Samaritan's Purse provides housing and help from God to people in Nepal
I have spent more than a year now in Kathmandu. Most often, the sky is hazy, and the pollution from the vehicles and brick factories cloud the sky. It can be quite dreary.
However, there are some occasions when there is a slight glimpse of a snow-peaked mountain peeking up through the buildings and businesses of the city. Every time the air clears and the mountains become visible, it directs my thoughts upward to God and His creation.
So often, we put our heads down to focus on our task or responsibility. While focus is necessary, this causes us to lose sight of what’s important in our lives—our relationships. Sometimes it takes an illness, accident, or large-scale disaster for us to realize that we haven’t invested in relationships with God, family, friends, our community, and those we seek to help as much as we should have. We find ourselves out of touch with God or not aware of challenges that are happening in the lives of our family and friends.
Recently, the sky got darker, and rain clouds filled the sky. It made for an especially dreary day in the city. However, the rain cleared, and the next morning, we were privileged to see a clear view of the mountains.
The people here in Nepal have been through a lot in the past two years—from two major earthquakes to border blockades and fuel shortages to slow reconstruction efforts. For many, the difficulties are much more challenging than just having a dreary day. To find help, many in Nepal turn to the mountains or high hills where there are temples and shrines that hold a sacred significance to them.
I’m reminded of a Psalm that often comes to my mind when we are able to see the mountains from the city. “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2, NIV).
I pray that as Samaritan’s Purse continues to rebuild homes and communities that the people of Nepal realize that true help isn’t going to come from the mountains or the many gods that they worship. It will come from the true God in heaven, the one who created the mountains.
