Nepal 2019
Day 3_Thursday

Vania Tan

Love in The Simplest Way

It’s my turn to share a devotion that morning, so I decided to share a simple one based on a phrase that was on my mind. It was ‘To know Him and make Him known’. It was a reminder for both the team and myself, to know Him intimately and to be willing vessels for Him,  making His name known to every single person we were going to meet that day.

As soon as devotion ended, we had a quick breakfast before leaving towards Dr.Michael’s house to pick up medical supplies, tables and chairs for the medical camp planned that day. Dr.Michael is a Singaporean who started a ministry called Peace Child Ministry; which mission is to provide education to the children of the workers and community around the brick factory. He has a real heart for the people and it’s truly encouraging to learn how it’s making an impact.

On this mission trip, I was tasked to take videos and interviews whenever possible. I decided to approach Dr.Michael. We did the interview and ended up spending a considerable amount of time getting to know each other after, which was lovely. He eagerly shared many insights and knowledge of what mission was to him. He highlighted the importance of working collaboratively, and in unity, as much more can be done together that way. Also, the fact that mission has and is evolving so quickly, that there are many ways we can be involved in it today. We simply have to avail ourselves, change and demystify our view of missions. He also believes strongly that millennials might be the next generation to rise up and make a difference to the world. After our conversation, I felt challenged to prayerfully commit my future to the Lord. I know He will use me if I remain available.

Earlier that day, I was handling triage for the medical camp. I was to note down the patient’s name, temperate and blood pressure measurements, and the health problems they wanted to see the doctor for. I thoroughly enjoyed being one of the first point of person to smile, meet and greet them, give a gentle touch and try starting simple conversations with them. I was trying my best to put into practice the little Nepali I had learnt. 

Whilst the clinic was running, the brick worker’s children were being entertained by Joe, Hui Hui, Sylvia, Lily and myself. It was such a joy to see the little ones playing and enjoying what we bought them or made for them (Lily was swamped with requests for balloon sculptures). A simple frisbee, a set of badminton rackets and a football brought so much joy, as it was a huge difference to the usual toys they play with—which were empty water bottles. Just before it was time to pack up, Joe and a few others did an impromptu skit of Noah’s Ark. Though we had to be careful not to mention bits of the bible story, we hope that the children will grow up remembering that a big man up in the sky looked out for a man named Noah and saved a boat full of animals, and hopefully figure out the rest of the story in the future.

Overall, the day ran smoothly and we were thankful for the opportunity to be part of it.

I felt God teaching me that what we did was the simplest way we could show His love, despite the language, cultural and religious barriers. It may seem insignificant, but seeing how the Nepali responded towards us, somehow you know the Lord sees it otherwise

Sylvia

Not Forgotten

We learnt from Dr. Michael that because of the seasonality of work for these brick workers, their children don’t go to school and have nothing to do but loiter around while their parents work. They earn below what we class as ‘minimum wage’, and make only a few rupees per brick. Each brick is handmade and transported to the kiln to be baked, through toil and sweat. Because of this type of manual work, the workers often end up with chronic illnesses such as backaches, muscle and joint pain. It doesn’t help that they have limited access to health care too. Such back breaking work and in harsh conditions, with months on end away from home, family and friends, for so little return, it reinforces how impoverished Nepal is.

It happened to be the rice harvest season when we were there. The surrounding paddy fields were full of farmers harvesting by hand. After harvesting the rice and in the hotter months, the same fields are now empty with soil and mud, and are used to make the bricks. Hence when we visited there were very few brick factory families but plenty of rice farmers.

We were given a tour of the brick workers houses and their surroundings. I would use the term ‘house’ quite loosely as it seems more of a temporary shelter. Their ‘houses’ consisted of a collection of stacked bricks, with an opening at the front usually covered with a piece of cloth for privacy, and with corrugated metal sheets as their roof. They are not very wide and are quite low in height, that you have to bend down to get in and around. It was a very colourful sight, with the red bricks against the metal roofs and doors, patterned materials lining every door opening, adult and children’s clothing hung along the path, and a pile of shoes outside every brick house. The conditions of living are really simplistic yet resourceful, I can only imagine how cramped it is when a family is living in such a small space, with all their belongings in there too. It was lovely to spot some of the children’s balloons that the team had made for them, in their houses. Towards the end of our tour, we also got to see the dependency they had on a stream nearby, used for bathing, cooking, washing their clothes, pots and pans.

After the tour, we packed up at the medical camp and walked back to the van with all the equipment. Once again tactfully and strategically placing each item to fit the back of the van, especially because of the limited space it had and a bumpy ride to withstand. Not long after, we travelled back to Kathmandu. The team got to enjoy a meal together with Dr. Michael, as he shared with us more about his calling and Peace Child Ministry.

What an eye-opening day it was! It was such a beautiful place, surrounded by greenery, acres of fields and mountains, with the Himalayas outlined in the far distance, and the landmark chimneys to mark brick factories dotted around the area. As I reflect back on the day, I’m humbled by Dr. Michael’s testimony and his calling to serve these brick worker families. Even though they are only temporarily there for part of the year, they are not forgotten. The ministry does not exist only to provide free medical services, or to entertain and play with the children, but seeks to educate them through well trained teachers by Peace Child Ministry, sow the seeds of love into their lives, as Christ’s witnesses, to give them hope.

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” - Matthew 25:37-40