It is Week 1 of Month 2 in Kathmandu, Nepal. This week is debrief, which looks a lot like sitting around the table sipping on some chai and processing my time in India.
The Lord has taught me so much throughout this journey, one being that there isn’t set times or days for ministry but that ministry is a lifestyle in every action we take and every conversation we are a part of. My life is my ministry, and there are no off days from that. The way I chose to live my life is the way I minister to those around me.
Debrief was one of my favorite times yet simply because I decided to be fully intentional in every shop owner I met, every local I encountered, every waiter, every person that I came across in the city and in our hostel. It was truly amazing how different my days became when I decided to pour into every person I encountered.
Our time at debrief has been so incredible and such a blessing to me. The hostel we are staying at is full of younger-aged backpackers. It has been such a testimony of God’s presence and grace hearing their stories, learning about them and their journeys and just enjoying their presence.
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These people are people who are after the same things that we are in a sense. I have made relationships with people from Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and even the United States.
One of my favorite days was one where I set out with three other people to enjoy the city of Kathmandu. Along our journey, one of them wanted to get their hair cut. We walked and walked, turned down many random streets, until we found a hair salon.
While they were getting their hair cut, a little girl approached me. After giving her some Nepali pastries, we sat down and chatted about life.
She told me about her family, and then invited me into her parents’ store that was no bigger than a closet. She took us down the road, where we met her 18-year-old sister, who was working at the store. She invited us in, fed us until we were full of Nepali food, laughed until we cried and made us as Christians feel more than welcome in their Muslim community.
God taught me one thing that day. The unexpected turns, twists and roads that he takes us on is all a part of his plan. Looking back, I have absolutely no idea how we ended up in the place that we did. It was the curiosity of my team being led completely and fully by the Spirit.
I don’t think there would be any other day that we would walk aimlessly searching for a sketchy hair salon without any worries or concerns, but that day, it felt right. But God had a plan that day, a plan for us to wander into a very Muslim community and a plan for Christians to intercede on this Muslim community.
Today, I am thankful for the unexpected roads that God takes us down. I am thankful for the voice of the spirit leading me to take a left here and a right there. I am thankful for the intentional spirit of my squadmates. I am thankful that one of my squadmates was willing to risk his beautiful hair by going into a sketchy hair salon just so I could meet this sweet family.
God is present in every community, in every Muslim community, in every situation, in every right turn, in every left turn.
He is good. And he only continues to share that goodness with me more and more throughout this journey.
Keia Blair is a Seymour native who attends Cincinnati Christian University. During her nine-month mission trip around the world, she will be submitting a series of blogs that will appear in The Tribune. Send comments to [email protected].