When most of us hear mustang, we tend to think of an impressive car, perhaps a song, maybe a regal horse; but there’s also a most majestic place on the other side of the world that bears the name. Dating back to the 14th century, it was supposedly founded and shaped to be a walled capital city to a kingdom where Buddhist religion, philosophy, and art mutually thrived. And although it was able to avoid outside influences with its mountainous enclosed location, it eventually grew due to its strategic location on a vital trade route. And although the more modern future insisted it be part of a surrounding nation, Mustang, also known as “The Last Forbidden Kingdom,” was permitted to keep their monarchy with the royal line dating back to that 14th century beginning, drawing its conclusion in 2008. It is a rather simplistic overarching history of one of the most beautiful places in a nation whose images are revealing anything but beauty.
About a week ago (August 26), 250 miles southeast of Mustang, flooding began to thoroughly ravage Nepal. It is believed that a massive glacier collapse unleashed a torrent of ice, rock, and mud, with speeds up to 120MPH. Along with the continued disastrous effects, nearly 1,000 people have died, with thousands more missing. Although the zone of horrible catastrophe has not reached Mustang, local conservationists and other authorities have increased the tracking of nearby glacial debris and river headwaters as residents fear of their homes being next.
In the meantime, Mustang has, yet again, become a critical stop on a route for vital supplies and support to get to those in the most desperate need. In a sense, its significantly important space helps us remember one of our proudest ministries with our wider church: Lutheran Disaster Response; often working alongside Lutheran World Relief, and connecting with local organizations and agencies to ensure immediate and long-term relief efforts can truly provide hope and offer any sense of new life to those directly impacted by the stories we only hear and see about from the comforts of our space on the other side of the world. We, and even those of Lutheran Disaster Response, may not be able to be part of Divinely-shaped answers to the most heart-wrenching prayers, but hopefully we can be a spiritual stop of sorts to ensure tangible compassion is extended as much as our collective humanity can muster.
As always, you are invited to visit Lutheran Disaster Response through the link provided below, where 100% of all gifts will go to short and long-term relief efforts. But even, if not, we lift up the people of Nepal, including those of Mustang for their vital role in the response. God be with them all! Amen.
In Christ,
Pastor Brad
https://www.elca.org/how-we-serve/relief-and-development/lutheran-disaster-response