Nepal

Dr. Nicanor Tamang of I.N. Network Nepal tells of his highlight during a recent trip into Nepal; his visit to a village called Titare. The journey into the village included travelling towards the Chinese border, negotiating a road block, crossing a suspension bridge, travelling many treacherous kilometres in a broken down bus on a newly dug dirt road on the side of a mountain and finally walking in the pitch dark and with the help of two torches into the village.

When we reached the village we were drenched in sweat even though it is now winter. The family who were to host us welcomed us and gave a great Nepali meal. We sat on Gundri (straw mat) and ate the delicious meal.  After the meal at around ten in the night they wanted to sing some songs and hear God's Word. After some singing I shared with them from 1 Peter 2:9.

Caleb Koirala is 49 years old man and has been responsible for founding around 7 small rural churches. We have started helping him financially so that he can move around the villages without having to take much care for his farm. He is at present taking five months pastoral teaching as he feels he needs to know how to handle the issues of the churches under his care. He is part of the Aradhana Church in Kathmandu which we had started in 1977. I am told that at present this church group has over 65 churches spread all over Nepal. When we started this church we never had any idea that the church would have such a great impact all over Nepal.

The next morning we gathered in the village church. The village folks have donated the land and the church is built with a tin roof but the floor has nothing but jagged and rough stones.  Slowly after 9 am some women began to come in and the Pastor asked some of the church members to fetch more gundri mats. They scurried to their nearby homes and got some more gundris.  Most of the church folks are ladies and all the leaders of the church are ladies because nearly all men folk have gone to the cities to work or study. In this entire milieu a lady brought an old chair for the Holy Communion. I was awestruck at their simplicity and even the poverty prevalent in that village. In a way it reflected their innocence and ignorance too. And what a time I had with them as I shared the Word of God and served them the Lord's Supper. At the end Kamala, the lady leader of the church wanted to sing a song. It was just a simple song that touched the core of my heart.  She asked us to pray and teach as they are only babies in the Lord. She was once demon possessed and the Lord had delivered her and now she leads the church. Her father in law who is now 85 years old, was a famous witch doctor and but for the last 16 years has been a believer.

After the meeting all were invited for a meal in Kamala's house.  As usual I was served a great portion of rice and then after a prayer of farewell and laying on of hands for prayer on some people we bid goodbye to these precious simple folks. It was again up and down the hills for around two hours and then a bus ride.

One of the highlight of this visit was to meet Sarita who is an ex-graduate of Lydia Vocational Training Centre. She carried my rucksack all over the village and made sure I had no need of anything. She told me that she is a leader of a small group of believers in her village and makes some living from making some handicrafts items she had learned at Lydia. She is regularly using her sewing machine donated by Lydia and is able to make some money for herself and the family. This 18 year old taught me many precious lessons."