How did you first become interested in Nepal and INF’s work?
My grandma lent me Naomi Reed’s ‘My Seventh Monsoon’ years ago, which shares her experiences working with INF in Nepal. I loved the deep and confident dependence on God that ran through all the stories, such that when I visited Nepal in 2012 for my law degree, I made contact with INF.
A couple of years later an opportunity arose to see INF’s projects in greater depth and I headed back to Nepal.
Tell us about your visit to Nepal?
It was a whirlwind! We wanted to get a feel for the different types of work INF does across the country, so we did quite a bit of travelling - from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj on the border with India to beautiful Pokhara. We met so many wonderful people and saw God at work in very real ways. The hike at the end of the trip was an important time of processing what we’d seen and heard. We had so much fun with one another and developed lasting friendships - amongst the Australians and Nepalis alike.
What was your impression of the church in Nepal?
Nepal is not an easy place, but my distinct impression was of joyful dependence on God amidst the political, spiritual, and physical challenges they faced.
How has the trip to Nepal impacted your life?
It’s difficult for me to imagine what my life would be like had I not gone on the trip! The place gets under your skin. The people and places are constantly on my mind and in my prayers. I have profound confidence in the projects that INF is involved with, having seen some of them first hand, and so I delight in partnering with that work financially from afar. I have made lifelong friendships, and feel so bound to the country such that I look forward to seeing where God will lead me in the coming years.
Have you been involved in raising awareness/fundraising for Nepal and INF in Australia?
Following the earthquakes of 2015, I was involved in coordinating a prayer event in Sydney. I’ve also facilitated fundraising relationships with other organisations through my networks and I’ve joined the INF Australia board.
Why would you recommend the Youth Ambassador Challenge?
You’ll be changed, and it will open up possibilities for your life that you can’t anticipate from your current vantage point. God is at work, and it’s exciting to be involved in anything that He has his hand in.
by Alex Barwick
27-year-old Steph Judd is a lawyer based in Sydney. Steph shares the joy of partnering in INF’s work and the privilege of seeing God at work first hand in Nepal.
An Interview With Sydney Lawyer Steph Judd
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