Jai Mashi from Nepal!
Holy Week or Weak?
Here is a brief update of my previous week. This is round #2 compared to what we experienced early in 2019. God is in control. I am here to help the locals to encourage them. We sure appreciate all your prayers.
On Good Friday, I had a meeting nearby. After completing it, I noticed I had a flat tire on my bicycle. I found a shop to fix it where I thought I lost my phone. Instead, I merely misplaced it on my bag, fortunately. Conversely, on Easter Sunday, bombings ravaged the region in nearby Sri Lanka, an island nation south of India which is south of Nepal. ISIS apparently targeted Christians in answer for the recent massacre of Muslims in New Zealand. Some are estimating over 250 dead and many more hospitalized.
The Sincerity of New Believers
I have learned here that just like momentum in sports, politics, or even a battle as tides turn, it does affect people here even traumatically. Many see this as a time of the end. Those here in Asia seem to be much more deeply affected as members of the body and have a far more profound empathy for such incidents than I experienced in my life as a Westerner back home. Life here is much more communal in nature. Believers here sense a much stronger connection with each other and even of those abroad they see as family. They are among the youngest siblings globally with a church history in Nepal of mere decades and not centuries. They look to others in a particular way that is hard to describe in sincere kinship.
Persecution & Electricity Theft
The very next day (Easter Monday) four people were arrested in far western Nepal by police. One was an American. They were supposedly guilty of violating the anti-conversion law that went into effect in August of last year. She was deported on Wednesday evening. Incidentally, my uncle’s funeral in the States was also on that day.
Meanwhile, the nearby transformer blew on Tuesday evening leaving us without power for over a day where I rent. My guess is someone each evening is stealing electricity and finally blew it. Hard to catch them at night. That night my oldest daughter was up most of the night sick and vomiting. Here is a strand of bird flu that is currently affecting local chickens. We haven’t eaten in a while and now won’t.
Earthquakes on Wednesday
We awoke Wednesday morning to earthquakes. The first I felt since January of 2016. Thursday was the fourth anniversary of the 2015 Earthquakes that rocked the nation for almost a year and for many recoveries still alludes them. That night my youngest daughter was up also with sickness. I awoke to diarrhea and had to administer exams. The school’s office let me know the gov’t was coming to visit to inspect the school. They are hoping to delay it until my current term ends at the end of May.
On my way home, we had more rain. In fact, it is raining now again. We have not even started the monsoon season. I am concerned for the farmers and those out in the villages whose homes are primarily made of mud. When the monsoons do come, I am not sure the infrastructure can handle it. Lots of mudslides and the loss of lands plus the concern of earthquakes.
We seem to be healthier this morning. Lots of sicknesses are perhaps due because the of the rains and cooler temperatures than usual for this time of year shifting the climate quickly week to week from cold and wet to hot. The weather changes make it challenging. Many are sick here. One child in the church needs surgery today due to infections.
Visa Due in May
Lastly, my visa is due in May. We pray it goes well. Everyone seems to think I should be fine. One never knows. This thread has a lot of news related to Nepal here to keep you updated. For those interested in “seeing” more of Nepal, I found this mini-documentary illuminating. Thank you all for your continued prayer support! Just click here to subscribe!
