. We’ll be gathered despite different languages. Despite musical differences and life differences. Gathered together by the One God who holds all of our days and lives in his hands. To remind each other that this isn’t just OK.
It’s best.
Thank you Lord for safe travels. For this day and all the days behind and all the days ahead into eternity. I pray I am given the words to share some of this with the people tomorrow. Somehow I know as they sing and I listen, they’ll be sharing it with me as well.
The Nelson Family Indonesia 