Iris Nepal February Update

http://www.irismin.org/nepal/journal/iris-nepal-update-february-2012

enjoy!

Driving In Kathmandu

While the traffic here is not as bad as some places like India, its still crazy enough to keep you on your toes. Despite the craziness I love riding a motorcycle here.

The first portion of the video is road we ride almost daily, the second part is down town Kathmandu where we only go when necessary. It turns out that years of mountain biking growing up have had some unforeseen fringe benefits on the mission field.

Till The Ground

Fields near the Iris Nepal Children's home

We've been in Nepal for 10 months, and among the many many things involved in the perpetual learning process that is missions, has been this tension between our expectations and Gods, between our perspectives and time frames and those of our Father. Its really a losing battle for us, but I doubt any good would come if we had it our way. Expectations can be a strange and powerful thing. They can become these carelessly placed anchors in our mind that we hold onto and are often used as some irrational measuring stick. Perspectives can greatly alter our interpretations of things. A wall can look much taller from its base than from an airial view. Seeing in the natural Elisha's servant saw things very different than the prophet who saw the superior reality of the Spirit. Time along with us is a created thing and the created will never have greater understanding than the creator.

Ten months has been like the beginning of some slow pregnancy of the kingdom. Holy Spirit has been moving but not as visibly as we had expected. He's been tending to seeds in us that would not survive if they were birthed now. In many ways carrying this child of promise has been the most challenging aspect of moving here. The changes of environment and culture can be embraced with relative ease, but to have the beginnings of something hidden within us and not yet be able to release it is a challenge that we were completely unprepared for.

Following Jesus here has involved a lot more waiting that we had anticipated. I especially had fallen victim to a sort of "take it by storm" type of ambition. Thankfully Jesus in His mercy has deprived the plant of ambition any water allowing it to wilt considerably. He is not slow towards us concerning His promises as some count slowness. His promises don't return to Him void, He is faithful, He is patient, He is always good. I'm learning that its imperative to trust His promises completely and place little weight on circumstances. When we react to circumstances we can easily repeat the sin of Abraham and Sarah and take things into our own hands. But we must remember that even though waiting for a promise may reach the point of frustration, He is always faithful to His word.

So while this season here has at times felt a bit listless, thats a rather limited perspective. Jesus has been tilling the ground and preparing us for His purpose, and we wait, but we wait with the hope of promise.

-kyle