News from Kathmandu
Dear Friends & Supporters:
Warmest greetings to you from “warming up” Kathmandu, Nepal! Although it is still no fun
sitting around in unheated offices and homes all day long, there is a gradual change coming about. In a few months we will be complaining about the monsoon rain and the mud again!
Dear Friends & Supporters:
Warmest greetings to you from “warming up” Kathmandu, Nepal! Although it is still no fun
sitting around in unheated offices and homes all day long, there is a gradual change coming about. In a few months we will be complaining about the monsoon rain and the mud again!
This is one of the first e-mail messages that we are sending, following an entire week lacking
communication with the outside world.
On Tuesday, February 1st, Nepal’s King Gyanendra assumed power, sacked the government, declared a “state of emergency” and placed many political leaders under house arrest. In essence he was stating that “enough is enough!” (in terms of Nepal’s largely failed experiment with multi-party democracy over the past 15 years). Since that time, we have been experiencing a gradual restoration in personal freedom.
It is both a blessing and a challenge to share this time with God’s children here in Nepal, as
they walk a difficult pathway in their country’s history. Only through your prayers and giving
is our ministry here possible. Thank you for “being with us”! We hope that this letter will
provide you with both accountability as well as a warm word of thanks—about good things
your prayers and your giving are making possible at this time. Kindly, read on…!
What is it like Living in a Country Under a State of Emergency?
Frankly, on a superficial level, it’s great!! Gone are the long lines at the gasoline pumps.
“Petrol” is now available in abundance. Political “back biting” (on which the vernacular
tabloids thrive) is no longer an issue. The King has promised greater accountability and
expediency, on the part of government. Lurking below the surface, however, remains the
uneasy feeling that the root of many of Nepal’s present problems is not being adequately
addressed. God’s Word, the Bible, commands us to pray for the leaders of countries. Be
assured that we are! May we invite you, also, to please join us?
Mice Fleeing from a Sinking Ship…
…as the old adage goes. This point “came home” to us when we, Bethsaba and Dale, made a recent mid-January trip to Thailand. On that flight we were, frankly, amazed at the number of young Nepali men flying abroad for employment. Due to the highly volatile political
situation, the country continues to witness a “brain drain” of capable manpower. Literally
everywhere nowadays one sees signs advertising US immigration visas and “Western Union
Money Transfer” signs. Remuneration from earnings abroad is the economic lifeline of
Nepal at the moment.
Little Children Growing Up Too Quickly
Bethsaba and I recently had our first hands-on encounter with the results-driven Asian
education system when we enrolled Sushma in a “coaching class” to help her prepare for
upcoming school admission. Although we figured that she’s already a “pretty smart girl,”
we wanted to be fair by having her be familiar with the type of questions she would be asked during the upcoming school admission process—hence the coaching class. What an eye opener! Little five-year-olds expected to do all sorts of complicated things we were never expected to do at that age…and, their poor, worried, parents. While the daily “coaching class” was in progress, it was interesting to overhear parents talk in the waiting room. Parents in Nepal have the same aspirations you in the West hold for your children—only children here face much stiffer competition—first to get a good education and then to get a job, once they finally have that costly degree. I (Dale) joke with Bethsaba—but it’s true: I had to go to 1st Grade to learn to write my name! So what if I now have a Ph.D.? Under Nepal’s current education standard I would have never even got started!!!
Even Jesus Needed a Little ‘Time Away’
In mid-January Bethsaba and I headed for Thailand. Although we have passed through the
Bangkok airport many times over the years, this was my first visit there in a quarter-century
and Bethsaba’s first, ever. What a wonderful time of being warm, relaxing, and symbolically
leaving the worries and concerns of Nepal behind for a few weeks. Thailand is officially
considered a “Lower-middle Developed Country.” During our recent visit, however, I often
found myself frequently thinking; “If Thailand is considered “lower middle” in ranking,
where in the world does that place a country like Nepal???
When You Think of Us…
Continue to pray for peace; that God’s children here would rise with one voice to “seek peace and pursue it” (Psalms 34:14)—not simply “wait around” for peace to arrive someday!
Continue to give so that we can continue being your representatives here. Many times
each day friends, neighbors, church members and employees confirm the value of our being “God’s presence” with them during this difficult time.
God bless you, each one!
For Sushma, Shova, Bethsaba & myself—Dale
Dale & Bethsaba Nafziger are missionaries with the United Mission for Nepal. Dale serves as an electrical engineer. Bethsaba works for the health department of the United Mission to Nepal in midwifery and general nursing.