Being in a place like Nepal gives me an opportunity to experience things that other wise I would miss out on. This Friday was one of those occasions. Lately I have been blessed to become friends with two great Christians who happen to be doctors. One of these guys, B.J., is a doctor at a leprosy hospital outside of Kathmandu. In addition to his duties as a medical doctor, he also ministers to the youth of the staff at the hospital. On Friday I went with him and our other friend Sujan to see the hospital and share the Word with his kids. If you know me at all, you know this was a big answer to prayer. One of my great passions in life is youth and a chance to minister to some is a big blessing.

Sujan and I arrive at the hospital around 3:00 and found that B.J. still have 25 patients to see so we head into one of the local villages for a look around. As we walked Sujan shared his life and passion for God with me. It was amazing to hear what God had brought this guy through. After our walk we met up with B.J. and he showed us around the hospital. Now when I say this I don?t mean that he simply showed us the facilities. B.J. actually lead us around like doctors. Now this was normal for Sujan, but for me it was a first. We went to the different ward and looked at different cases of this devastating disease. What most westerners know of leprosy they have heard from the Bible or from hearsay, but after this experience I have a new understanding. I meet men and woman with crippled hands and feet, without fingers and toes, some missing legs and arms. B.J. showed us one man who had just half of his thumb and half of his pinky on both hands, his skin pigment was completely discolored, and his face was loosing its shape. Instead of shock and fear I was overcome with compassion. I now have a greater understanding of Scripture when it says that Jesus looked on the multitudes and had compassion on them. In that moment I such a great desire to do all I could to increase the value of life for these people. We meet another lady who had been brought to the hospital by her husband for treatment and her husband never returned. She has been living there for forty years. Once a person becomes a leper, their family and village abandon them completely. These people have nothing but pain to keep them company. I am so thankful that God let me see and even touch these precious people. Just letting them know that they are loved was such a reward for me.

After doing our rounds, we met with fourteen youth and had a great service. Only about half of the youth there were believers, so pray that God gets a hold of their hearts. We had a great time of laughing, singing, and studying the Word. It?s because of things like this that I can say, ?Man, I love my job!? I have said it before and I will say it again, ?I was born for this.?

I stop and look at my experiences thus far and I am blown way that God has been so good to me. He has provided so many things that I don?t deserve. Why is He so good to such a wicked man? This is a question I?ve asked over and over again. Praise you Lord that your goodness is not based on me, but on you. Today I was taken back to Matthew 11:28-30, and remind that the work and burden of the Lord is an easy load. That when we pick it up and learn from Jesus we find rest. God you are so good to me?thank you.