Random violinist.. life is nepal is soo random

So guys– I tell you what. I love the randomness called living in Nepal. Two mornings ago it was about 7:30 and I heard the sound of our gate opening. I figured it was someone we knew because the dogs bark loudly if it is not. I then heard randomly what sounded like banjo music from Gatlingburg. Curiously I peeked out from the curtains and there was a random nepalee man sitting in our driveway Indian style playing a nepalee violin that sounded just like a banjo in Gatlingburg or something– just sitting in our driveway– 7:30 am.. like this was normal playing and singing a little tune. Needless to say I was amused.. and I did give him so rupees because well.. .it made my day. Is this normal? Probablly shouldn’t be.. but in nepal… why of course it is!

Well not so good news guys. We found out this morning our visa was denied.. but you know what I have never had such a peace in my life that God knows exactly what is going on. I know it is the result of prayers that I have this incredible peace. So we have spent the day running around trying to get a different kind of visa.. always an exciting adventure in nepal trying to get things done.. especially when you get to the necessary offices at dhal bhat time. So I trust that God knows exactly what is going on. But pray 1) that they will let us renew our tourist visa on sunday for one more month without having an exit ticket out of the country 2) for the other visa that we must get by June 6th or have to leave. We are now working on a nepalee language study visa. The problem with this visa is 1) you have to go to class 4 days a week and it’s stuff we have already learned 2) classes don’t start until July and they used to easily issue tranit time visas but now the government is getting really strict the guy said and not. So just pray that in our case they will issue the one month transit visa. If not.. well then.. God knows where our next place of residence will be!


In other news.. I have had a great week. One of those I just love nepal so much kindof weeks. God has really blessed me as I rememeber all the incredibe things he has done In my heart since I have been here. Sometimes I wonder if God just brought me here to work on me! 🙂 I realize what a gift it is everytime I open my mouth and another language comes out. I realize what an even more incredible gift it is when I can understand another language. The precious ladies the Lord has given me to disciple that have also discipled me.. teaching at the Bible college those students Biblical counseling.. I LOVE IT… the sounds of the kids calling down the street Jenn Aunti didi…. The way God has shown his strength in my weakness.. talking to my nepalee ama and baa at the store next to our house.. what precious blessings the Lord gives me everyday .. when I chose to look.

I was reading in a 30 days of praise book that I have and I saw a note on Day 17 that I had written on August 23,2007. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I had been lost that day.. very very lost trying to find my tailor to get the clothes that I had made to replace the one that were stolen when I got to the airport at nepal. I could not find the tailor anywhere, nor knew any of the language to ask. I had no idea even how to get home. I was so lost and felt like such an alien and a stranger in this land. oh yeah and of course it was pouring rain. I remember reaching that coffee shop, sitting down and crying like a baby. God why did you bring me here to a land where I am such an alien. What could you be possibly be doing.. i don’t even know how to find my way to my “home”. This was the entry in the 30 days of praise Journal.. and I have to share it with you.
“Thank you that you have me in the right place at the right time. You want me here just now. You had Joseph at the right place at the right time for a reason. You have me at the right place at the right time for a reason. Lord, you are the same today, well able to work all things out for us. Thank you that I can committ safely to you my location and situation. I can be willing for you to shift me anywhere on life’s checkerboard, or bury me anywhere in life’s garden, gladly yielding myself for you to please yourself with, anywhere and anyhow you chose. Thank you that I can trust you with my future places, ready to go, ready to stay. So I rest in the fact that you have me in this place for this day and I praise you that you will faithfully guide me throughough life to just where you want me to be as I seek your will. Thank you that I have you as my dwelling place where I can settle down and feel secure and be content anywhere on earth. … you are my blessed home where I can enter and be at rest even when all around is a sea of trouble. How my soul delights to hide in the secret of your presence .. to take refuge in the shadow of your wings, to eat at your table, to drink my fill of your river of delights. How blessed I am , my King and my God, for you have chosen me and brought me near, to live in your presence, to behold your delightfullness, to seek your counsel……” (31 days of praise , Ruth Meyers)

I have truly seen that since that day in August. God has allowed me to take refuge in his presence, to eat at HIS Table, to drink my fill of his river of delights, and HOW BLESSED I AM!

By the way– to end this very spiriual post i have to tell you I have to brag. Last night my friend ashley and I made bagels and homemade soft pretzals.. and well.. yum yum yum