India/Nepal Report #22: Tues, Nov. 27, 2012 at 9:40 a.m. from Kathmandu, Nepal
Dear Family and Friends:
We have the packing done, breakfast eaten, shaved and showered by flashlight since power was off for several hours last night and this morning again. We used up the last minutes on our cell phone talking to Austin (we had missed him before) and finally to Chuck who is 200km from here. Chuck advised us to get to the airport one hour earlier than we had planned because of the heavy travel season right now in Nepal. We are planning and able to do that.
Speaking of planning, we used up the last of our food supplies for breakfast except for the little bit we are taking to supplement airline food in case it is too hot to eat. We are taking a little powdered soymilk back home because it is easily available here and Jensons do not seem to use much. Both are away from here a lot in their work.
We are leaving some $USA with them to help with extra costs for our being here. We had thought we would leave all our Nepali Rupees at the Mission, but then remembered a time when we gave away our last India Rupees to Paulson as we were leaving Andhra Pradesh, only to discover that there was an exit tax for which we were not prepared. It took some scrambling to get that done. I think we resorted to using Visa that time. Since Jensons will be in USA soon, we can send them what Rupees we will have left when we reach home. In the meantime we could face extra charges for luggage etc. depending on how “the people at the airline windows” view things. We will have three check-on cases but one is small and I think all will be well within the weight limits. Again, that depends on how they look at it.
The power came back on at 9 a.m. here—in time for us to see better when doing the final packing. We are less likely to leave some things behind that way.
Brent Mullins sent us some last minute suggestion for our return flight and I was able to get it printed off here at the Mission Office for handy reference. We do have the feeling that now we are on our way home.
Yesterday’s final meeting on “Our Place In God’s House” was joyful and yet sad—Glad for the good times we shared together studying God’s Word, but sad to think we may never see them again in this life. They were so patient, sitting on the floor for so long each day and so studious. Their interest showed on their faces and many were looking up the texts in their own Bibles even as they jotted down notes for later study. Our expectations from what we had heard, were that they would be not well educated in Scripture and we would have to work especially hard at making things simple. We did try to do that, but were impressed with their eager responses.
They took some group pictures that Pastor Umesh wants to put in the Division Church paper (New Southern Asia Tidings) along with a story. He told the group that he knew that God had led us to do the meetings in their Gatthaghar church (the actual place is Bhaktapur, Nepal –a suburb of Kathmandu) rather than in two other places that had been considered but did not work out for some reason. The great response makes us feel the same way. We do not know yet how many will be baptized and that is not the most important, though it is an indicator of serious interest.
At the close they presented us with small gifts of appreciation. Mine was a Nepali cap which sits a little higher on my head than they thought it would. Maybe a haircut will help it to fit tighter. I wouldn’t wear it anyhow except to show what they look like. They gave Mary Alice a really nice shawl made of wool (not 100%). It is soft and warm and she has used it already to enhance comfort in our room. The thoughts behind the gifts are what matter most. We are thankful that they are small and can be easily packed in our available space.
Looking back we can see how the Lord has led each step of the way. That gives us hope as we look to the future.
Nepal, in spite of the air pollution that would make Los Angeles look like a mountain health resort, and the heavy dust everywhere you walk or ride, has been a halfway house back to the comforts we expect from home. The cold stone building where we are staying does have wood floors that are a little warmer. The steps are marble and easier to clean. The now available propane gas makes cooking possible when power is off and does take the edge off the coldness of our room and enhances bathroom showers. Bottled water is available at the kitchen in the large bottles so we are not forever trying to find and buy the one or two liter bottles. The toilet is western (but not at the church) and tissue paper is easily available here. Whole Wheat bread from the German trained Nepali baker is very good. We are bringing one loaf home to prove it for those who might chance by. They even have some peanut butter cookies that are just right in sweetness and have vegetable shortening. We wish McKee Bakery would take a cue from the lesser sweetening, but then we might be tempted to buy when we really don’t need it. Don’t expect to sample the few cookies we are taking for on the airline segments to supplement their food offerings. I’m sure they won’t last the whole trip.
We were able to get some Nepali coins to give as souvenirs at home, trusting we can get them through Security ok at the airport. They mostly use paper money here in Kathmandu. We bought out all the coins given in the offerings at church last Sabbath and the total was less than the value of one U.S. dollar. Of course, there were many paper bills also of small denomination. The income here is very low for most and we are pleased at their faithfulness in giving what they can. The total tithe of the entire country is not sufficient to support the costs of the Mission. They require subsidy to pay their pastors and other workers.
Well, (Bud) we are fully packed with the check-on suitcases neatly secured with ropes that serve to hold things together in case of zipper failure and to help identify ours on the luggage belts at the airports. Yes, and we are an hour ahead of schedule for the time to leave. I just might get in on a little Ipod listening at leisure—a good feeling.
Looking back we are very grateful for all that has happened in the past intense eight weeks away from home. We have a renewed appreciation for our church members scattered everywhere who maintain the faith and make serious efforts to attend the services we know will strengthen them. There may be more Bible reading overseas than in USA these days with the hectic schedule of most who try to keep repaired all our laborsaving devices.
This will likely be the last you hear from us until we reach home and try to let you know that we did.
With much love,
Glenn and Mary Alice, (Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma)