HE provides ALL that we need!

 Psalm 37: 4

Delight yourself in the Lord and He WILL give you the desire of your heart.

Ah, I do not know how to fully express the truth of that Bible verse. Firstly, everyday He gives me pure joy as I am so privileged to embrace some of the most amazing children on the planet. I tickle them sometimes and so they will come close enough to me for a hug, smile, and then wait for me to tickle them. The photo above was after I waited a significant time before I started tickling her tummy. She bursted out into laughter, which in turn made me laugh hysterically with her.

A Secret Desire 

I have been here for almost 3 weeks now, and I find myself deeply desiring a friend. At first, I was almost ashamed to admit this deep desire to have a female bond with someone; however, the desire grew stronger when I had no one to talk with about my hard days, no one to laugh with about my silly moments, and no one to talk deeply about the weights that are on my heart. 

 I didn't care if I had just one friend, a friend is all I desired. 

I prayed and presented this request to God, then continued seeking Him and obeying Him in my life, waiting patiently for His provision. 

Saturday, I met a young lady around my age who is American, 3 years older than me and married to a Nepali guy (newly weds of just 3 months). After spending one evening with the couple, it was clear we were meant to be friends. 

Yesterday I met another friend while I was serving at the slums. She was my age, a  Nepali girl who has a testimony and an undeniable passion to serve the Lord. We made plans to attend a worship service on Saturday afternoon. We connected quickly, and it brought tears to my eyes at HIS perfect provision. I wondered sometimes if it was selfish to desire a friend, but I knew that the Lord gives us ALL we need and so I prayed for His will to be done. He could not have provided better women for my life. They are more than a blessing!

God provides everything! He is so amazing that I sit here in awe sometimes because HE treasures and loves His children so much. He treasures YOU and ME. At times, this is difficult to believe. But I know it is true. I know that He loves us. 

It astounds me how blessed I am to be here. I love this country so much. I know now, that God has a purpose for everyone and when you are working within that purpose there is something beautiful about everyday life. In the above photo, we were attempting to create a flower with our hands. I had rested my hand face up on my "Jholaa" (backpack) and quickly two sets of hands went around mine. One of my boys said, "Flower. Karina miss. We make flower." I said, "Ah, Raamro! (beautiful). Different sizes, different colors. All created by the perfect creator. I love being here so much!

It is funny how He will use us in ways that we do not expect Him to. A girl who was here as a short term missionary from another country was serving with me and will be leaving soon. Today, her and I began talking about God and His will for our lives. I didn't know what to say [I am really not that smart] so I just started telling her the awesome things God has done in my life and why I feel called to Nepal. After the conversation, with teary eyes, she stated that she really needed to hear that and was so blessed by the conversation. I knew it was God because I could feel His presence in the room. She then bought me some great books that she believes will help me on my journey. GOD PROVIDES!

Another great story of Gods provision is about finances. I was sitting with a friend one afternoon discussing the reality of my finances. I had felt led to go on a mission trip to far west Nepal (Humla). But my funds were not there. Everytime I attempted to put the need out there to my friends and family, it wouldnt work. It was so strange. So with no one even knowing that I am in the need of (at the time, I thought $2,000). I had no idea how I would be able to go on this trip that I deeply desired to go on. I finally prayed a prayer with few words, but deep convition. Desiring that His will be done more than anything. Moments later, I received an email that said the words that made me cry. A friend donated $1,610 to my account. A beautiful moment of Gods provision. A few days later I learned that because I am already in Kathmandu it will only cost me $1,500. God didnt want me to put the needs out because now I can boast about Him!! He is so wonderful and HE TRULY PROVIDES!!! 

Every Moment Counts

I am a slow learner. But I am slowly learning that every second and every moment counts. He has directed my steps and is continuing to show me the way. In the meantime, He has provided me with great friendships, amazing children that I am blessed to serve every morning, wonderful students who I am blessed to teach, an amazing Nepali tutor while I wait for admission for a Nepali class, an extraordinarily amazing family to live with, and a wonderful church that I am blessed to serve in the children's ministry. 

Please continue to pray for me as I continue to wait on the Lord, every second and every moment of every day. Please pray for the future ministry that the Lord has for me here in Nepal and for all the steps toward it to be illuminated at His timing and will. 

Please continue praying for my language development and patience with that. 

Please pray for my Auntie of my host family- she has had a terrible cough for a week or so now. 

Please pray for the creative side of my brain to stay turned on as I try to make learning fun for my students. [They are so awesome and patient with me!] 

One of my boys from the slums. He was so proud that he caught those frogs. "Karina-Miss! Must look!"

Thank you, and I pray for you all now as you journey through life. God knows where you are, I pray for peace comfort and discernment right now. 

We ALL need Him

Children are children. The testing of the limits, the need for attention, the silliness,  children. 

This is true for students all across the globe! Today in our church service the pastor was emphasizing that we all have the same color blood- and, of course our sins are washed away with the blood of the lamb. Her message was about not worrying about which tribe you come from- we are all believers. 

I thought hard about the message. I thought about my grade 7 students that I am teaching English to. One of them is a class clown. He is always making jokes and being silly. Everyday he looks at me when my class time is over and says, "Please stay." How can I leave?

Another one is very shy, it is clear she wants to speak out, but fear tends to get the best of her most of the time. Another one is like a teachers pet. She tries so hard to say everything perfect and always wants to say the right answer. 

Then of course, the one I cannot quite figure out. A mystery. Different students with the same need for Jesus, and the same color of blood. 

When I go to slums I see children who are, well, children. They are silly and funny and love attention. The thing that eats at me the most is something I noticed at the slums. The children will intentionally hit each other (HARD!) A boy will come to a small girl and back hand her as hard as he can and then walk away triumphantly when she cries. 

Seeing this made me so angry. I couldn't reprimand him with my limited amount of Nepali, so I called a friend of mine and asked him to ask him why he did that. The boy looked afraid. He didn't want to be hit for his actions. We were not going to harm him; however, the Lord gave me insight from this situation. This is all they know. How can I expect him to know any different if he is constantly seeing hitting or being hit at home. My heart immediately broke for the little boy. We sat there silently for a moment, the little girl had her face in my stomach while she wailed- my shirt getting wet with her tears. The boy stood a small distance away looking on at the scene. My eyes teared up. 

I hate injustice. I hate that kids have to go through things that no one should ever have to go through. I also hate that I am so limited with the amount of help I can offer. This morning I cried out to the Lord and He reminded me that I am, in fact very limited. But HE is UNLIMITED and His love is unfailing, unconditional, and perfect. I felt like that little girl wailing on my stomach from the slums as I felt God's perfect love wrap around me. I need Him. The children need Him. We ALL need Him. 

I have been in Nepal for slightly over one week now. My Nepali language development is growing, but growing slowly. I try to practice speaking it, but I fear my Texas roots are my enemy when it comes to pronouncing the Nepali words. :) I must say, in this past week I have learned more than I ever have in my entire life. I am seeing and living an entirely new way of life and it is beautiful. 

The world is big. Not everything is always "black and white./ right and wrong" There is "differences" and the culture here is perfectly different from my own. I love embracing it. I get laughed at sometimes. For example, when I am eating rice with my right hand (Nepali style), I have trouble taking big bites. We laugh together, and with some rice on my shirt, I try again. 

I am so grateful the Lord has given me this opportunity to be here. I pray that He will allow me to stay for as long as possible. I also pray that I do not waste His time here and the I stay sensitive to His spirit always. 

Please continue praying for me as I REALLY need to learn the Nepali language and I am working on visa situations now too.

Thank you, and I pray blessings to you all!

Thus, it begins!

I am here! I am in Nepal. Praise God He showed so much provision to me upon my journey here. Thank you so much for all your prayers. Beginning with my flights to arrival. Yes, I said flights because I had three different flights including a change in airlines. 

My first flight was a gift from God. I flew from Switzerland to Dubai and was blessed to have a seat next to me empty! I was so comfortable! The young man who sat two seats from me was also a blessing. He was flying to Thailand to meet his girlfriend. We became acquainted quickly, and he stayed with me during my layover in Dubai. This was very nice because I was a little afraid of falling asleep and missing my flight to New Dehli as it was scheduled to leave at 4:30am! 

The next flight I slept, ate, and then slept again. The man next to me on this flight was sweet, but he spoke hardly any english. Upon arrival to India, I had such a strange experience. A man who worked for Air India came to me and said, "Are you Karina Barger, flying to Kathmandu?" "Um. Yes." "Ok, you must come with me now then." 

My heart beat so fast I could barely breath. Was this it? Could I have gone through all this trouble just to be told I cant fly through India?

He took me and another young girl who was clearly a foreigner like me to a small desk with a woman behind it. I silently prayed, "Lord if it be Your will- please let there be no trouble." Over and over again I prayed this as they told the other girl she could not continue without a visa. 

I didnt have a visa. My silent prayers continued. As the man haggled with the other young lady the woman looked at me. "Passport and visa." I silently handed her my passport with no visa. 

She looked at my name and laughed. "Karina? Like Karina Kapoor?"

Kareena or Karina Kapoor is a very famous Indian actress. And her name just saved me from so much trouble. I giggled with the woman and told her I know her. She gave me my boarding pass and wished me a great time in Nepal. Phew! 

God is so good!  My last flight I sat next to an American young man who was also doing volunteer teaching in Nepal. He gave me some healthy pointers and his email and then I was in Kathmandu.

I rode to my new home on the back of a motor bike. Carrying one of my backpacks and laughing in my head. I love this place! 

My host family is clearly a gift from God. They have a love for Christ and are so sweet to me. I have my own room on the upstairs of the home where I overlook the mountains. 

I don't deserve any of this, yet He continues to bless me. 

Now it is time to begin a challenging season of teaching English to beautiful Nepali children. 

Right now I am diligently searching the internet and picking my own brain for ideas to create lesson plans. This is unbelievably exciting to me! I feel nervous. I also feel a bit in over-my-head. 

As, today I met my future students, got a glimpse of my school, and had a brief conversation with the principal. She speaks hardly any English at all, as well as my students. I can foresee some clear difficulties. 

However, Mark 10:27 says: Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."

It is impossible for me. But nothing is impossible for our wonderful creator. Please pray for me as I begin this journey on Wednesday. Tomorrow I will buy more culturally appropriate clothes to be ready! 

In closing, I will say how grateful I am for every ones prayers and for all the support I have so lovingly received. 

I kindly ask you to continue praying for me, if you can.

Some requests:

To teach these children with love and compassion/ remain dependent on His grace.

For a strong stomach/ no illnesses

To be able to learn Nepali!

Ephesians 6:10

Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

God is so good. Some days are harder than others but I know this is where I am suppose to be. The only thing there is to do is trust and be strong in the Lord. :)