Attack Lambs in Tibet
The Cathay Pacific B777 is pushing away from the Hong Kong International terminal and our team is grappling with a spectrum of emotions and memories. The spiritual hunger we encountered in the last two weeks was staggering. Tibet is currently .01% Christian. It is steeped in superstition and enslaved in obeisance to a vast host of gods. Our hearts dropped as we gaped at a forlorn but determined 10 or 11-yr old-boy – one of a continual stream of pilgrims who travel on foot from all parts of the region (some as far as a five-day drive) to attain enlightenment at the Jokhang Temple. After every three steps, they prostrate themselves in worship, blocks of wood strapped to their palms as protection from this grueling groveling.
Once at the temple, these desperate seekers join a crushing crowd, in Disney length queues that slowly snake toward the smoky inner sanctum. There, orange-clad monks sit mesmerized, chanting and swaying, surrounded by wood and stone deities that are entirely incapable of any response.
Our hearts lept with delight as nomads and educators, government officials and chefs opened their hearts to learn more about the Most High God, who demonstrated His grace by sending His Son. Some had heard about His love from the families of the 320+ children whose futures have been restored through the Touching Hearts medical initiative. Others were recipients of bilingual educational materials.
Our role was to shine brightly in the darkness so they could see our good works (not just hear our good words) and glorify our Father in heaven.
We’ve left terra firma and have reached cruising altitude – slightly higher, we joke among ourselves, than one of our camping locations on the “rooftop of the world”. We’re looking forward to reuniting with spouses and kids, food that we recognize and the cushy comfort of our own beds in home countries that are saturated with the availability of scripture.
However, our restless conscience is consumed by a Christ-less people, high in the Himalayas, whose hearts are hungering for the Most High God. And we are blinking back tears as we inwardly inquire of the Lord about how soon He will allow us the privilege to return – bearing precious seed.
Will you pray about going with us next year? Just like we experienced on this trip, you will doubtless come again, with rejoicing, having seen harvest in the high Tibetan plateaus.
Bonnie Lloyd
