Happy to reconnect again…

Joel and UMN staff (Anjana and Abhinaya) relish Scottish gifts

We arrived in Nepal on 3rd September 2010 and were really pleased to see Nepalese happy to see us again. After a few days of re-connecting with friends and our church family we had a good evening with a bible study group of young people from Patan Church. It was a day to say goodbye to one of the members who is going to the UK for further studies and has been supporting the church ministry among the young people. It was a forum where the senior pastor Dr .Mangalman answered questions about why Nepali Christians go to church on Saturday .The response was Saturdays are Government holidays while Sundays are normal working days. He emphasised that if the Government considers Sundays as holidays in the new constitution then Nepal Christians will go to church on Sundays.

Grace and Francis were also happy to connect again with their friends and trying to catch up with school work. Agnes was happy to meet again the women at Emanuel craft where they have celebrated their third Anniversary. The women produce jewellry to earn a living and educate their children. I started work and found a welcoming note by UMN staff (United Mission to Nepal). It was encouraging to see everyone and share my experiences in Scotland.

We are now settled in Kathmandu and weather is hot and rainy. I have been busy getting updates, writing donors reports, attending coordination meetings and of course resumed our morning jogging.

The electricity power rationing in Nepal has reduced to 2 hours in a day down from 16 hrs - this is a tremendous improvement. Peace and the constitution is now top priority for the Nepalese people. The new constitution cannot be promulgated before concluding the peace process which includes management of Maoist combatants; return of seized properties claimed one of the politician. There are frequent cases of road blockades on the main Prithvi Highway and other areas because of landslides, thousands of commuters have been stranded.

-Please pray that God may help people who are still stranded and displaced families can find secure shelter.

- Pray for partners who are caring and supporting people infected and affected by HIV in Nepal and that communities will continue to accept and pray for them.

Thank you.