November 2002

Dear Friends,

Namaste from the land of the Himalayas! ‘Tis the season of two big Hindu festivals, which for us means holiday time for hiking, kite-flying, guava-eating and swinging on bamboo swings! Nepal is a spectacular place to be at this time of year. Even Kathmandu, usually a hot and hazy city oblivious of the beauty outside its overcrowded valley, seems to take a deep, cleansing breath when October rolls around. The monsoon rains have washed away some of her grit and grime and have generously watered every tree and flowerpot; the rice ripening in the fields boasts a lovely amber hue, while the brilliant yellow mustard flowers shout with glee in the welcome breeze. Kathmanduites dressed in their bright new festival garb add reds and pinks to the palette. And, most impressively, against the turquoise sky we finally can see those pristine peaks for which Nepal is famous. Yes, Nepal in autumn is the place to be. We thank God for His creation and for this country.

Meanwhile, the insecure situation has affected the work of the United Mission to Nepal, forcing several projects to close and causing UMN to re-evaluate its role. The mission is undergoing major change in order to deal not only with the political scene, but also with the changing needs of the country in general. So we all—missionaries and Nepali staff alike—are feeling a bit "in limbo" as we face an uncertain future. We ask for your prayers for all these issues.

Times certainly have changed since our arrival in 1994. Andy could freely travel to UMN's projects to film and photograph the work of our colleagues and the communities they serve. Now he is more restricted to his office at UMN headquarters, where he continues to work as audio visual consultant with the communications office. He has one trip coming up in December, to Tansen, where he will cover a seminar about handling trauma cases at the mission hospital there—quite a timely event. We have never felt personally targeted or threatened, but the freedom we once had, and the feeling that Nepal is a safe place, we no longer enjoy. I recall when I used to travel to rural health posts with UMN's community development and health project staff to conduct training for village people. I stopped going out in 1999, as Maoist activity increased and Nepali staff felt it was better for the project to keep a low profile. This term I am spending more time at home anyway, as we have our new addition, but I do miss getting out of the city. I continue to assist with groups helping women and children, in the areas of nutrition and education.

Our boys are thriving. Christopher, now 7, attends UMN's tutorial group, a two-room school with 14 children of different ages and nationalities. He made the transition from first grade in his public school in North Carolina to this very different school without a hitch. We are blessed that he has always been an adaptable young man. His favorite pastimes are playing soccer and trying to get his kite up in the air. Jonathan, 9 months old, is a great advertisement for the wonders of mother's milk and "super porridge," a nutritious supplementary homemade food made of locally available ingredients. He is a sociable and cheerful chap, whose smile (and bald head) draws crowds of Nepali admirers. Yes, we do have concerns relating to our children. In September on a "Nepal close-down" day I wheeled Jonathan out in his stroller to pick his brother up at school about three blocks away. We passed within inches of the automatic weapons of the soldiers positioned at our intersection. My overwhelming emotion was one of regret, of sadness that my sons would not enjoy the peaceful Nepal of my childhood. How do we explain the truckloads of armed soldiers Andy and Christopher pass as they go on an early morning bike ride? What do we say when we are stopped by police if we're out in a vehicle after eight o'clock at night? And should we mention the bombs that have gone off periodically in different parts of the city? We realize these threats are common elsewhere in the world, but the fact is that until recently Nepal was a very safe place to live. As the year comes to a close, we trust that God has not abandoned this country. Just yesterday the pastor of our Nepali church reiterated how amazing is the growth of the Christian fellowship here. Like never before, the church is reaching out to those affected by disasters of all kinds, providing for both physical and spiritual needs. There are flickers of hope as we work alongside dedicated Nepali Christians, tirelessly serving with UMN regardless of the worsening conditions and looming challenges in the workplace, and the uncertainty of their jobs and the mission's future. Newspapers report that the insurgency has taken Nepal back in time, that the country is falling into darkness once again. This statement relates to the destruction of hydroelectric power plants and other sources of electricity. But there is a light that continues to shine in the darkness, and that Light is still shining strong here. As a matter of fact, it seems to be brighter than ever.

With thanks for your prayers and support,

The Collins Family