March 24

We woke and readied. Today we are going to Peacemakers Fellowship, a Christian service. Two days ago Jeff saw a flyer at the Pumpernickel Bakery advertising the service, or else we would not have known about it! Yeah! I'm excited to be able to go. We left at 750 or so, trekking to it. Jeff had tried to connect through the websites WhatsApp without any response. So we are just on walkabout if it doesn't pan out. Upon arriving, at 815ish, we saw the “Peacemakers” sign. It was open, but no sign of people or a service. Someone came out of the building and nodded to us and looked back shouting something back and upstairs. The door was open so we went into a lobby of sorts. We were about ready to leave when a young man came down. We asked about if there was a church service. He nodded and an middle aged man came down. He is the pastor, and welcomed us. The younger man is one of his four children. 

Anyway, we were given coffee, and told more international people were coming in a bit. So we sat around sipping coffee and gave each other our testimonials, basically. The minister has had an interesting life to say in the least. He left his grandmother's house at the age of 12 (his parents having died when he was younger), He came to Kathmandu and got by on odd jobs: houseboy, working in restaurants, working in a bicycle shop (eventually he came to co-own this). At the age of 16 he was introduced to Christianity through a “tract”, simply a flyer or leaflet. He then went back to school and since then has received his doctorate. At one time he was even persecuted and assaulted because of his belief while visiting a funeral of a relative. He had to actually flee early the next morning on the threat of death! It was an amazing testimony!!

He teaches English, and lets his light for Jesus shine, by still handing out “tracts” and witnessing God. But he has to be careful in the Nepali system of government. So he calls his place of worship a fellowship not a church. There were other nuances he and his family have to be aware of, and be “innocent as doves, but wise as serpents.”

Anyway, his four children are the worship team. We were given flyers and sang about five songs, when the other people arrived. They are Americans as well. They are here for a two to six week missionary trip to verbally teach/train Bible Stories to Nepalese translators to be passed to the Nepali people! Fascinating!! After introductions, we sang another song and then the minister, proceeded with a message from Mark 11:1-19. After the message we shared and prayed over prayer requests. Then service was over, but not our fellowship. The minster's wife brought us lunch of dal (lentil soup); rice; spinach; boiled egg; a dallop of pickled, spicy accompaniment; and sliced cucumbers and carrots. So God's people 'broke bread,' so to speak, and fellowshipped as brothers and sisters! It was fantastic, and rejuvenating!!

As we were leaving, we were wanting to give an offering, and was about to ask when the minister offered to his services – in the form of a tour in his car, today or tomorrow! Well, that was unexpected, but very nice and we said not today but maybe tomorrow. We did donate an offering, and said we would get in touch after we discussed it. We left having been blessed with God's Word; and being double blessed with God's family, especially the youngest daughter of the minister – she's eight and cute as a button.

We arrived back at our hotel and changed clothes, because we are going back out to experience Holi. Briefly, Holi is a Hindu festival, celebrating spring, love and new life. It's a colorful festival, with dancing, singing, and throwing or smearing powder paint of all colors at or on each other! We put on our Holi T-shirts and a bandana over our hair and set out. We did have the manager of the hotel take a picture of us before we left.

Up the streets, toward a main temple area, the crowds become more pronounced and loud, some shouting, “Happy Holi.” Then they would place some paint they had on our cheeks and foreheads. The young people, being more exuberant, seem to be the ones doing this more. They are also the ones throwing the powder. The really young kids, around ten to fifteen throw water balloons, some with paint colored water. Kids younger (around three to eight) have water guns🔫. Anyway, it is a gauntlet almost.

Finally, we arrive at the main temple area (at the big open square). From a distance, we see the 'twentysomethings' dancing/jumping to music, and throwing of powder all around in the air. The young people have really taken over this part of the holiday!! Also, I will say here, tourists add to the frenzy! Many of the tourists are worse than the native Nepalese with the powder paint. We did not buy any paint, but we did go out into it, so I guess we added some to the crowds, obviously.  I am wearing my face mask, Jeff opted not to wear his. But Wow! Quite a festival, even as we kept our distance from the main revelry. This is something to experience. I don't know that I need to participate ever again, but it is just something you may try to see once. 

We managed to get back to our hotel without being inundated too much more. Upon entering we had the manager take some after photos (as he laughed with us). We were a sight, and had only been out less than one hour! LOTS of color🖍️🌈🤡 on us!! Up in our room, we immediately hit the shower! Then ate PB and Nutella sandwiches. Then we had a siesta!

Supper, we ate at our hotel (because we did not want to go out and get “color-bombed” anymore). We had chicken, chicken, and chicken! As in Chicken Lollipops, Chicken Soup, and Chicken Fried Rice. It was a winner, winner, chicken dinner!!  🤣LOL😂!!! 

I reached out to my mother. Then we met our church brethren back home, watched the service. God bless to all!!!