NEPAL 2016

Every time I see a disaster or a warzone on TV or -far more likely these days - the internet, there's something in me that wants to be there. It's nothing new, this feeling.

I remember it when I was 10 and I watched the Berlin wall fall followed shortly by images of uncared for children in state orphanages in Eastern Europe. I told my mum I would go there - and when I was old enough for missions trips, I did.

I remember Compassion and World Vision videos played at conference. Comic Relief footage of malnourished children in Africa, broken women in Asia trafficked for sex or being punished for a 'sin' committed under the strict Muslim laws of the land.

The videos change but the feeling doesn't. That feeling of wanting to be there, to be among the people, to make a difference practically, to hold a hand and say 'the world has noticed and we care', to capture it and share it for others to see.

Usually it comes to nothing. Not that I haven't done my part in other ways. I've fundraised. I've donated. I've visited even - but often years after the main 'event'. Nations I've served in long or short term include Uganda, Ghana, Kenya, Romania, Czech Republic, Guatemala, Nicaragua, but it's always years afterwards. I look at the footage from the Middle East and almost envy my friend who is an aid worker there, my doctor who served in refugee camps, the missionaries out there in the thick of it.

This time it's different.

This time I see the footage and I know that in a few short months I will be there. I will be among the people. I will help to rebuild places, hold that person's hand and say 'we've noticed and we care', help to restore hope to a broken people. I will be in Nepal.

The trip is part of my YWAM DTS and was planned months before the earthquake. Some would begin to question is it safe? Should we still go? What will we do? Can we count on still going?

My heart doesn't. My head knows maybe it should but my heart is glad. It aches for the people, it longs for them to find healing and it breaks for the losses and the devastation, for the ones we'll never even know died, so remote are their villages. But at the same time I am thankful that THIS TIME I will go. I will be there. I get the privilege of being God's hands and feet on the earth. I get to walk among the broken, the hungry, the devastated and I get to bring Hope and Life. God is constantly making beauty from ashes. This time, this nation, these people, I get to see it, not years down the line (not that there's no value in that - everyone, everywhere has need!) but soon.

Nepal, you are on my heart. I pray for you. I long for you to know and experience the love God has for you. And I will see you soon.

For those who would like to help with costs for flights, visa, accomodations, vaccinations, projects etc for my trip to Nepal you can click here to contribute by credit, debit card or paypal. Please follow the instructions letting the YWAM office know that the donation is for outreach costs for Jo Dunbar.