The flight was long but good. It ever ceases to amaze me flying into Kathmandu.
Buildings upon buildings creep out of the small squares of land everywhere. Green, pink, blue homes seem to rise up 3 or more stories along the narrow unpaved roads. Some never completed after years remain as bones of cement. Rentals abound as only the rich can afford homes now with a small plot of land (342 sq feet) costing more than $20,000…so rentals abound with owners not responsible for any repairs of any kind. People are lucky to have a place to live I hear. The homes build up to rent lower floors and owners live on the top. This is the city of Kathmandu in Nepal. A faith in the Christian community is maintained against all the odds. Inspiring.
The van slowly follows traffic to take me to the Hotel for two nights. A small child wrapped in blankets of various colors squats on the street as dogs bark and growl at each other. Coldness is everywhere as little fires add to the air pollution but needed to keep warm. Fires made of anything- glowing in small round metal disks…..children squatting close with hands hovering to keep warm. Rain causes a deeper cold among the people who run with anything they can find above their heads. So cold.
Our mission is to go to rural areas where we can help the poor in villages, we will attempt to deliver goats to widows,facilitate a medical camp, deliver blankets, book bags full of needed supplies to children who have none , take two laptops and school supplies to a childrens home I have worked with for 5 years now, Mercy Children Home. And wherever we need to go and have the time.
We will start next week by going to the Terai – with an 8 hrs plus drive (warmer there I am told) where we have heard of a small village school where the children cannot afford any supplies. This school has 75 children below grade three. Our goal is to supply them with book bags, pencils and tablets of paper so that they have a better opportunity to learn. This will be my first trip there so I will evaluate the needs for the next trip. This is where CFH helped to build a church some years ago. In the past we have helped teachers with desk top computers loaded with learning materials to enhance learning for all in Babare. I will evaluate this trip to see if it is possible to bring computers to this school also next year.
This trip brought me to my knees., already. The temperature has hovered at night around 37 degrees. Thin window panes and no heat has allowed me to view life very differently. I have been here when cold before but this year it has also rained and the damp cold is bone chilling. I have spent two days in bed with stomach cramps (thank God that was all) reading scripture and leaning on the Lord for deliverance from this and motivation for this which I have been sent. My host family are wonderful and were concerned but I awoke today ( Tuesday in the US) feeling refreshed. God is good.
Dogs bark throughout the night, birds chirp with the morning sun. There is NO silence in Nepal. Streets are crammed with bikes,motorcycles, taxis, cars and various animals as always and the sounds of never ending construction. I have found my rest here in the hands of the Lord….he has forgiven me much and has graced me to be used. To give is the greatest pleasure to see a moment of joy in the faces of people and children here…such a blessing.
We are limited now outside of a church setting to preach the Gospel. India has applied a lot of pressure and now a government that opposes Christians is on the move. Arrests have been made again and so the pastors I work with are cautious. We know that God will work through our aide and know the pastors that have churches near by…as in Babare the church grew from 12 to over 50. God works in so many wonderful and mysterious ways in His great compassion.
In His Name
Pam