They said it was a road but I didn’t believe them. I just hung on tight as the little car bounced and rocked along the tight turns of the mountain path. Then, as we came over the rise I saw it. After more than two years I was back in my mountain village high up in the Himalayas. It was here that we began our sheep project in this little village of Muslims more than 4 years ago. I had kept in touch with our “man of peace” and had consistent updates but it felt so good to have my boots back on the ground and see all of my old friends again.
That evening we sat on the floor in the home of one of the shepherds drinking chai and chatting with some of the men. I began asking them about the sheep. “Do they only recognize your voice and no one else?” They nodded yes emphatically. They began to tell me how many herds of sheep will gather in the mountain meadows but when it is time to go the sheep will separate and only follow the voice of their personal shepherd. “In fact,” they said, “we can recognize every one of our sheep by face. We personally know every sheep.”
“If the sheep are in danger will you fight to defend them?” I asked. They all began to laugh and look at one of the shepherds. He raised his hand full of scars. He had actually fought a snow leopard who had tried to take one of his sheep. Armed only with a knife the man fought the leopard and rescued the sheep. That night we had the most wonderful time as I used their stories to tell of Jesus who is our Good Shepherd. How His sheep know His voice. How He knows each one personally and how He actually did lay His life down for his sheep.