She chose love.

Amaa

How can someone ever trust 

in the existence of an unconditional divine love 

when most, if not all, of what he or she has experienced 

is the opposite of love - fear, hatred, violence, and abuse? 

 They are not condemned to be victims! 

 There remains within them, hidden as it may seem, 

the possibility to choose love. 

 Many people who have suffered the most horrendous rejections

and been subject to the most cruel torture

 are able to choose love. 

By choosing love they become witnesses 

not only to enormous human resiliency

 but also to the divine love that transcends all human loves. 

 Those who choose, even on a small scale, 

to love in the midst of hatred and fear 

are the people who offer true hope to our world.

Henri Nouwen 

I am blessed.

Have you ever met a person that you could only imagine the kind of crown of glory 

and beauty they were to receive in His eternal kingdom?

My time in Pokhara, especially with the Thapa family 

has left my heart full and my mind reeling. 

There were the moments when Amaa and I sat on stools outside the kitchen, 

staring at each other, barred by our different languages,

but both being desperate to communicate, "you are loved".

Those were the moments that
I experienced true love and peace, 

without any words exchanged. 

And yet, every night tears filled my eyes

 as I battled homesickness, 

all the while wrestling with the truth 

of the blessing and privilege right before me.

I came face-to-face with Christ's true servants and 

I'm anticipating nothing but glory and gifts in heaven

 for their labor of love on this earth.

Jesus must have wanted to show me more of himself and more of his love

...and I am incredibly humbled.