Nepal 2012 Video

Home from Nepal

Hey, all! Well, it's Good Friday...

Home.

I got home Monday afternoon after 23 hours in flight + layovers.

I can't believe it's been 4 days since I got home, I've been battling jet-lag... It feels like I've been in bed with the flu for a few days. I finally fell asleep and woke up at a decent time last night!

Praise God for His faithfulness.

Good Friday.

It seems I can't write today without acknowledging what we remember on every Good Friday.

Without this day, our entire belief system would be debunked. The power of the gospel lies in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ...

So, allow me to take a moment to dwell on this day... this moment in human history.

1. I often think of what Louie Giglio says about the cross - how can we call today "Good" Friday?

Something so horrific, so terrible, how can we call crucifixion good, let alone, killing an innocent man "good"? But, somehow "God is ALWAYS working for His glory and our good."

The cross is the most beautiful display of God's love, goodness and mercy. Even tho, on that day so long ago, it looked like God had abandoned the scene. It looked like the Jews hope of salvation was crushed. Yet,

"Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,

and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.

After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,

and made intercession for the transgressors." Isaiah 53:10-12

The word "intercession" here means:

"to encounter, meet, reach, entreat."

Because of the Cross, GOD, JESUS "encounters, meets, reaches and entreats the transgressors!"

Ah, I hope that we let this reality sink in, that we first, realize it for ourselves and then in turn believe that those around the world realize and grasp this truth. We all are transgressors (those who have violated the laws and commands of God), but He is rich in mercy, and desires that no one should perish, but everyone would come to Him. (2 Peter 3:9).

2. Today, I also think of the book I recently read called "In the Footsteps of Jesus" by Bruce Marchiano, I won't go into detail, but if you read this book, I am willing to bet it will change your life -because it will open your eyes to who Jesus Christ really was as 100% man and 100% God.

The one thing from this book that I think of today, is that

"Jesus wasn't dragged to the cross, He was crawling to the cross."

He wasn't forced to die at the hands of angry men, He choose to die. He could have gotten out of it at any moment, but He not only went willingly, He was purposeful and determined in choosing the cross. He was determined to get to the cross for us! The cross was not going to be His ultimate defeat, but His ultimate triumph. He pushed past the pain for the glory set before Him.

Thank you, Jesus.

Back to Nepal.

You see, this all ties together...

After this trip to Nepal, there was so much to see, feel and experience with the 5 senses.

There is much to process.

There is also so much to see and feel spiritually.

There is much to process.

I think of the hope the Nations put in their idols...

On the last day in Nepal, I was sitting in the lobby of our hotel, when I fully realized the idol worship, the religiousness that was literally all around the room - all around the city!

For example, here in North America, Buddha is just a decor fashion statement, we are almost numb to it. But there, I was surrounded by incense, wall-hangings, flowers, sacrifices, statues, idols... all for the gods. There was so much of it constantly, I almost failed to recognize what it was.

"The idols of the nations are but silver and gold,
The work of man’s hands.
They have mouths, but they do not speak;
They have eyes, but they do not see;
They have ears, but they do not hear,
Nor is there any breath at all in their mouths.
Those who make them will be like them,
Yes, everyone who trusts in them." Psalm 135:15-18

One Answer.

Over all there is to be said, learned, or figured out, the overarching truth is that Jesus is the answer. I know I said this already while in Nepal. It seems so simple, yet it cannot be overlooked.

We can house people, we can rehabilitate them, we can curve their behavior, we can lock them up, we can give them love or justice or truth. But, without Jesus actually changing their heart there is no sustainable victory.

In one of my previous posts I talked about how the gospel transcends all cultures.

Jesus knows how to reach each person. He uses words, dreams, supernatural occurrences and He uses you and me.

These people of Nepal, and every human being needs Jesus. They need a personal revelation. No one can change their very heart on their own. Only Jesus.

The answer for the traffickers is Jesus.

The answer for the victims is Jesus.

The answer for the street boys is Jesus.

The answer for every madam who owns a brothel is Jesus.

The answer for every man here and abroad who is funding the sex industry is JESUS.

The answer to HOW do we make a difference is Jesus.

Everyone of these people need a change of heart... Jesus.

I would ask you to ask the Lord what is your part in fighting for justice for the oppressed. Before leaving Nepal, we spoke with the president of this special organization focused on helping at-risk women and children, about how to get people concerned enough so that they cannot turn a blind eye to trafficking anymore.

We asked him how to get men involved in the fight... he turned to me and asked, well, what do you think?

I said just what I just told you, "it requires a change of Heart".

I know beyond a doubt that Jesus is the answer.

Justice.

As far as it goes with us physically doing something. The need is so vast and great and the opportunity to make a change is available...

John puts it this way - "Imagine there is a button. Every time you hit it, you save a life. Every time you hit it $100 is also deducted from your bank account. That button has been created. How many times would you really be justified for not having hit that button?"

THANK YOU.

Thank you to everyone who read these posts, who gave to make this possible, who prayed to make this possible. I was and am still being so blessed hearing your kind words and the stories of how you were praying at just the right time.

God allowed me to be joyful through this trip. And allowed me to be there to care for other people. I genuinely cared about how other people were feeling, so much so, that I think some people don't know how to handle it!

I took whatever came at me head on. I often felt like Nike, "Just do it!", I mean why not? :) What an awesome experience.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, and EVERYONE who sent me emails, comments, texts, prayers, scriptures, thank you for standing behind and with me. There are many of you to name and I don't want to miss anyone, so just THANK YOU, you know who you are!

It is so amazing to know that you were in this with me.

I am working on a slideshow/video so that you can see my images and videos from the trip! I will let you know when I have it ready!

Thanks for your prayers as I reacclimate.

There is still so much more that I could say, but I think this is all I can say for now. Have a fantastic Easter weekend. Thank you again for sharing this with me! I am BEYOND grateful.

I look forward to seeing what God will do with me, with Tiny Hands, with Nepal, with you, with us, here and everywhere! I know there is so much more than we can see.

So, it's not the end, just like the cross was not the end - only the beginning! - MUCH LOVE, Anna