Leaving Kathmandu... And What Stays Behind

April 30, 2010
Today I left Kathmandu, and I can’t quite explain the tumult of emotions swirling through my head and keeping me from sleeping when I’m downright exhausted. I’ve finished all the goodbyes, so I think most of my tears have been cried and now there’s butterflies of excitement over seeing people I haven’t seen in 8 months! But while I’m excited for whatever’s next for me (God’s still bringing me through the mud on that one!), I can’t help but pray over the future of Nepal...

My last week in Nepal was filled with growing tensions between political parties as the deadline for completing their new constitution nears. The Maoists forced all the private schools in the country to close, in the name of “an unfair raise in tuition rates.” It was nice for me to have a lot of extra time to spend with the kids, but I couldn’t help but wonder when they’ll realize that these strikes just keep Nepal in the “developing” category. Those schools who chose to continue to educate the children who came to learn were visited by “peaceful” Maoists who beat the administrators until they closed the school or set school busses on fire (with no one on them, thankfully). I’m sorry, if you can’t tell, I’ve chosen sides in my time here so my story is a little biased.

Anyway, at the same time, the Maoists were running training camps for around 20,000 of their followers in the areas outside of Kathmandu, all in preparation for the largest protest of the government to occur on May 1. We’re talking military training with bamboo rods (which are incredibly strong and are what the riot police use to control demonstrations) and kukaris (these huge, curved knife sword things that instill fear in me just looking at them). Meanwhile, they continue to maintain that the protest on May 1 will be peaceful, and this training is merely for self defense. Right. Basically, if the Prime Minister hasn’t resigned by then (and as of 1 PM when I left Nepal on April 30 he hadn’t) they plan on overthrowing the government. I have to admit that I’m a little relieved that my flight was moved a day earlier. Maybe nothing will happen then, but there’s a lot of fear that this could be the brink of a new civil war.

With the military training and they mass protest at hand, many families along the border have fled to India as refuge in case this does escalate. The Maoists are demanding huge sums of money as a “donation” for their cause from businesses, schools, and even churches. If you fail to pay, you’re forced to provide some service for their cadres or face the risk of them fulfilling their threats. They’re using schools and churches in the Kathmandu area for “hotels” as they prepare for their protest. It’s hard to imagine stuff like that happening while sitting in the US and following world news, but, after living here, it’s become more than real. I think I better understand what’s going on in countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and obviously Nepal. While the terror element was minimal here, the reality is that overnight the situation could explode.

Last night, between crying and laughing with the family at our own going away party, I told the kids that I am “confident that He who began a good work in them will carry it out to completion until the day of Christ Jesus,” stealing the words verbatum from Paul in Philippians chapter 1. I went on to explain that I couldn’t wait to see what God led them to do, whether pilots, doctors, nurses, teachers, missionaries, pastors, or even government officials. More and more I’m realizing the power of having Godly men and women in all areas of society, and I pray that God would raise up some of His servants to bring honesty, integrity, and the Truth to this broken nation. Of course, thinking about all the turmoil in the US government, I can’t help but have the same prayer over our nation. And it makes me really long for His kingdom to come!