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.

Back to Nepal!

My family arrived in Edinburgh on 3rd May 2010, and I attended the International Christian College for training on Mission, children at Risk and Leadership. The Church of Scotland supported me during the training which was useful as it reinforced my knowledge and skill to work with the poor and the marginalized.

My family have enjoyed - and we thank everyone who supported and encouraged us during - our stay in Scotland. Thanks to all Church of Scotland congregations in Kilmanock, Irvine and Inverness Presbyteries for welcoming and being with us.

Farewell at Barclay's

My commissioning service was at Barclay View Forth Church and was attended by Members, Church of Scotland World Mission Council staff and others.

We are now packing and leaving for Nepal.

Our August vist to Inverness Presbytery

At the Palace Hotel, Inverness for High Tea!

We arrived at Inverness on Friday 20 August and Mrs Issy Freudenthal from the World Mission Committee met us at Inverness Station. She took us to High Tea at the Palace Hotel, along with Rev Bart Buell and Mrs Heather Beck. It was a lovely opportunity to meet them, and afterwards Issy took us to Beauly where we spent with Reverend Edgar and Jean, where we enjoyed being with the family.

On Saturday, we visited the Church of Scotland congregation at Ness Bank Church Inverness. Rev Fiona and the members spent time with us informally. It was an opportunity to interact and for the congregation to learn about the work we are doing in Nepal. The members were encouraged and they committed to pray for my family. They requested us to send updates on our progress. Rev Fiona Smith, minister of Ness Bank, provided lunch for us and we enjoyed being with Andrew, Katie and Liza.

On Sunday, I also visited Kilmorack and Erchless Parish and met Church of Scotland congregation in Struy about ten miles from Beauly. We all then visited Beauly Church where there were more than 100 members. We were happy to meet the people, and shared about our work in Nepal using PowerPoint presentation and a 3- minute Video to show the challenges that women and children infected and affected by HIV face in Nepal.

Then we also visited Alan and Pamela Lemon, at Ardendrain. It was a good opportunity to meet the family and to learn about their experiences and their link with needy people in Kolcatta, India.

We went on to Drumnadrochit - 12 miles south of Beauly beside Loch Ness where we met the Congregation members from Urquhart and Glenmoriston. The members encouraged and prayed for us. I thank Rev Hugh Watt for praying and meeting us. Our appreciation also goes to Andy Fothergill for taking us back to Beauly. On Monday 23 August we left Inverness and returned to Edinburgh

It was a successful visit and we thank the Church of Scotland for giving us the opportunity to visit such a wonderful and beautiful area. The congregations were welcoming and we were so much touched by their love. We thank World Mission Council staff for linking my family with these congregations and also Rev Edgar Ogston and Jean for hosting us.

Scottish links

It was wonderful to visit the Church of Scotland congregation in Irvine and Kilmarnock presbytery. It was lovely to meet Rev George Lind and Rae - and of course a dog called “Sam”. The congregation warmly received us at the Manse of St. Columbus Parish. We had a good opportunity to interact, get to know each other and I shared about my work in Nepal. I was happy to meet some people who had lived and worked in Kenya.

The congregation was welcoming: we had delicious snacks and lunch, and afterwards a quick visit to Kilmarnock and Irvine. It was encouraging to hear the congregation ask questions, amongst others  specifically about condom use in regard to the fight against HIV.

My family and I felt connected to the congregation because of the prayers and love that was extended to us. It was fulfilling to hear about the church’s support in Africa and continued support for God’s work in Nepal. We are happy to know that they will be praying and connecting with us while we are working in Nepal