Things continue to worsen for the region. Nepal’s numbers still manage to be percentagewise by some estimates be worse than the outbreaks in India when all things are considered. Nepal’s Health Ministry officially announced it would be at least an additional four weeks before the virus will lessen. We know we have at least a month more before we can see the light of day in this current (only Nepal’s 2nd) wave. Hopefully, this will not affect me directly. However, it can those with which I am connected. People may be finally taking things seriously here. We have all along mainly.
I am at a break where I am looking to make quality purchases of content I wish to study as I wait and prepare for future projects. I will end shortly teaching at the MTh level. I look to dive into three projects I have in a queue. I must wait for those here to afford me what I need to embark officially. I am utilizing funds toward that end.
Cyclones in India (from both coasts) recently are sending terrible weather our way. India has been walloped. They remain in my heart. This affects the networks and electricity. Nepal’s political drama has seen all its present ministers (similar to Secretarial cabinet department heads in Western gov’ts) forced from their present positions as they were being maintained in an unconstitutional fashion as the present administration continues to defy constitutional rule. Many citizens are seeing an overall lack of respect for the recent constitution which does not bode well for any outlook for governance. Politicians have “played the fiddle as their Rome burns” with too much infighting to be of much effect.
However, I must concede, India has had the Gospel, according to some from the beginning if Thomas landed in Chennai as most understand traditions here in the region. I trust God will care for them as he has had me focus on Nepal. I pray continue to for them. We are not in competition. Nepal has not had the same chances afforded to them, with the work only beginning to take hold in recent decades.
The media tends to report more on India, while the numbers here contend Nepal percentagewise is on a worse trajectory. In many ways, India is far ahead of Nepal. It is so sad to see the world’s largest vaccine producer struggle and be so ill prepared for these dark hours. Much lead time was wasted at the expense of political rallies and festivals to appease the gods. Nepal also had its fair share of wastage doing much the same. I spent many years in India and found them to have many resources unavailable here, even as India’s current administration makes life quite difficult for those in the Gospel! Successfully, for the current anti-Christian gov’t, many missionaries were forced out. Still, those resources are nowhere near what is available in the West. Many from India have given their lives in many ways to help Nepal. I believe God wisely sent me from my work in India to the mission here in his providence. For me, India was a training ground. Here is where my real work has commenced.
In some ways, Nepali believers tend to be better off than those in parts of Northern India. So, there are trade-offs. Due to the pandemic, the whole region is suffering. I cannot fathom how others in the area are faring better (e.g., China), with the majority not handling the crises very well. Your targeted prayers are much appreciated.
The situation continues to deteriorate in the village areas as predicted. Much larger numbers are swelling. Many sought refuge there only now to be trapped and making due while many in the Valley cannot support themselves. Local gov’ts are not providing aid as before due to corruption.
In the Valley, the neighborhood vegetable markets have closed in hopes of impeding the virus’s spread. We’ve stocked up as best as we could. Perhaps, they will open weekly instead of a couple hours daily every early morning. Although generally numbers have seemingly peaked, they have plateaued in some sense with the lockdown largely having little effect as hoped. People have not taken things seriously. The pharmacies are supposed to remain open while our has been shuttered for the past couple of days.
My sister-in-law was able to get her 2nd dose of the Chinese vaccine while gov’t officials are hopeful of providing my father-in-law with his that is long overdue; however, many remain skeptical of such being possible with India in the state it is. Aid is starting to pour in from the US and other countries like Switzerland. An outbreak on Everest has proved quite challenging. Having sought aid from the UK for vaccines, the gov’t has now turned to the US. An economic agreement is in the works.
Situations are making it difficult to even continue online weekly Bible studies on top of all we are already facing. Life is just quite intense. The hope for any new normal fades as every day seems to bring much which demands too much attention to maintain much normalcy. I have experienced more health issues which finally have cleared up allowing for me to focus once more on my work.
