April seemed to be the month for testing out the Nepali health care system. Molly got admitted for a night with suspected food poisoning, and the following week we had to travel to KTM, 7 hour bus journey each way to take Anna to the dentist. It's reassuring though to know that at a cost, we can get good and safe health care. At the hospital word of the foreigner family at the end of the ward spread quickly. We had quite a few visitors who came for a nosey. Stephen and I were too worried of offending to ask the more persistent people to leave, but Molly wasn't so shy and in Nepali asked forcefully "jaanus"-please go. (we didn't know she knew the word).
KTM was pleasant, staying in the touristy area and sightseeing. On the Sun we went to the International Church and met up with quite a few Irish. The Hopkinsons and Campbells, both out with PCI and in the evening we met up with the Howes, also out with IS Ireland.We returned to KTM with poor Patrick being sick all the way. What week I was again at Munipal hospital with our neighbour, who had been having bronchial problems. She has now
returned to the UK to try and recover.
We also heard that we could no longer remain in the house we were in and the following weeks were taken up with house hunting!!!! I found it all pretty stressful, but a week ago we saw the flat we're now in, we saw it and moved within 3 days! In hindsight, while I trusted God to provide a home, I wish I'd been able to trust enough to lay it at His feet and not worry. The house provided is really so suitable, close to school, all moved and sorted now in time for me to start at work, and we have a roof top where we can see the Himalayas! Our neighbours our Christians, both previous leprosy patients. She has an amazing testimony. Having got leprosy, her family made her leave home to live in the jungle with other leprosy patients. After 6 years she persuaded her dad to take her to a mission hospital. She lived there for few years and eventually came to Pokhara to Green Pastures hospital ( where I'll have some input), and here became a Christian.I look at her and feel humbled at my often luke warm relationship with God and am inspired by her story and that she truly has experienced God's love and blessing.
Our landlady, is a Buddhist, so as well as spring cleaning our house, we had a spiritual
clean. Some other INF members and the neighbours came and prayed around our newhome, with particular emphasis where their worshipping altar had Bben.
Stephen has started his work on reporting for Irish Aid, and I start work this Tuesday. Only 2 days initially and continuing with language the other 3 days, til July.
The children continue to thrive. Anna has gone for a sleep over this weekend, so Molly and Patrick are being taken swimming this afternoon.
5 months in and we're no longer the new arrivals, as the next new group have arrived. A couple from Germany and a girl from Australia. Their arrival shows us how much we have learnt in the short time we've been here.
To our prayer supporters, please pray for:
-THANKS for this wonderful house, complete with lots of pink paint! This being Nepal, we'd have felt cheated if we hadn't had pink.
-that the house will be a real home for us
- that we'll develop meaningful relationships with our landlady's family and neighbours in the
area
-That we'll continue to learn Nepali. and that God will give us the ability to understand and to speak.
