I find it hard to muster up words to even describe the experience of traveling to Nepal. There is so much to say, but I will let the photographs do the most of the talking.
Spending the month of March in this beautiful country allowed me to take in the day-to-day life, not just the tourism or “travel highs,” but also appreciate the daily routine and beauty in the mundane. Nepali culture is vastly different from the western world, therefore everything was fascinating and invigorating! Curiosity sparked my inspiration, and I came alive during this trip. With a camera by my side, I documented my travels through the art of digital and film photography.
The initial purpose of the trip was to attend The Beyond Workshop, a teaching platform for photographers to learn how to give back to the world through their business. But before the workshop even began, I arrived about a week early and traveled around, made some incredible new friends, and became acquainted with the culture. I admit it was a lot to take in at first: the smells, sounds, language, cuisine, etc.
A common association with Nepal is either Mount Everest or the 2015 earthquake. But rarely do we hear about the resilient, vibrant, hard working people. Reality is that their government is corrupt, there’s significant spiritual warfare, and the country is experiencing repercussions and an economic blow from the natural disaster. It happened exactly a year ago. The horror of the 7.8 magnitude of the earthquake took thousands of lives, and my heart breaks at this tragedy. (Luke 13 is a helpful text). Yes, there is so much hardship, however hope shines exponentially. The Nepali people represent strength and perseverance. Let us remember the urgency of the gospel reaching all ends of the earth. Continue to lift up Nepal in prayers!
After spending weeks in this country, my heart is moved by their way of life and the kindness they showed me. (Not to mention alllllll the yummy chai Masala tea they gave us.) The mountains and terrain and bustling city all left a lasting impression- and so did all the people around the world who came for #thebeyondworkshop2016.
I’m still processing everything and blown away how the Lord orchestrated this opportunity. No doubt this was a life-changing experience, and my heart is ever so moved for this people group. If you would like to talk more details, please don’t hesitate to reach out. More pictures to come, but for now, here is week one:
