Let Your Light Shine
On Volunteer Corps, we stress showing the love of Jesus by our actions. We serve in the most desperate parts of the world, in the most challenged communities. We strive to do so with grace, patience, kindness, as well as humility and respect. We don't always succeed, but we certainly do our best. We are in no way the saviors of the world. We make a difference, of course, as we assist existing long term programs, but we learn at least as much as we give.
Our goal is not necessarily to preach or convert; it is to serve, because it is the christlike thing to do. In the process, though, God does incredible miracles. He softens the hearts of the people who watch us serve. It happens again and again.
Santosh Lamsal works at the front desk of the Holy Himalaya Hotel in Kathmandu, the place where, over the last few years, almost 200 Volunteer Corps participants from all over the world have stayed.
Santosh has watched us wrap Christmas presents for the children of the HOPE worldwide school. He has heard our singing and our devotionals. He has witnessed the late night talks, the discipleship groups. He has interacted with our volunteers at the front desk. And he was slowly intrigued.
He started visiting the church a year ago, studied the Bible over many months, and was baptized this past Saturday.
Let us never underestimate the impact our patience, kindness, and humility, can have on people who watch and observe our behavior. How patient am I when I land in a foreign country, exhausted from a long flight? How joyful am I after a long day of service? How respectfully do I treat people who have less material wealth than I do? How do I adapt to a foreign culture, and put my needs after those of others?
We never know who could be watching... It is a testimony to the character of our volunteers on the four trips that have served in Kathmandu over the last couple of years, and to the godliness of the local Hww staff, when someone who works in customer service decides to follow Jesus.
We are going back to Kathmandu this year. For more information, follow this link: https://www.hopeww.org/nepalhvc2018
Hurry, as the trip is filling up fast!
