Mountain highs and Valley lows
After having such an intense summer month of experiencing the culture in Kenya, teaching art in a rural orphanage, I thought nothing more could shock me... honestly, I thought I'd seen it all, from dodgy drivers to dodgy practices, that is until my Turkish airlines flight buzzed over the hills of Nepal; that's right, the locals refer to the mighty Himalayas, the roof of the world, as: 'hilly'!
I was in the row of four seats in the middle of the airplane and was innerly frustrated and quite unsubtly getting agitated with the fact that window seat customers had their noses pressed up against the 3mm thick Perspex indulging their senses from every angle at 15,000ft... blocking my view of my soon to be homeland! I decided to hold tight and await my first view as I stepped off the A330 aircraft. As I gathered my own mountain of bags (which were just about let on as hand luggage after some frantic correspondence at the airport in Istanbul) the Himalayan air hit me like a spice to the throat... there was a hot, heavy, and otherwise indescribable tang in the air as I realised this was my 'new home'. Walking down the metal stairs and across the strip, I felt tears emerging as I gazed up and around at the magnificent beauty! I was so excited to be following God into this place for the role that He has been preparing me for and I couldn't have felt more enveloped in love and hopefulness as I did in those moments! It truly was breathtaking!
Escorted by two true Nepalis through a mirage of traffic in a van, I was shown to my accommodation for the year ahead (a guesthouse for new teachers)... I think by this point I had reached a point of visual information saturation and total brain freeze from being on an airplane for what felt like three days, so I wouldn't be surprised if they saw my eyes glaze over more than once! I was thankful to say the least to see a bed and be shown a working shower, considering I had been living in rural Kenya for a month just three days before so it was a welcome relief! Even though it turned out just to be a trickle...
Isaiah: 55v8-9, 'My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.'
A new site is needed for this school and ground was broke on a site 5k out of the city earlier this year, and it is intended to be ready for occupation in Dec this year (ambitious, I know, but after visiting the site and seeing the diligence of the workers involved, I will not be surprised if it is ready on schedule!)
Seeing the Patan Dunbar Square was like walking back to the start of ancient civilisation... a very worthwhile cultural experience, even if it did cost three times as much for a non-resident visa holder! I read about ancient beliefs in the area and learnt things about Hinduism that I never knew, all the time, thanking God for his direction in my life and conscious of the untouched people in Nepal who have never heard the Good News of Jesus Christ.
No valley's too low (Kathmandu), nor mountain too high (Everest) to escape the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord! This is such a special promise we can read in God's word in Romans 8v39.
I attended the Kathmandu International Christian Congregation (KICC) on Sunday morning, which positively reinforced the reason I am here - to spread the gospel in this broken and in some parts, untouched nation; to humble myself and glorify God in all I do. It was so potent to worship alongside people who God has sent to do his work from all walks of life and to know that we are all part of a bigger plan than we can ever realise. After church, five of us, after meeting for the first or second time, hopped in a tuktuk and explored a tourist-y area, called Thamel. We had a rather American style lunch and good fellowship which will hopefully become a natural part of life here all week through - not just on Sundays.
I am so glad to finally have access to my classroom and arrange it in a suitable way for the forth coming pupils - I've been so excited to read all the names of the pupils coming into my Year 2 class and have been praying over them as they prepare to start their new year at KISC. I would appreciate prayer for our class as we move forward together learning and having fellowship.
This blog will be followed with updates when I find the time throughout the term (hopefully monthly, ambitiously fortnightly) and I look forward to hearing any suggestions or thoughts you might have about my time here teaching in the Himalayas. Thanks for reading!
I was in the row of four seats in the middle of the airplane and was innerly frustrated and quite unsubtly getting agitated with the fact that window seat customers had their noses pressed up against the 3mm thick Perspex indulging their senses from every angle at 15,000ft... blocking my view of my soon to be homeland! I decided to hold tight and await my first view as I stepped off the A330 aircraft. As I gathered my own mountain of bags (which were just about let on as hand luggage after some frantic correspondence at the airport in Istanbul) the Himalayan air hit me like a spice to the throat... there was a hot, heavy, and otherwise indescribable tang in the air as I realised this was my 'new home'. Walking down the metal stairs and across the strip, I felt tears emerging as I gazed up and around at the magnificent beauty! I was so excited to be following God into this place for the role that He has been preparing me for and I couldn't have felt more enveloped in love and hopefulness as I did in those moments! It truly was breathtaking!
Escorted by two true Nepalis through a mirage of traffic in a van, I was shown to my accommodation for the year ahead (a guesthouse for new teachers)... I think by this point I had reached a point of visual information saturation and total brain freeze from being on an airplane for what felt like three days, so I wouldn't be surprised if they saw my eyes glaze over more than once! I was thankful to say the least to see a bed and be shown a working shower, considering I had been living in rural Kenya for a month just three days before so it was a welcome relief! Even though it turned out just to be a trickle...
The view of the foothills of the Himalayas from my apartment window!
The 'show-er around-ers' soon left to sort out all my wifi and sim card needs, returning only an hour later to take me to my new place of work - Kathmandu International Study Centre! Seeing this with a refreshed body and slightly more rested mind, allowed me to see clearly what lay ahead... a classroom of my own in a Christian school in the centre of Nepal! I truly am so privileged to be in this situation and I can't quite believe I am endeavouring on this career as part of a bigger picture - the advancement of God's Kingdom.
The entrance to my new place of work: Kathmandu International Study Centre
The new school site to be occupied in Dec 2017
After trying very hard to get on top of the jet lag and complete my unpacking in a relatively orderly fashion, I ventured out to explore Kathmandu. Seeing sights, hearing sounds and smelling smells that I have never came across before is such a revitalising pastime of mine! I love strolling through ancient streets, letting my eyes go wherever they want, leading me whichever direction they desire. Seeing the Patan Dunbar Square was like walking back to the start of ancient civilisation... a very worthwhile cultural experience, even if it did cost three times as much for a non-resident visa holder! I read about ancient beliefs in the area and learnt things about Hinduism that I never knew, all the time, thanking God for his direction in my life and conscious of the untouched people in Nepal who have never heard the Good News of Jesus Christ.
No valley's too low (Kathmandu), nor mountain too high (Everest) to escape the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord! This is such a special promise we can read in God's word in Romans 8v39.
Dominic and Luke - two new teachers at KISC who live in the guesthouse
I attended the Kathmandu International Christian Congregation (KICC) on Sunday morning, which positively reinforced the reason I am here - to spread the gospel in this broken and in some parts, untouched nation; to humble myself and glorify God in all I do. It was so potent to worship alongside people who God has sent to do his work from all walks of life and to know that we are all part of a bigger plan than we can ever realise. After church, five of us, after meeting for the first or second time, hopped in a tuktuk and explored a tourist-y area, called Thamel. We had a rather American style lunch and good fellowship which will hopefully become a natural part of life here all week through - not just on Sundays.
My new church friend, Rebekah and I enjoying a Sunday outing
A t-shirt I bought displaying Nepal's true slogan... a little bit up, a little bit down!
Enjoying an early evening cycle, even though it's dark!
The start of the new week brought lots of new experiences for me - becoming part of any staff is always quite a busy experience I'm sure, getting to know names, subjects, values, etc. I was told in a brief about moving somewhere new that your brain never fully shuts off, even at night... It keeps forming new pathways to make sure you can function effectively during the day even doing simple things like crossing the road. Although, here in Nepal that is not that simple! That is most likely why I am exhausted after the initial move here and the following integration into the working community. I am so glad to finally have access to my classroom and arrange it in a suitable way for the forth coming pupils - I've been so excited to read all the names of the pupils coming into my Year 2 class and have been praying over them as they prepare to start their new year at KISC. I would appreciate prayer for our class as we move forward together learning and having fellowship.
This blog will be followed with updates when I find the time throughout the term (hopefully monthly, ambitiously fortnightly) and I look forward to hearing any suggestions or thoughts you might have about my time here teaching in the Himalayas. Thanks for reading!
God bless,
Nikita x
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