The Measure of a Man: Ryan Cheong

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Calling for brothers! Nepal is a place filled with adventure and beauty. We would like to invite you to take up the challenge with us this year in the HWW Singles Corps Kathmandu! I sincerely hope that as I share my personal story with you, it will inspire YOU to join us this year in Nepal.

On May 9, my dad and I were given an opportunity to work together with the HOPE worldwide Disaster Relief Team to give out emergency supplies to villagers.

In the beginning, we were not fully prepared for the trip both spiritually and mentally. We were still scrambling to raise funds prior to the day of the trip. However, God humbled us when we started on the trip and graciously showed us how much we needed to rely on Him.

Deserted. Chaotic. Chalky.
This was what stood out to me about Kathmandu in the beginning when I touched down in the capital of Nepal. Half the population had previously fled the city in fear of a second earthquake and little did we know that we would experience the next one.

Most road journeys were on average 5 hours long. We sat at the back of a truck with neither cushion seats nor suspension. The rides were bumpy and one would require a strong gut to stomach the waves of nausea that caught us. At some point, we too had to push the truck up the steep hills and through muddy roads. It was an eye opener for I never knew that Nepal was a place bustling with adventure and excitement!
Indeed, Nepal challenges our physical perseverance. This has forced me to rely on God for strength.

My best memory of the trip was a 10-hr ride to Jimnang village which was situated within a remote area of Nepal. Throughout the journey, the truck rode on a dirt path of a slip road which was wide enough for only one vehicle to pass at a time.

We were on our 6 hour mark when I heard a “Boom!” as the house in front of us collapsed into smithereens and we could see dust rings building up from the villages below us. My dad and I were on a hill, 8 hours away from Kathmandu but from our position, we could still feel the tremors from the second earthquake.

My driver began to panic when he heard his phone ring-- it was not the first time that he had experienced an earthquake. One of his family members called to inform him that he one of his houses back in his village had collapsed and pleaded for him to come home.

In a blink of an eye, everything went downhill. The driver told us he wanted to head back home now, but we knew that we could not turn back where we came from without risking our lives. The sun would begin to set in a few hours and thus, not enough time for us to arrive back in the city safely.

The remaining leg of the journey was arduous, both physically and emotionally; we had to clear rocks off the path from the landslide, and push the lorry up the steep slopes against gravity.

We had no food and limited water supply throughout the period, and it seemed as if our bodies were giving up on us at times. The most emotionally draining part was how insistent our driver was about returning home to be with his family, but my dad persevered in assuring the driver that all of us would be able to get out of this rut safely.

It was undoubtedly God’s plan that he put the Nepali disciples with us. They showed us what mental strength and perseverance was when they endured the same obstacles as my dad and me, but doing so without grumbling. Their attitude helped me to get through the trip on a much positive note.

Finally, we reached the village. It was pitch dark as the power had tripped and electricity was cut off.

Another incident that impacted me was how the villagers allowed strangers like us to live in their homes for us to recuperate. They also provided us with food and wonderful black tea when we were famished.

God showed me that in the end, it was all worth it.

The next day we gave out tarpaulins, rice, and other basic necessities to the people.
As I strolled through the village, I saw how much the people needed the supplies-- most of their houses were flattened by the back-to-back earthquakes and the school built out of concrete where all the village children went, was devastated. The homes that we were put up in for the previous night was hastily made with leftover zinc from their old homes.

The perseverance from the villagers moved my heart and inspired me to see how God was able to use this trip to Nepal to teach me how to show love to people around me back home. It also showed me the importance of how our mere presence in the needy community could have an effect on their lives.

The people in Nepal still need a lot of help; the children and women are still at risk from human traffickers while the school-going children still need our love and foundational education. Women and children serve as easy preys to human traffickers. Also, most people had little to no access to proper sanitation and struggled with meeting their daily nutritional intake.

The challenge that most men face while on volunteer trips (HYC / HSC) is to acknowledge the emotions we feel when we see the devastation and widespread destruction that the people have to go through. Emotions are good. Sensitivity and vulnerability are good. Sometimes men try to be “tough” and “strong”, yet it is okay to feel and even cry. Jesus did.

I know for a fact that as you serve in Nepal or other places around the world, you will be inspired yourself to grow in your love for God’s people and most importantly, your love for God.
What you do will really change people’s lives.