Greetings from Kev in Kathmandu - Newsletter 6

Hello,

Yes, I’m back in Kathmandu, but let me first update you on the rest of my adventures in India.

The schedule for the rest of the visit (since Newsletter No.5) was busy, with church preaches planned in for each remaining Sunday.

First off was a visit to Rongchong Pentecostal Church.  This is some distance from Kalimpong and getting out of the car I suddenly felt as though the air was very hot and heavy – was I about to be ill ? – no, we had just descended a lot in altitude and were now in a valley !!!   As we had arrived early, I was taken up the village to see the hanging bridge.  Actually there are two.  The present bridge was built in 1968 and there are the skeletal remains of the older bridge alongside.  It reminded me of a scene from an Indiana Jones film, but at least no enemies appeared waving swords !!  We had been asked to make the message 1 hour, including translation and the timing went well.  Dr. Sada’s niece, Chandra Rai, did the interpreting and I am grateful for the hard work she put into this task, both here and at the house fellowships – including reviewing the messages before-hand to make sure the translation went smoothly.  Afterwards, I was really encouraged when Dr. Sada told me how pleased people were that someone from “outside” had been to visit.  Normally, all preaching is done internally.

Next Sunday there was the visit to Kamjher Presbyterian Free Church.  We had a steep treck down the hillside from the road to the church and on the way I was shown the various crops grown in the area – including tomatoes and chilli.  I was also taken on a visit to the pigstye.  It was rather muddy underfoot, but there was no risk of “paddling” mud from the pigstye into the church, as everyone took their shoes off and left them outside.  However, one member of the congregation had to rush out during the message to rescue shoes from the torrential rain which had started (it is the monsoon season now).

The biggest preaching adventure, though, was to Nokdarh.  Although only around 50 miles from Kalimpong, the journey requires 2 overnight stays, because of the nature of the jeep service (that is the bus service !!!).  As we were high in the hills, it was very misty and windy.  Dr.Sada and myself spent the two nights in the church vestry (it does have beds!).  In addition to doing the preaching on the Sunday, I was able to attend two local house fellowships at which Dr. Sada was speaking.

On arriving back on the Monday morning, it was all go to prepare for departure early on Tuesday to catch the overnight coach to Kathmandu.  The normal route to the Nepali border was blocked by a landslide, so the journey was longer than normal, but we made it.  It was good we travelled when we did, because I heard later that all routes were closed by landslides and would take around 10 days to clear.  This is a common problem during the monsoon, but such a delay would have caused a real problem to my plans.

Although it was hard to say goodbye to everyone in Kalimpong, I was given a really warm welcome back in Kathmandu and soon got back into the swing of things – housefellowships, my final church preach on 4^th July and then a visit back to Asmita English School, to give some talks on earthquakes.

Following the earthquakes, people in Nepal are gradually putting their lives back together, but the work of re-building is still ongoing and will be for a long time.  I know Pastor Min Raj is grateful for the support given by so many people during this time.

So it’s proving busy right up to the end – but that’s what I came to do and I’m pleased to have been able to experience the different areas of ministry in the two countries with their different church histories. This will be the final Newsletter, since my flight out is on 12^th July.

With best wishes and many thanks to everyone for their prayers,

                                                                                                            Kev

At Rongchong Pentecostal Church, with Chandra Ria interpreting

Back in Nepal - Thursday House Fellowship