Caught in the Rain
“It’s not going to rain,” I said confidently, looking at the billowing clouds, “I’m sure we can hike a little further.”
“I think it is going to rain,” said my more practical husband, “We are going to get very wet…AND we have the baby.”
“Oh no,” I persisted, “It may just sprinkle, but definitely not rain a lot.”
We hiked a few more minutes up the trail, enjoying the view above the city of Banepa and the opportunity to be up in the hills.
The first large drops hit me like the start of a shower faucet being turned on. Frantically, I looked first at the sky and then at the surrounding area, hoping that a place of shelter would present itself. The trees around us were pine, sparsely limbed and widely spaced, providing little shelter from the storm.
The only thing that looked like a possibility was a group of houses down to our right off the trail. The problem was, we didn’t know anyone who lived in those houses. Peering down longingly through the now torrential rain shower, we were wondering how we should keep our 4 month old infant dry when we heard a shout behind us.
“Its raining!” said the voice. We knew that.
Turning around, we saw a young man waving at us from the start of a small path leading down to one of the houses. “Come into my house!” he called cheerfully and turned and started trotting down the trail.
Without hesitation, we began running after the man down the trail, passing other houses with their curious occupants peering out of the shelter of doorways.
Quickly ditching our shoes in the entrance, we dove through the doorway into a low-ceilinged room. Two beds occupied one side of the room and a cabinet and dresser filled the other wall. In the space in between sat two older ladies, one old man, and a heavily pregnant lady we took to be wife of the man who had so kindly invited us into his house. They looked mildly surprised to see two soggy white people and a wet baby stumbling into their house.
Placing our hands with the palms together in the customary greeting, we settling onto the floor as our host explained our situation to the other occupants. “Will you take tea?” he questioned, and then set his wife to the task of brewing us a cup.
In a combination of broken English and scanty Nepali we conversed for the next hour over a wide variety of topics: religion, politics, family, growing crops, and the weather. We learned that he and his wife were Christians and that his wife was due to have her baby in two days at our hospital!
As the rain began to dissipate, we took our leave of the gracious family with many thanks for the shelter. We told them that when they came to the hospital to deliver to let us know and we would come see the baby.
Walking home in the mud and refreshing air, we reflected thankfully on the kindness of strangers.
Jonathon kindly did not say, “I told you it was going to rain.”
Two days later, Jonathon received a text:
“I am Hari, please pray for me and my child and wife my wife
pregnant for operation theater Jesus safety for this critical time”
A few hours later, we had the privilege of meeting their baby boy and praying with the new family.
We are so excited to have opportunities to make new friends and interact with our neighbors. Please continue to pray that we will be able to make a difference in our community on a daily basis.