Encouraging and fulfilling moments in Scotland…

The journey from Edinburgh to Kilmarnock and Inverness by train was enjoyable – seeing dramatic hills, green vegetation, flowing springs and amazing landscapes. I enjoyed meeting Church of Scotland congregations at Crosshouse, John Knox, St Andrews St.Columbus, St Kentigern’s, Fullarton, Ness Bank, Petty, Ardersier, Kirkhill, Crown, Barn, Drumnadrochit and Tomatin Breakfast Club. It was encouraging to share the progress of the Mission work including HIV and AIDS in Nepal.

My visit to schools and other community projects were encouraging and I enjoyed Alistair McDonald’s concert in John Knox Church, meeting with local voluntary groups’ representatives, talks with children in Schools and a football match between Scotland and Serbia (0-0).

I visited Blythswood Care at Evanton, spoke to staff and was impressed to learn how the organization mobilizes local resources to support physically and spiritually the needy people in Scotland and developing countries.

There was a Sexual Health Update day at Council Chambers Glenurquhart Road that was attended by Health Professionals and I had opportunity to share about the work supported by Church of Scotland in Nepal. According to the statistical data provided during the conference, UK has about 91,500 people living with HIV and AIDS.

I thank Ness Bank Guild, World Mission Council, Parish Ministers and the members of the church who provided accommodation, refreshments and vehicular facilitation.

It was exciting sailing to Loch Ness, a home of the ‘monster!’

Deputation was a wonderful experience for me! It was a time of great growth in my life. I thank God for the congregations’ prayers and support. Also, we want to thank the many faithful churches who have partnered with us so that we may move on to the next step of our ministry ensuring fullness of life in a transformed Nepali society.

 

Thank you and we wish you every blessing. 

By Joel, Agnes, Grace and Francis

Empowering churches for HIV response



Participants of HIV and Church’s response workshop

The process of enabling or empowering churches to serve requires commitment and willingness to bring about change. The Church should arise, communicate and serve people in need.
The HIV and AIDS orientation was conducted in Anugrah AG Church in Kabilvastu District. There were 24 Church leaders and members from 9 churches. In Nepal HIV awareness among the Christian community in Nepal is still low. The issue isn’t talked about much and congregations need to learn how to mainstream prayers for those infected and affected. It was encouraging to see participants deliberate on the various roles and capacity areas that are needed for churches to respond.

The HIV orientation sessions became a modeling opportunity to learn about facilitation skills and how to tackle sensitive matters like the use of condoms, sexually transmitted infections and sexual reproductive health.

Skill building, providing accurate information and emphasis on biblical perspective motivated Christian leaders and members to understand how HIV and AIDS issues can be addressed in the Christian community with their own resources.

The churches will be using the self assessment tool every six months to ascertain their progress and facilitators will attend peer learning reviews to share experiences and learn from each other. The initial score on the self assessment will be recorded by individual churches and then every 6 months the new score would be calculated. The progress will also be documented.

Relationship building enhances unity among churches and communities to respond to HIV and AIDS.

Please pray for: Political situation in Nepal especially for leaders as they make decisions that affect people and the country

A challenging trip to Harbale

Church leaders on the way to Harbale Nawaparasi

It was a challenging experience going to Harbale to conduct HIV sensitization. This is a remote area with narrow roads, constructed along steep cliff 200 meters deep in most of the areas. We spent the whole day going round and round the hills. I was encouraged to see people enthusiastic to know more about the epidemic. This is a marginalized area and services are very limited.

Christian leaders are challenged to create a good environment for members to learn, pray and encourage each other. The leaders realized that empowering church members on different social issues including HIV could be good entry points into serving the community. The church leaders also recognize that Biblical reference was important to ensure that ignorance is replaced with knowledge, and indifference with compassion.

Although HIV and AIDS is a global issue some participants were not aware about HIV, its mode of transmission and Christian responses towards community and marginalized people.
Please pray for childrens education in Harbale.

My reflection on HIV and AIDS orientation in Kalimpong, India

I take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to Church of Scotland and DISHA project staff for my visit to Kalimpong to facilitate awareness module on HIV and AIDS for Eastern Himalayan Diocese, Church of Northern India. The arrangement was done through DISHA-SAHAIYATA project supported by Church of Scotland. There were 43 participants from various pastorate regions. The orientation was successful and much was highlighted in 3 local television channels and local newspapers.

Group discussions on Biblical perspective
 on HIV and AIDS

The church members were encouraged to respond on HIV. In one area in Kalimpong, 116 people are living with HIV and Kalimpong Sub-Division Hospital provides treatment, care and support. Drug use is the main mode of HIV transmission among others. It is my hope that churches will work with communities to ensure that those infected and affected will have access to life skills, livelihood, enhance their resilience in this era of HIV and AIDS and give hope to affected population.

Kalimpong is one of the largest Sub-Divisions of India and has the distinct advantage of being centrally located and would require a minimum stay of 3 to 4 days to be covered. I enjoyed visiting Kalimpong and Darjeeling. Except for the monsoon months of Mid July to Mid September, Kalimpong is a wonderful place to visit throughout. The main languages are English, Nepali, Hindi and Tibetan. People migrate to other states in India and to neighboring countries such as Bhutan, China and Bagladesh.

Access to treatment enhances positive living

Please pray for:

• Church engagement in HIV work in Kalimpong

• People living with HIV and AIDS and caregivers

• DISHA project and the Sub Division hospital staff in Kalimpong as they encourage communities to respond to HIV and AIDS

• Government line agencies and other stakeholders supporting communities.

50th Anniversary Celebration for Okhaldhunga Hospital in Nepal

The journey to Okhaldhunga took two days each way and I was able to learn how God works through people in difficult situation with so many dimensions. Dr James Dick was a Missionary partner of Church of Scotland.

Dr James Dick says “First, I think I should mention that what I did was so long ago that the present population of Okhaldhunga has only a limited idea of what I did and under what conditions. The hospital was the first and, I think, still the only UMN hospital in East Nepal where conditions are different from the West. The Okhaldhunga is 100 miles from Kathmandu and in my time was a week's walk. All supplies apart from the simplest rural things had to be carried in on men's backs. The Church of Scotland gave support and I managed to get a hospital going. It is hard to recollect how different life was when I first came to Okhaldhunga – no running water, just kerosene tins carried from the nearest stream – no communications except for a series of postmen (dak wallas) running each a day's journey between Okhaldhunga and Kathmandu carrying one lot of letters out and returning with another lot of letters back, between two posts in a series of ten posts (daks). Wood was shaped with a wood chipper (an adze) rather than cut with a saw. Cement was very expensive, so walls were built with blocks of stone bonded with mud and dung – milk and meat came direct from the buffalo.”

His story and experience reflects how God strengthens and protects his people in serving the poor and the needy.

Joel giving a speech on behalf of Church of Scotland

Joel giving a speech on behalf of Church of Scotland

The 50th anniversary celebrations were held on 14 March 2012 and attended by Okhaldhunga Community Hospital staff, the Norwegian Ambassador, mission representatives, UMN staff , local officials and large number of local people. I represented Church of Scotland and conveyed good wishes to the community. It was encouraging to meet people and hear from them about their life experiences working in Okhaldhunga hospital and surrounding communities.

Joel receiving a present on behalf of Church of Scotland from Norwegian Ambassador

Joel receiving a present on behalf of Church of Scotland from Norwegian Ambassador

The hospital provides quality medical services and there is a plan to renovate and construct new building that includes the TB Ward, in and out patient department. Community contributes labour and local material. The hospital requires more supporters to improve the hospital facilities to serve more people.
Pray for:
-Okhadhunga hospital staff and the community
-The family of James Dick

God's mission for AIDS

For people who do not come face to face with Acquired Immune deficiency Syndrome(AIDS), it may be little more than curiosity. The media have announced its spread, its appearance and death were reported and the public seemed willing to ignore AIDS and to develop a false sense of security with respect to it. The presence of church must be a presence of hope and grace, healing and reconciliation, of love and perseverance to the end. AIDS has challenged the church to reflect on its identity and mission. God’s people must begin now to mobilize, to design and to implement a variety of sustaining ministries in the name of the Lord who commanded his people to love one another.

Providing education about AIDS and a broadening experience with it are destroying the myths, stereotypes and prejudices that inhibit an emphatic and supportive response. Illness and disabilities should be regarded as opportunity for God’s people to provide compassionate care and protection. AIDS ministries taken by congregation and individuals ought not to be underestimated. Sermons on the inclusive nature of God’s love, God’s presence in the midst of human suffering, understanding of human well-being and God as hope and refuge can influence attitudes and shape responses.

The situations of infected and affected people demand an intense pastoral response from the religious community. The task at hand is to constitute an accepting community, concern for the needs of the patients and others affected by AIDS.

Children's HIV ministry

The United Mission to Nepal supports its partner Nawa Jeevan Samaj Sewa (NJSS), a Christian Society in Sunsari that cares for 19 children affected by HIV. The impact of HIV on children and their families is not a simple issue with a simple solution or quick fix. When the HIV status of the child is known to be positive, preventive therapy against common opportunistic infections is always recommended as the standard care. The implementation of Antiretroviral drugs regimens to improve and extend the lives of children infected with HIV is considered whenever accessible and feasible. Yet, this is still a neglected area due to accessibility and the complexity of adequately implementing this service.

Nevertheless, concerted efforts to make Antiretroviral therapy available for children is being explored and strengthened in Nepal. The capacity of programmess for children living with HIV to provide adequate medical attention needs is being stressed. Even where Antiretroviral therapy may not be possible, better access to treatment of opportunistic infections help prolong lives, both for children and parents with HIV.

The family carers and guardians play a significant role when fully informed about preventing and caring for medical conditions though in some districts it is still underestimated. The Nepal Government, some International NGOs and National NGOs have child protection policies that are being brought into programmess and institutions. Some Children are affected by the changes in their parent’s emotional and physical state. They may not know what is happening to the parent and they become confused and frightened. Without proper support mechanisms, when a parent dies, children experience a profound sense of loss, grief, hopelessness, fear and anxiety. The role of the church is being built up to support affected all children and adults.