Off to SINGAPORE.

Hello from Stephen and Chris!

We are approaching our last few hours in Kathmandu as we are on our way to the airport. Yesterday was filled with goodbyes. After making relationships with some of the street children for the past couple weeks, it was quite hard to say bye. We also said goodbye to those we have been working with for the past six weeks over dinner and than an intense game of Mafia.

We are sad to say goodbye to this land but we know the missionary work isn't done. We have so much to reflect on in the next few days while we are in Singapore.

It's crazy to be walking away from this place. We are definitely very different than when we first stepped off that airplane at the Kathmandu airport.

Please be praying for our time as we begin the reflection process these next few days.

Love,

Stephen and Chris

PICTURES

We uploaded a few to Photobucket for those of you who simply can't wait :)

http://s878.photobucket.com/albums/ab343/Team_Nepal_2010/

Hope you enjoy them. More to come when we return to AMERICA

Joy and the Hardships

It's Monday and we leave on Friday. It's crazy that it in the beginning of the trip I had felt like I had been here for so long, and now I am wondering where the time has gone.

We have had quite a few adventures here and the past few weeks have been spent working with various projects that we have been given.

Everyday a group goes out to Ratna Park to hang out/play soccer with street children with a few translators. Tuesdays and Thursdays, there is also a group that goes out at night to spend time with street children as well with a group from an organization.
Our nights are also filled with visiting children's homes and our days are usually filled with miscellanous tasks. We also go to dance bars every week or so. We are plenty busy.

Something that has hit us hard as we have been involved in these ministries is how hard they are. The other night, a group of us went to a dance bar for the 3rd time. The first two times we really got to interact with the girls but this time around they seemed to be warned of us and they didn't talk to us. When we visited the last two times, we asked to meet with them the next day. They never showed. This time, the girls had lied to us and said they were there when they weren't. That stung.

There was also an instance with a street boy. When the boy was with Angela, he said that he was new on the street and that he wanted to leave. After, when we were getting a Tiny Hands person to go and talk to him, he seemed completely different and closed off. They asked to meet him the next day, he didn't show. Later we found out, he had been on the Thamel streets for a year or so.

There has been many heartaches over these people. It seems that work here in Nepal is slow, and we have been introduced to that in our short six week trip. The kind of work we are doing takes years. Someone we had talked to in the beginning of the trip said it had taken 5 years for her to see any change, and we are learning that lesson now.

Yet though we have seen these hardships there is still so much joy. We have found such joy in the relationships we have with the people we have met. Whether it be the people of the organizations we have worked with, a girl at a dance bar, or a few of the boys on the streets. These people have touched us and just by being with them, we find joy.

A great triumph that we got to experience of hope and joy was the soccer camp that we got to put on. Kyle and Callee orchestrated the whole event and each one of us got to be in charge of a different station. Kyle and Lizzee taught passing, Angela and Chris played steal the bacon, Justin and Callee taught shooting, Taylor and Eddy taught headers and Corinne and I taught dribbling. It was so much fun. All the kids that we have gotten to interact with the past five weeks were there and we got to spend hours with them playing and laughing. It takes these kinds of events to realize how much we will miss these children and how much they have impacted our hearts. It will be a time I will never forget.

Please pray, along with us, that in these last days God may prepare us to leave but that we would be fully present and fully listening to God.

Love,
Stephen

Hope in Nepal

You may have received an email about this already, but if not, please read!

Jaymasee! (Victory in Christ)

During our time in Nepal we have been working alongside a not-for-profit organization called Tiny Hands International. One of their main purposes is to rescue children from damaging situations and prevent them from becoming victims of the streets or sex-industry. Once the child is rescued they are placed into a children's home run by Christian parents that have been hand-selected by the staff of Tiny Hands. We have spent the majority of our time in Nepal working and interacting with the children and parents of these homes. Words cannot describe the love and joy that exudes from these homes! Nepali kids,from a multitude of various difficult situations, come together to form one of the best examples of a Christ-centered family that we have ever witnessed.

The President of Tiny Hands, Mr. John Molineux presented us with an incredibly opportunity to establish a new children’s home. We jumped at the proposition with smiles on our faces. Soon after this conversation we began interviewing prospective parents, visiting possible schools, naming the home, and actually visiting the future children of this home. Even though we are playing a small part in the formation of this home, we are ecstatic to play any part we can! Currently, Tiny Hands’ waiting list for this home numbers 20 children. The only piece missing in the completion of this home is sponsors. Our team is searching for 10 sponsors to start this home. This 50-dollar a month commitment provides the children with a Christ-centered home, meals, clothing, and a quality education. This commitment is more than a partnership with Tiny Hands; it is a relationship with the child. When visiting the various homes the children delight in showing us gifts and pictures of their sponsors.

These kids have seen and lived hellish circumstances, yet the joy of the Lord shines about them making it easy to forget that these are not their biological parents, brothers, and sisters. When comparing the children living on the street to the children in the homes, the contrast is extreme. For example, baby Jabez was found abandoned on the street in the rain. When he first entered the home, he rarely responded to interaction, but after a few months he is now thriving and you cannot wipe the smile off his face. This is just one of the amazing stories that comes from every home.

If you are interested in making an impact in the lives of these children, PLEASE let us know. We would love to talk with you more about it now or when we return home.
For further information about the various ministries of Tiny Hands please visit their website: www.tinyhandsinternational.org.

James 1:27 says, "Religion that God our father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Nearing the End

We are nearing the end of our wonderful adventure in Nepal. Only 8 more days until we board plane for our debrief in Singapore! The time has flown so fast, and many of us do not want to say goodbye. Hopefully some of us will see Nepal again next summer? :) So much of our hearts will be left with the children, both those in the streets and in the children's homes, as well as the many other relationships we have made while working with various organizations.

On Monday, a small group of Justin, Stephen, Lizzee, and I (Taylor) were given the opportunity to visit an organization called Peace Rehabilitation Center (PRC), which Justin had raised money for a few years ago by biking across America. Although difficult to find (our phone ran out of minutes right when we were about to get additional directions, not to mention there are no street names here.), it truly embodied the definition of peace. It was away from the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu city life, down a small side road. The place was green, clean, and cozy. It is a place for girls to come who are at risk for or rescued from sex trafficking. It a beautiful, holistic home, not only do the girls learn skills, but they are given the support and resources to pursue these skills into a life above the poverty level. The founder's testimony was powerful as she came from nothing and was able to build this place through her faith in God. She said she could never be bought by any form of money, for she has already been bought by the blood of Jesus. She told us we were family and we could call her Mom. We all felt so welcomed and taken care of as we learned about their mission and passion for these girls.

Other than that, this week has been filled with completeing the long list of tasks Tiny Hands has delegated to us. We will have a sports camp for all the children's homes on Saturday, as well as a girl's night for some of the girls rescued from dance bars. We are also working on a craft book and early child development workbook for the children's home. If anyone has any advice, be sure to let us know! There has been a lot of work with street children, both in the morning at a nearby park and at night in our hotel area giving them water. They are precious children of the Lord, but they are treated like trash. It broke our hearts to see the police beating them out of the way. Please keep them in your prayers. Being on the streets is like a drug and it is so hard to convince them to leave. Even though the Cyrean street children's home can be crazy, they are going to school and have a place to eat and sleep. The girls have been focusing on giving them kisses and adding a gentle touch to their lives, and we were so happy to see them giving kisses to each other instead of punches!

There is so much more for us to do before we leave and we can't wait to make the most of it! Sending our love and hugs to all our family and friends! We appreciate you so much!

UPDATE!

Hello friends and family!

A lot of our time has been explained to you in only words. Special treat! We have a few pictures to give you a little glimpse of our time here in Nepal.

FIRST, an update. Coming back from Pokhara to Kathmandu was a definite change. Even though we were gone for one week, getting reacquainted with the hustle and bustle of the city was quite a shock. We used the day of travel as a rest day to prepare for the remainder of our time in Kathmandu.

We decided to split up our team into different groups based on our passions. The groups are: street children, children's homes, sex trafficking, and sports. Each team member is part of a group and lets the team know what opportunities there are throughout the day. For example, Eddy and I (Chris) are heading up the street children group. On this past Thursday, we let the team know about a chance to hang out with the street kids with a group called Agape.

A man named Shuresh led our time with the street children. Shuresh is 23 years old and has a driving passion to minister to the street children. Why? Because Shuresh was a street child himself. At the age of seven, he ran away from home. He lived a life on the streets- sniffing glue, violence, hunger, etc. He became addicted to the streets. Because of the way the church fed him and showed him Jesus' love over the years, he realized that there was a better life for him at the age of eighteen. He now leads worship at a church and leads the ministry to the street children.

What does "ministry" with street children look like? We just hang out with them. We show them love. We laugh. We joke around. We pray with them. We do the simple things in life that most people won't do with them. It's amazing to see what happens when we do this. People gather around and stare. They watch us and wonder why we would care about the children that society has literally and figuratively thrown to the curb. All these kids want is for someone to notice them. They are searching for love. Angela has been amazing at relating with the kids and listening to the Spirit as she interacts with them!

I could go on and on about the experiences so far with the street children. I'm so excited to see what God is going to do with this ministry in the future, even if we do not initially see any fruit! Pray that we would be open to the Spirit and that we would be able to show them Christ's love in a way that we could never do on our own strength.

A great treat for our team was having director of the Office of World Missions, Chiraphone, here with us. Chiraphone was able to experience life in Kathmandu! We took her to a dance bar and continued our ministry there. She met with Bishnu, father of the Morning Star Children's Home. SIDE NOTE: Those of you APUer's, get excited because Bishnu is coming to speak at chapel in November for Global Vision Week! But really, having Chiraphone here reenergized us and we were truly thankful for her visit!

Today we went to the church where Shuresh leads worship. I couldn't help but think of Shuresh's past and where he is now! PRAISE GOD. It is that kind of transformation that I pray for every single street child we interact with. Something amazing at the church service was the elderly women dancing during worship. So much beauty and grace came from these women that I could only imagine God's smile at the sight of their worship. Stephen had the chance to find out the story of one of the dancing women. She became a Christian after she was beaten up by her husband and was left on the road, battered and broken. A pastor walked by and picked her up off the road. From then on, she began dancing for the Lord and continues to do so! How cool is that! The rest of our time today was spent at different children's homes. So much joy comes from these homes! We are always rejuvenated after playing and worshipping with the kids!

We are continuing with our time in Nepal. I cannot believe that we have less than two weeks left! Please be praying for our different areas of focus. Pray that we would love supernaturally. Pray that we would be open to the Spirit moving. Pray that we would stay focused on Jesus!

Thanks so much for checking up on us!

-Chris

Here are a few pictures from our trip!

1. Bonfire with two children's homes in Pokhara.

2.Our view of Kathmandu! These are the streets that we walk everyday.

3. Chris with two neighbors of the Cyrene Home.

4. Angela with her buddy at the Cyrene Home (Street Children home)

5. Stephen with his friend walking at the Morning Star home.

Pokhara

Beautiful is the best word that describes Pokhara and the people we encountered there. Our short time in Pokhara was filled with more smiles and laughs than the other weeks combined. Pokarha was a break from the hustle and bustle of kathmandu. We rode scooters around the lake which was a good team bonding time. We visited two childrens homes while we were there and we all connected with each kid. We were able to have a bonfire at the future place of a dream center. Which will be a place where both homes live as well as go to school. The bonfire was full of corn, games, stories (provided by justin) and laughs. This week, we were also able to join the kids in worship at their church. These kids were such a joy and each one touched our hearts. It was amazing to see that even though they have broken pasts they have soo much joy. The last night we were there it was sad because we had to say goodbye and it was tough to do. All of are thankful for the time we had with them. We also dug trenches for the dream center and we were able to find out about an amazing opportunity that we can participate in while we were there. The president of tiny hands told that if we can get one supporter each of $50, we can open a new home. This was a crucial part of the trip because we found out that there were prospected kids living in a prison in the city. Our hearts were broken from the reality of the kids lives. All in all the time was a blessing for us. *After reading this blog and you have decided to become a sponser of a kid and help us open this home. Please do not hesitate to contact us.* Thank you so much! Blessings!

Chitwan

Imagine you are sitting in a freezer with lots of ice cream and you have a brain freeze now think the exact opposite... that's Chitwan. We took a break from city life and took a six hour bus ride down to what felt like one of the hottest places on earth. Located in a tropical rainforest type enviroment, Chitwan is a small quaint little town with lots of elephants. The first night we got there we went to salvation home, which is the only childrens home located there. The kids were absolutely wonderful as usual and we ended up playing volleyball, chess and singing songs. That night we then went back to the hotel where the power (and thus the fans) went on and off throughout the night. The next day we were able to experience the local flair of chitwan when we went on a canoe safari down a crocodile infested river, followed by elephant bathing, and concluding with an elephant ride through the jungle. Although we had a great time in Chitwan we were excited to leave and beat the heat in Pokhara.

Nepalese Home

Today we started our day by going to Northfield Cafe (our usual Breakfast spot). Angela practiced her nepali while we were there and asked for the waiters name which was Geet. After that we went to the Nepalese home. While there we were shown around the homes which were very nice and learned a little about their mission. They provide a home for trafficked women and women at risk and they also provide scholarhsips for children. After visiting the homes we visited the school that the children attend. The school was a lot like a boarding school and the principal spoke portuegese. After that we all went to a vegetarian restaurant and had delicious food while listenign to american music. That was our day.
-Kyle

Light in the Darkness

Today we truly saw people who radiated with the Light of our Lord. We started out the day with a wonderful ride on the gloriously bumping Nepal rode to our destination for the day. The organization is doing wonderous things to help women who have been rescued from internal trafficking by providing training in computers, arts, amd also giving the help they need for them to become emotionally whole once again. While there we went to the different homes that are under the umbrella of the organization. While we visited each one we prayed for those who run them and for all the people they are trying to help.

As the day became night we were preparing for our next mission. Tonight we went to a dance bar (they are very different than those in the US, the girls are very much clothed, allbeit scantily, while they dance on stage) in hopes of reaching out to the girls who work there. The responsibility was primarily on the girls so we were very nervous but the excitement of helping these girls with the love of God. It was a successful night we got four girls to meet up with us the next day! We are hoping to for a relationship them so they know that someone out there cares for them and wants to help they live the life they deserve. Pray that it happens.

Bieber Fever

Bieber fever has swept Nepal. We see Justin Bieber on posters, hear the kids singing his songs, and pass by shops blasting his music. As Stephen would say, "Only YOU can prevent Bieber fever". I think we can all agree that somehow the lyrics "Baby, baby, baby, oh!" now provide us with a sense of home. Afterall, cheeseburgers have come to mean fried cheese patties on a bun (yak cheese no less), a chocolate malt order will provide you with a hot chocolate, and you better be sure your milkshake mentions ice cream or it will only be a flavored milk. We've definitely had our share of adventures and laughs at the culture difference and the American influence.

For the past couple days we have been without internet, so I (Taylor) will attempt to catch you up with our ever busy schedule... The last 3 mornings have entailed some hard labor at the Mother Teresa home in Pashupati. We washed floors, dishes, and clothes, changed beds, sanded our hearts out of about a million metal framed beds, and painted those same beds... pretty much anything the Sisters told us to do. It's hard work and they don't mess around. We all looked forward to the mango juice boxes with Mickey on the front after hours in the hot sun.

Monday afternoon we visited another children's home with 9 boys rescued from the streets, ranging in age from 3 to 17. They were amazing, but loved to rough house and push each other down to get to the volleyball we brought. They also showed their soft side, as Angela befriended one of the quieter boys and a couple of the them showed us their drawing skills. The children home's always lift our spirits, giving us hope amidst the brokenness of the country, and refresh our energy.

Yesterday afternoon, we visited a coffee shop that provides jobs to underprivileged men and women and had one of the best meals, complete with a delicious chocolate cake for dessert. I think we will be back there again, both for the food and to learn more about their mission. After the marvelous lunch, we joined in a weekly prayer meeting including people from many different organizations. It was truly amazing to see such a great example of the global church in one room and have the opportunity to prayer together. From there we split into groups, where one team headed back to the hotel for some much needed rest, and the other visited another, newer children's home. The kids were so shy and we were tentative of how it would go at first, but as we headed down to the open field, they slowly came out of their shells. There were 2 younger girls in particular that just clung to me by the end. I loved seeing them warm up to me and pull me around to play games. Although we were so tired, the children had no concept of this, climbing all over Chris to play "car", and playing games, including relay races, tag, and one entailing trying to step on each other's feet with me, Stephen, and Eddy. All in all, we couldn't help but find joy in interacting with the children.

I will leave you with this, as there is much more to come... We are all learning so much and can't wait to see what is next on the schedule each day. I just have to say that every member on this team is wonderful. Thank you so much for all your support! Please keep up with the prayers. They are much appreciated. Love to you all!

Our first Sunday

Today was Sunday. A day typically associated with God, rest, a time for rejuvenation and preparation for the week to come. For Team Nepal it was a bit slower paced then normal, but our typical is go go go.

We enjoyed breakfast at our usual spot (yes, we have one already and they know us by name) with two of our wonderful contacts. Stories filled with inspiration were shared, laughter was discovered, and tears found a way down some of our cheeks. All that God is, all that God is doing is amazing beyond your wildest dreams. Encouraging would be a small word to state all that was given to us.

The afternoon was filled with a competive scavenger hunt about the city. You wouldn't believe what was required, things no one would see in the states. I wish I could attach the list, maybe in the future :) It was great fun. Quickly we have grown more accustomed to walking these crazy streets and chatting with the Nepali people whom at first can be rather intimdating simply because they are different than what we know.

We had a few hours of personal rest. Praise the Lord.

The evening was filled with Children Home visits to the two homes we went to a couple days ago. I will never get enough of spending time with these children. They are amazing and they will grow up to change Nepal and therefore, the world! I love praying over them, loving them, encouraging them, learning from them, and being in their presence. I am in awe of the parents of the homes. God has made them truly special beyond words. May blessings be poured out on them today and always.

Sleep calls to me. May God be blessed by all that we do, all that we say, and all that we are.
To Him be all the glory forever and ever, Amen.

All my love,
Corinne

An incredible man and his family

Day four in the Kathmandu and we are having a spectacular time. We started the day with our famous and fierce leaders, Kyle and Callee. They took us to a breakfast spot, niche in the middle of thamel. It has typical American breakfast choosings, like an omelet and pancakes. It was very good. We then went to Church and transported there via Tuk Tuks. If you don't know what they are i will tell you basically they are these box looking cars with a pointy nose that is placed on three wheels. It was a slow ride, but who cares when you are smelling the Nepali air in a Tuk Tuk.

When we arrived at the Church it was way different than an American Church. You start by taking your shoes off before you go in then you are greeted with a "jaimisee"(victory in Christ) by everyone in the church. I don't know if we stuck out so much that they wanted to greet us or they do it to each other all the time. Either way i felt welcomed and when we walked in you are seated on the ground with your legs folded. Immediately worship was going on and it felt amazing. The people were raising there hands and worshiping and i just was just in awe, to think what God is doing in a place were Christianity is only 5% among the population. Also seeing how a woman can speak at the church where women are oppressed in the culture. It just showed how people can change from the environment they are in to show love that people deserve, especially the women. I honestly think that most Nepali's don't smile but at that Church i saw so many people with them that it was great to exercise my cheek muscles.

After Church we then went to a Childrens home that was operated by a man named Bishnu. Once this man talked i was immediately drawn to listen to him. He had so much wisdom and so much love for the kids and it was just great to hear his testimony as well as know that there are people in Nepal who care about the injustices that are going on. He found all the kids at this home on the street. He takes them in feeds, teaches, and loves them, he calls them his family. Him and his wife are doing an extraordinary job there. Bishnu is well known around here and i hope i get to hear more stories from him and see the kids. My experience at the Children's home was great. When we went to the kids i was taken right away from a little 8 yr old girl named Asa, which meant Hope. She clamped my hand and said, "brother come" in her broken english. She took me on this tour of the place for the whole hour we were there and taught me some games. The best moment there was when we were going to a pond and when we were going down and i started to skip. Every kid started to do the same and immense laughter came, it was a joy. Everyone was having fun and some of us were playing soccer with the other kids. I had a great time and i commend Bishnu for his ministry. I hope there will be more days like this.

We ended the day with some games and spaghetti at the president of Tiny hands. An intense game of Mafia was taking place and all i can say is that it was a great team bonding time. With intense narrations from Angela and Justin. So to whoever reads this know that there are people and ministries here that need your prayers. As well as our team for the next five weeks. Thanks and Jaimisee!

sorry for it being long. Thank you friends and family-Eddy

Today was our third day in Nepal, and oh what a day it was. I know for myself and many others on the team, the day was filled with much joy as well as heartache. We split into two teams led by the wonderful stephen and Lizzie. Each team did their own exploring in the city of Kathmandu as well as Bhaktapur, an ancient city filled with temples and tourists.

On the way to Bhaktapurt there was a situation that brought heartache to many on the team...While we were on the bus to the ancient city, a small, beautiful little girl came around with her hand out asking for money. We have been advised not to give money away because A. we cannot be sure the money may actually go to the child and B. Once you give one person money, you will have a whole flock of people following you and asking for money. Because of this, each person on our team had to say no to this little girl, multiple times. Looking into the deep, sad eyes of this girl and telling her no, was too much for some on our team to handle. It definitely opened our eyes. How do we share the love of Christ and show this little girl that we care while we are turning down her request for a biscuit or a rupee? How can we love better, harder, and stronger in the name of Christ? May our hearts always be broken for people just like this little girl.

Bhaktapur looked like something out of a movie. Each way you looked there was an old narrow road filled with shops and people or an ornately decorated temple stretching to the sky. It was a whole lot of fun to explore. There were some amazing and breath-taking views. We had lunch as a team and some of us ordered mo-mo for the first time without knowing what it was. I love our adventurous spirit.

To finish the day, we went to two seperate children's homes and just played with the kids. It was the most wonderful time we have had so far. The house I visited had fifteen children with ages ranging from 2 years old to 13 years old. They were so happy and joyful to play games and sing us songs. They were so beautiful. Everyone on our team had a huge smile on their face. The parents of the house fed us dinner and served us soda, a luxury. It was very humbling. We did not want to leave the home... we will be back soon.

With Love,
Angela

We Don't Monkey Around

We have only been here for two days yet so much it seems like a lot has happened already in such a small amount of time.

Our first night we got to go sleep to the soothing noises of car horns, dog fights, monkeys(?), birds and other such noises that are right near our hotel that we are staying at.

Kyle and I (Stephen) woke up early thinking it was probably it was around 9 when it really was 5:30am. We went to explore the city for a little. Since it was so early and also because it was Buddha's birthday, the shops were closed so it was great to walk the streets while everything was calm. We got to see a lot of life happening with people sweeping the streets, men carrying huge dressers strapped to their head and chest and also seeing people starting their days.

Afterward,we all went to grab a morning cup of tea over at our friend Rhoman's place before we met at a more western style breakfast restaurant. We got to meet with John the founder of Tiny Hands and hear his vision and heart for his organization.

After that we took a very long walk to a temple way up on a hill called the Monkey Temple. This place was PACKED. With a lot of people going up and down the vast amount of stairs. It was hard to keep our group together and that was very stressful trying to make sure we were all nearby.

When we got to the top, we saw a lot of things. We saw many altars being prayed to, lots of candles, the prayer bells being turned and lots of people walking around and praying. Some of us were very overwhelmed with everything that was going on especially since there was a lot of chaos with so many people. A few people also felt heavy from the forces being prayed to and the spirits being given so much prayer and hope for. After that we all walked down, found a spot and made sure to pray all together.

Then we went to the Tiny Hands office and got to hear about all the programs including their children home and and their anti-trafficking border stations that are in place to stop the children being trafficked. Often times the little girls are tricked into believing they are going to be maids or workers in order to honor their family and be able to send money back to the village. These border monitors stop suspicious people and ask tough questions to see if both the adult and the child's story line up. This can be a hard process because the children are told that the police (and border monitors) are evil, so this can be a long process. It was amazing to hear of so many rescues and to see pictures of some of the women who were saved.

We then went back to the hotel, rested and had orientation with Rhoman. Though we are only staying for a month, we got see a lot of the material that people who are working for longer time have. These first two days have been jam packed with learning about culture and trying to orient ourselves to the city. We also learned fun phrases. Here are a few:
_________
Fun Phrase Time!

Namaste (Naw-Muh-Stay) - common greeting used everywhere.
Jaimasee or Jaymasee - "victory in Christ", used amongst Christians
thik cha? (teek-shaw) - "Are you fine?" You would then respond with thik cha back.
dhanyabad (Done-Ya-Bod) - "Thank you"

These are just a few phrases but we'll post more later!
__________

After that we had our first Nepali meal with rice, chicken, a lentil sauce, spinach, a baked bread that looked like a chip but didn't taste like one, potatoes with vegetables and a type of hot sauce. It was good. A few of us even braved eating with our hands. Though Justin saw a rat run by, the restaurant was such a nice environment and the people are very friendly. Definitely worth going again!

Prayers:
- for God's joy and love to be throughout as we walk the streets and possibly visit more temples.
- for patience as we wait to work with the children and women.
- for our well-being and our safety.

Sorry for this long post! Thank you so much for reading this :] I hope this blog post finds you well.

You are Loved!
-Stephen

Day 1

Namaste Family and Friends!

We arrived to Kathmandu, Nepal around noon to humid air and an unfamiliar smell. Passing through customs went surprisingly fast and our guide shortly arrived with a bus to take us to the hotel. As soon as we entered the street we became the object of numerous stares. It was hard not to with such a big group of foreign faces. We piled in the car and continued on our way.
The streets were filled with cars, people, cows, buses, and motorbikes. All proceeded to go in whichever direction they pleased, honking horns and yelling at pedestrians. There are no sidewalks, no stop lights, no lines dividing the roads. It is one big maze that requires skilled and aggressive driving.
Upon safely arriving to the hotel we were surprised by the accommodations. It had an enclosed garden that provides a barrier to the craziness of the outside world, internet access, and personal bathrooms for each bedroom. We are all very grateful to be staying here.
Once settled we ventured out into the city on foot and soon discovered that walking was almost as difficult as driving. We roamed the roads around our hotel to get a feel for our surroundings. Every street is lined with little shops, all appearing to have the same goods. We began to understand this over crowded, maze of tiny streets, and were able to return to the hotel without getting lost.
Later, we had our first Nepali meal for dinner ranging from fried rice to curry. Everyone left with a full stomach, except for picky Kyle. Good thing he brought 60 granola bars. We'll see how long those last.
So now it is 8pm and though we are exhausted we must put off sleeping to avoid jet lag. Hopefully we will be well rested for another adventure tomorrow.

Until next time...

-Callee

HELLO SINGAPORE.

Greetings from Singapore!

The past twenty-four hours have been quite the adventure. Our travels started with a send off from some of our closest friends. Thank you so much for coming! Then, my wonderful Resident Director from Engstrom Hall, Chelsea Wood, drove us to the LAX where we would begin the official travelling process. After checking our bags and getting through security, we waited at our gate where it finally hit me that we are going to Nepal!

But, getting to Nepal is a lengthy trip. We first flew to Tokyo which was an 11 hour flight. I have never been on a plane so big! I could watch tons of movies like Avatar and Shutter Island, play Nintendo, catch up on world news, or just chill. Needless to say, I spent most of my time reading and sleeping. Oh, AND eating. They fed us as if it were our last meal!

On the plane, I sat next to a nice, old Japanese lady. She explained to me how she didn't feel safe in the USA because her son's stove wouldn't turn off. I laughed inside and tried to talk with her as normally as possible! Once in Tokyo, we got off the plane and took another six hour flight to Singapore.

And that is where we are now! This airport is amazing. They have multiple Koi fish ponds, a butterfly garden, and shops galore. We have about 3 hours left until our final flight to Nepal. Now we play the waiting game. I'm anxious to get finally get to Nepal after months of preparation and I believe my team can second that notion.

Hopefully we can find a way to upload pictures/videos of our time in Nepal. Until then, prayers would be greatly appreciated! Some include:

1. ENERGY once we get to Nepal.
2. That God would use our team in ways that are currently unfathomable to us.
3. Safe travels to Nepal!

Thank you all so much for reading! We love you.

-Chris

Maybe not so much Bangladesh?

Hello again,

It has been a while since we've updated. Something that happened a few weeks ago that was a big decision for our team is the fact that, well, we aren't actually going to Bangladesh this summer.

We're officially Team Nepal.

Though there had been talk about possibly serving both locations. We made the official switch a few weeks ago after finding out one of our major contacts for Tiny Hands in Bangladesh was going to be staying in Nepal.

We are so excited for this switch and know that we are learning flexibility, patience and trusting that God will have us where God wants us.



For me, this is a second time back and it will be great to have so much time focused there. I hope to see some familiar faces with the children and people I get to see again. It will be exciting to go somewhere familiar and be able to observe so much more than I did before.

We can definitely use your prayer as we ready ourselves for six weeks in a dominantly Hindu practicing country that has a lot of poverty that we will be faced with.

Look forward to more exciting posts.

Hope all is well,
Stephen

Chris Chandler

Hello and welcome to Team Bangladesh 2010's Blog! My name is Chris Chandler and I am one of the ten members of Team Bangladesh. I'm so pumped to see how God is going to use our words and actions to speak to the people of Bangladesh/Nepal!

A little information about myself...

I'm a sophomore Business Administration major, Biblical Studies minor.
I'm from a suburb outside of Chicago called Hoffman Estates.

I have an older sister, Emily, and two wonderful parents, Ron and Connie.

I am on the APU Men's Club Volleyball team.

I'm going to be a Resident Advisor next year for the freshmen men in Engstrom Hall!

These past couple of months have been quite the adventure. I'm amazed at how things have panned out and how blessed I am to be serving with this team. Our two leaders, Corinne and Justin, have been nothing short of amazing and I can honestly say that I love getting to know every member on this team.

Something I have been learning since being on Team Bangladesh is how often we put God in a box. Who are we to say what God can and cannot do? He created the universe and yet we still question him. It is this "philosophy" that I now have of God. God is not limited to our own human constrictions. God is God and we are not and with this understanding, anything is possible.

With that being said, I believe that we are going to be blown away by what God is going to do with us. I believe that people will be healed, miracles will happen, and people will come to know Jesus. By the time we leave Bangladesh/Nepal, we will have seen God move in ways that seem absolutely illogical to the human mind. BUT, we are still in need of your prayers!

Prayer Requests

• That God would use us to speak to the people of Bangladesh/Nepal
  
• That we would focus and rely on God for strength


• That the people of Bangladesh/Nepal would be receptive of our message


• That we would unite as a team under one purpose-to bring the Kingdom of God to the ends of the earth
  

Thanks so much for following our trip and I cannot wait to tell everyone what God is doing!

-Chris

Lizzee Leslie

Hi my name is Elizabeth (Lizzee) Leslie and I am extremely fortunate to be a member of Team Bangladesh. I am both thrilled and terrified as to what is going to come, but I know that God is calling my team and we are here to answer.

Let me tell you a little about myself:

I am a freshman Political Science/Pre-Law major at Azusa Pacific University and I am loving it!

I grew up in the wonderful rainy state of Washington

My family consists of the two most amazing parents Christie and Laurence, two older sisters Candice and Anna, and a younger brother Spencer ( and four dogs.)

Doing a mission trip has always been in the back of my mind, something that I have often "thought" of doing but never really something I would act upon. But something changed in me, I don't feel as if I was "called" to join a team and I certainly didn't just wake up one morning and say "I am signing up for a team today!". So what was the reason for my decision to go? A broken heart, my heart was broken for victims of sex trafficking, my heart was broken for a country and its people that I knew very little about. For my heart to be broken like that was completely new to me and I couldn't just ignore it. Unlike others God didn't call me to go, He broken my heart so badly that I didn't have a choice but to go.

But this trip isn't about going and "helping" these people, it is about working along side them in hope of creating a better life for them, simply we are there to serve them in anyway we can. This trip is one that will change my life, I don't know how but I know that it will. This is going to be a long, sometimes hard and sad journey and I want to share it with you.

Smile Big,

Lizzee

Justin Blomgren

Jus·tin (jus′tin)

noun

a masculine name

It is of Latin origin, and its meaning is "just,upright, righteous".

I am a leader for Team Bangladesh. With a mixture of great success and great failure, I am one who has tried to live a life that has lived up to the meaning of my name. Human trafficking is an issue that has captivated my heart for the past six years, and I have made it my life goal to make some sort of dent in this global crisis. Leading this team is an attempt to continue my aspiration to move past comfort and challenge myself to think beyond an egocentric lifestyle.

In the words of my hero Dietrich Bonhoeffer, "Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility"

I currently work as a Residence Director for Smith Hall, an all male freshman dormitory at Azusa Pacific University. I am a man of simple pleasures: Reading, discussing, running, painting, cycling, and kayaking.

Angela

Hello Everyone!
My name is Angela Lucero and I have been blessed by being placed on team Bangladesh with these nine other amazing people. I'm a freshman global studies major here at APU, and I am absolutely loving it. This has been a year of transition, to say the least, but the Lord has truly blessed me through it. I have an amazing family who is behind me 1000% and lives in the bay area. It has been hard being away from them, but they are so excited for me and this trip.

This missions trip to Bangladesh will be my first intensive missions trip as well as my first time out of the country. I'm beyond excited to dive into a new culture and to see and be a part of what God is doing over there. My prayer is that through this trip the Lord will change me and break my heart for what breaks his. I cannot wait for this trip. I have already been so blessed and learned so much from my team and the Lord, and we haven't even left the United States yet! Thank you so much for your prayers and support. I really appreciate it.

Prayer requests:
-that the Lord will coninue uniting us as a team
- for the people of Bangladesh
-for His presence in our lives as well as Bangladesh

God Bless,
Angela

Eddy

HELLO I am a part of Team Bangladesh! I love this team and I am excited that my life is parallel with these amazing people at this moment and that we will go together to serve the people of Bangladesh.First let me introduce myself my name is Eddy Martinez and I am a Psychology major i have one more year left at Apu. After this i plan on doing something more globally minded or stay back and work towards my counseling degree. I have grown up in the church and this will be my first intensive mission. I am an Resident Advisor here at Apu and I am having a blast with it. I currently am just getting ready for this trip and finishing the semester off.

I am really excited for this trip and i pray that God will just use me to the fullest and that i will gain a globally minded perspective. On our trip we are working from poor people with a Mother Theresa organization to children who have been subjected to trafficking or are at risk. This definitely will be hard to see and experience on the trip. For me, to look into there eyes and see a reflection of pain and hurt that people have caused them will open my eyes to these things but it will also renew my perspectives. I want to gain a more self-less attitude and be able to speak for these people who cant. I also cant do anything other than be excited that i will spend this time with a wonderful team that is awesome and amazing in every way.

Prayer requests

• God will use us and be the center of our work in Bangladesh.
• We will be vulnerable and bond with each other as a team, so that no outside obstacles will hinder us from our work.
• We will come back changed and Globally minded.
• The people of Bangladesh that we come in contact with will be engulfed with Gods love and compassion when we are done with our work there.

With love,

Eddy

CALLEE!

Hello Hello!

My name is Callee Maria Jaques and I'm so blessed to be on this team! But before I brag about how great they are, a bit about me. I'm from Chino, CA where my wonderful family has a dairy farm. I have an older sister, brother-in-law, and two older brother that I adore... most of the time :) My parents are pretty awesome too. Love you all! I've grown up in a Catholic home that has shaped my beliefs and outlook on life. I'm finishing up my junior year/second year in the nursing program. I keep myself busy with hospital rotations, studying like crazy, soccer intramural, position as a Campus Life Intern, and now preparing for this amazing mission.

This is my first mission and second time being out of the country. I'm excited to experience a new culture and see the work God is doing there. The amazing organizations we are assisting is what pulled me into this trip. Mother Teresa led a selfless, Christ-centered life and seeing the mark she left in Bangladesh will be unforgettable. The terrible world of sex-trafficking has become more apparent to me these last few years. It breaks my heart that women and children are subjected to this life all over the world. It will be an honor to work alongside the men and women that dedicate their lives to rescuing them.

And I couldn't see myself sharing this experience with any other group of people. I LOVE MY TEAM! God has given us a strong foundation of unique gifts and selfless passion. I am confident in our team, confident in this mission, and confident in the plans He has for us!

Prayer Requests:
-Keep Christ the focus in this trip
-Learn how to communicate His love to the people of Bangladesh and Nepal
-Financial support (THANKS TO ALL THE SPONSORS)
-Being culturally competent, in other words, not making an idiot of myself in another country


With love,

Callee

Miss Corinne

Hello!

My name is Corinne Paget & I am co-leading this mission trip to Bangladesh!! I will be graduating in May after three years of college. I am an accounting major and have accepted a position at an accounting firm in Irvine beginning July 19th-- Just weeks after flying home from South East Asia. I grew up in the Church and have been actively involved since a young age. My first overseas mission trip was during the summer of 2007. I traveled to Perth, Australia to help serve alongside WYAM. My other major mission trips include Mexico and Amsterdam. I am from Redding, in Northern California and I am the oldest of 4. I currently am an RA at APU and work at University Relations as the business intern.

The Lord pressed mission leadership on my heart during Missions Chapel. I chatted briefly with Justin at the information meeting, but I didn't know him at that time. I spoke with a mutual friend who later introduced me to Justin on his (the friend, Rory) own accord. I interviewed and everything fell into place. Interviews were phenomenal. Several applicants, including many boys, which I guess is unheard of :) And we found our perfect 8 and ta-da!!

This process has been life changing already. I absolutely adore everyone on my team members.

The Lord's hand is obvious in every area of our team and our plans. For instance, surprise! We're going to Nepal for 3 weeks :)

Story: Yesterday was my 21st Birthday. The evening prior was our team meeting & they surprised me with flowers, a poster card, and cake! &&& get this, the next day in the middle of my scavenger hunt I was lead to Justin's where an unbelievable painting was waiting just for me. Each color represented a team member & scripture of the importance of each member of the body and I cried :) and I received cards from many of them, so I cried more. Anyways, Justin, Angela, Lizzee, Callee, Taylor, Kyle, Eddy, Stephen, and Chris bless me every time I see them. If I could I would be with them every day all the time. God is just so good to me.

Prayer requests:

• Great, constant communication.
• Wisdom, guidance.
• Acceptance and openness to what has not been experienced before
• Time for Sabbath, prayer, and quality Jesus time.

A little about Me and Team Bangladesh

Hey everyone!!
I’m Kyle Sawyer and for those of you who don’t know me I will introduce myself first as well as than tell you all about our trip!!
I’m a freshman here at APU and I’m a History and Political Science double major. These subjects have been passions of mine for awhile now and I have felt God’s calling into education specifically as a professor of history and so that is my eventual career goal. I also enjoy a good philosophical and political debate! In terms of my history before APU, I’m from Chandler (Queen Creek), Arizona and went to Chandler High School. I was an AP student there and enjoyed my time and feel I gained a great education and foundation for my knowledge from there. My church fellowship in Arizona was Chandler Christian Church which is a non-denominational church with a Wesleyan background.
Now that you know a little more about me I feel I should tell you where my passion for Bangladesh originated. My passion first started at a Christ in Youth camp a couple summers back where we watched a documentary (Baht) about sex-trafficking in Southeast Asia. This documentary deeply impacted me and gave me a fire to help those in such a situation. My next step in this journey was actually an educational one, I began learning more about economics in my high school comparative governments class and we discussed the rising economy of Bangladesh and the hope this has provided the region. This hopefulness is something I believe is an amazing thing but can only be fully realized when coupled with a faith in Jesus Christ. When I than saw the booth for Team Bangladesh at our missions fair, I felt drawn to it and knew that’s where I was called to go and so I applied.
From this I am so excited for how God is going to use us this summer. While many of the details are stilling being ironed out and difficulties have been encountered I know God is doing great things in the region and feel so blessed to be a part of that. Our team I know can’t wait to be a shining light of God’s love to everyone in the region, they will know us by our love.
I have so much more to say but I will leave the rest for further posts but I will also post some (but certainly not all) of our prayer requests.
-Hope for the People of Bangladesh
- A continued spirit of love and joy from God to emanate through us
- Financial support (Thank you so much to all those who have donated so far)
- That we will be well-received by everyone we encounter
- Protection from spiritual, mental, emotional, and even physical dangers which we may encounter
In love,
Kyle Sawyer

Hello All!

Hello beautiful friends and family!

Kemon Aachen? (That means “How are you?” in Bengali) I hope this blog finds you well! I appreciate all your support whether it is in the form of finances, prayer, or encouragement. Praise the Lord, we have raised over 30% of our total financial need! We are so thankful for your love and the opportunity to share our journey this summer with you!


Our team (minus Callee) at the training retreat a couple weekends ago.

For those reading this who don’t know me: I’m Taylor McCord, a Junior Marketing major here at APU. I work in the same office our team is going through, the Office of World Missions (which I absolutely adore) and I hope to one day work for a non-profit. My desire is to use my marketing skills to bring glory to God and help the oppressed and poor in our world. Jesus made these types of people of utmost importance in his ministry on earth and I strive to follow his example. These people must not be forgotten, but that takes people bringing awareness to others and providing them with the means to take action.
I have a passion for traveling and learning about new cultures. I’m so blessed and privileged to have this opportunity to travel to Bangladesh with such an amazing group of people. There’s no mistaking God’s hand in bringing our team together. I am so excited to see where the Lord leads us, and the ways he will, and already is, growing and stretching each of us individually. I can’t wait to meet the people of Bangladesh and Nepal (we will be splitting our time in both places) and hear their hearts and life stories. I hope to be transformed by the new culture I experience. I do not want to come home the same person, returning to my typical, daily routine.
Recently, the Lord has been teaching me patience and the importance of taking time from the busyness of life to just sit with him and listen. I get so caught up in the things I must accomplish throughout the week, that I forget to be still with the Lord. It is so essential to make time to spend with the Lord, as with any other important person in my life. I want to hear his voice and I know he has radical things to tell me.

Love,
Taylor


We love each other and we like to snuggle! :)














Prayer Requests:
-For our team to continue to bond on deeper levels
-For open hearts in both the team and those we will be serving
-To develop spiritually and keep the Word of the Lord close to our hearts and minds

Upcoming Fundraisers:
-Date Night with Team Bangladesh on Sunday, March 21st . http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/event.php?eid=333253382335
-April 11th. Warrior Dash. If 25 people volunteer (including the 10 of us), we receive $1,000! http://www.warriordash.com
-A cake walk, dunk tank, and some homemade bracelets in the works… be excited!

Team B-Desh! (The First Post)

So I have the honor (and was elected) to do the first post for Team Bangladesh!

I'll start with a little introduction of myself:


My name is Stephen Potts. I am a third year communications major and Biblical studies minor at Azusa Pacific. I was born and raised in San Jose, California. My time here at APU has been fantastic and I have been involved a lot on campus. This year has been great so far after just being a coordinator for the orientation program here called Alpha. This will be my third missions trip that I will be going on, and the second one going through the Office of World Missions.

Personally, I am so excited for this trip. Nothing has really been finalized in our trip of what we are going to do, but I know God will be having us do amazing things for Him and we will experience a lot of His glory this summer. This will be a great trip to see whether missions will be something I will be continuing to do short term or whether I am being called to a more long term time abroad.

Along with being excited for the trip, I am so excited for our team as well!

These first few weeks of getting to know another has been great because, well, we're an amazing group! Being involved in a lot of groups in my time as a student leader, I have never seen such love together right off the bat of meeting each other than I do in our group. I would say that our team has a personality of being very fun loving, affectionate, caring and joyous. We've been very responsible as well, getting our letters in on time and being the first time to pay our tithes. I see us bonding so well and being able to support each other greatly on our trip.

This weekend is the training retreat for of all the missions teams so we get to hang out and learn together for an entire weekend. It's going to be a good time!

I shall leave you with a few prayer requests:
-The people of Bangladesh
-For our support letters to be received well.
-Financial support
-Team development
-Protection from spiritual attack

You are Loved!
~Stephen