That One Time We Had to Build a Bridge to Get Home
Lete was the last post in my journal. I am not sure why, likely because I was, after nearly two months, exhausted. Dates and such in this post will therefore be sketchy as I am relying on my memory and a handful of photos. If any of the team wants to correct or fill in my gaps in memory it would be greatly appreciated!
The final day of our trek, July 16, 2001, was eventful. We set out from Lete early morning on the downhill (thankfully!) walk to the highway. Passing through a village west of Ghorepani we were handing out pamphlets to the people we passed along the way when someone stopped us. Their friend had injured his foot working in the rice paddy and it was infected. Could we treat him they asked. As one of the girls cleaned the wound and applied antiseptic gel I was quite concerned because the foot was yellow and I told Deepak that he needed to get to a doctor. Deepak assured me that the color was from working barefoot in the rice paddy, not from the infection.
While we were watching the treatment, Daniel G spotted an elderly man worshipping two trees. He climbed up from the trail to where the man was and asked what he was doing. The man explained that the tree on the left represented a Hindu god and the tree on the right represented a goddess. The story was that while the goddess’s husband was away the god went to her abode and raped her. Daniel G asked, “Why would you worship gods that would do such things?!” He then proceeded to tell him about the God that is perfectly good and holy and loves all of His creation. The man showed great interest as you can see from his face in the photo above and Daniel G was able to pray with him.
A little way on down the trail we merged onto the path we had taken on my first trek in the winter of 2000. We stopped for lunch at the Christian owned tea house in Nangethanti where the European man had confronted me. While they were preparing our food I sat out front on a boulder to soak up some sun. While I was resting God spoke to me by simply giving me a verse from the Prophets. It was disturbing. I was shocked. That could not have been God, I thought, and I felt ashamed of even having such a thought. It troubled me the rest of the trip. Just a day after my arrival home my friend and intercessor for the trip, Nitza, called me and said that God had given her a verse for me. It was the same verse. It was God. And while the complete fulfillment took years it did eventually happen exactly as God foretold me.
A little farther down the trail, after fording the river again, we stopped at a village (Uleri or Hille?) where a shower was available in an outside “bathhouse” located next to the open air dining area. Several of the tea house workers had birth defects and I silently prayed for them. The sleeping area upstairs was quite small. A door that opened onto a balcony over the dining area was low and several of us received painful lumps on our heads for not stooping low enough to pass through.
A leisurely walk the next morning and finally at the foot of the trail we walked onto a huge open area used for parking. I immediately sat down and with great relief removed my boots and put on my much loved Teva sandals. My blistered, hurting feet were extremely grateful.
The bus was waiting so we immediately loaded up and headed off towards Pokhara. Exhausted, we all found a seat and settled in to rest. But before anyone could fall into a good sleep the bus stopped. I sat up and looked. Up ahead was a very long line of lories and busses parked on the highway. Robbie got down and walked to the head of the line to see what had happened. He returned to inform us that they were replacing a bridge up ahead and that we would have to wait approximately three days to cross. We were stunned. Our flight home would depart Kathmandu in three days. But what could be done?!
Robby got off the bus again to talk to the men and after a few minutes came back. He walked back to where Levi was sitting and asked, “Levi, what do you suggest we do?” Levi immediately responded, “Do you see how many large rocks there are on the ground? I think we could fill the gap in the road with those rocks and then drive across.” Robby looked thoughtful and again went to the construction site. He returned and said that after much convincing the workmen had agreed on one condition; after we cross we have to throw all of the rocks out of the river bed.
And so, the work began. We were many so while it was hard work it only took an hour or so. Then one by one all the vehicles began crossing the “rock bridge” and soon it was our turn. I vividly remember standing to the side watching the bus rock and sway as if it would tip over as it gradually crossed, and I am pretty sure I did not take a breath until it was completely on the other side. Once across the guys all jumped onto the “bridge” and began tossing rocks to the side. The workmen shouted, “What are you doing?” Robbie informed them that we were removing the rocks just as we had agreed. The men said, “No, please leave them. Perhaps someone else will need to cross before we are done.”
Finally we were back in Pokhara waiting to check in at our hotel. It was hot season and the day was horribly hot and I was severely dehydrated and check-in was for some reason taking forever. Finally someone brought water. I am a sipper, but I gulped an entire liter down in just a couple minutes. Finally settled in we went out for dinner; I downed another full liter of water with my meal.
The next morning we went by bus from Pokhara to Chitwan for our customary jungle safari and visit with our pastor friends there. We were blessed to be able to have a “sidewalk Sunday school” with the local kids.
Our last full day in Nepal we returned to Kathmandu and the Student Guest House. There we did last minute shopping, repacked our bags, and in the evening, once again, hosted the Nepali team to an incredible dinner at a very nice hotel restaurant. On the morrow we would fly to Hua Hin, Thailand, for debriefing and rest before returning home to Alaska.
I trekked in Nepal a total of three times; Katie had led a team previous to my first trek and would lead a final team in 2002 which I was not able to join. I love that beautiful nation and her wonderful people with all my heart. My dream is that my ashes will someday be thrown from one of her peaks into the Winds of the Himalaya to wait there for the day when our Savior will return and resurrect them to eternal life with Him. Two of our team members have already gone to be with our Lord: a mighty prayer warrior, Emma McCune, and our leader from Nepal for all five treks, Robby Rai. Katie wrote this tribute to Robby:
“🇳🇵 Robby’s standard greeting was “The Jesus in me sees the Jesus in you”. What a legacy and eternal impact he made on Nepal, my 5 teams and myself. When someone would ask, “how far to the next village?” Robby would respond, “in a little while we’ll be closer.” He didn’t know his birthdate or exactly how old he was, so I decided we’d celebrate his birthday at Christmas. One year Leona and I had a cake made and sent it on a 24 hour bus ride to Damak in East Nepal. On one of the Anapurna treks Robby suffered from gout pain. Our Tibetan guide, Puchanga, ran down to Pokhara for medicine and back in 2 days: a trek that took my American team 5 days. Then it was onward and upward for Robby leading my team around the Himalayas with the Gospel. I could go on and on with stories and Robby-isms. Like always chewing on sticks in lieu of a toothbrush. He was one of the most creative problem solvers. When the nation wide strikes would shut the streets down Robby hired ambulances transport us to the orphanage and women’s rescue home. A giant in faith, he will be missed on this side of eternity. But the welcome he’s received by those who’ve gone before us is wide and warm. Robby is home. 🇳🇵”
December 25, 1953 – December 13, 2022
February 23, 1941 – October 9, 2016
Prayer for Nepal
adapted from Isaiah 62 (NLT)
Because I love Nepal
I will not keep still.
Because my heart yearns for Kathmandu,
I cannot remain silent,
I will not stop praying for her
until her righteousness shines
like the dawn,
and her salvation blazes like a burning torch.
The nations will see your righteousness.
World leaders will be blinded by your glory.
And you will be given a new name
by the LORD’s own mouth.
The LORD will hold you in his hand for all to see—
a splendid crown in the hand of God,
Never again will you be called
“The Forsaken City”
or “The Desolate Land.”
Your new name will be
“The City of God’s Delight”
and “The Bride of God,”
for the LORD delights in you
and will claim you as his bride.
Your children will commit
themselves to you, O Kathmandu,
just as a young man commits
himself to his bride.
Then God will rejoice over you
as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.
Oh Kathmandu, I have posted
watchmen on your walls;
they will pray day and night, continually.
Take no rest, all you who pray to the LORD.
Give the LORD no rest until he completes his work,
until he makes Kathmandu the pride of the earth.
The LORD has sworn to Kathmandu
by his own strength:
“I will never again hand you over to your enemies.
Never again will foreign warriors come
and take away your grain and new wine.
“You raised the grain, and you will eat it, praising the LORD.
Within the courtyards of the Temple,
you yourselves will drink the wine you have pressed.”
Go out through the gates!
Prepare the highway for my people to return!
Smooth out the road;
pull out the boulders;
raise a flag for all the nations to see.
The LORD has sent this message to every land:
“Tell the people of Nepal,
‘Look, your Savior is coming.
See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.’”
They will be called
“The Holy People”
and “The People Redeemed by the LORD.”
And Kathmandu will be known as
“The Desirable Place”
and “The City No Longer Forsaken.”
Coffee, Tea, and Reverie 