June 2, 2009
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Heading back to Nepal!
Two years ago, I participated
with a group of friends from Mosaic
Boston Church in an
exploratory/mission trip to the State of Nepal. It was a very enriching & challenging season for the team,
as we became students of a nation that was in desperate need spiritually, as
well as politically, monetarily, and socially. Ever since that first trip two years ago, my personal
interest in the well being of its people has grown. The people we encountered, including our host family, have
stayed closed to my thoughts and prayers.After that first trip, our
research and work in Nepal had attracted others in wanting to partner with
us. Since then, the Nepal team has
evolved to include members from Highrock
Brookline and students from Boston
Trinity Academy. This year, my
wife, Sofia Chu, and myself will be joining a newly formed team and be in Nepal
from July 11th to July 25th, 2009.A brief biography of the State of Nepal
The
State of Nepal is a Himalayan country that is bordered by Tibet, China to its
north and by India to its South. It
is broken up into three different sections: Mountain, Hill, and Terai Region. The
mountain region is where Mount Everest is located, resulting in Nepal being a hotspot
for tourists and avid mountain climbers.Though
Nepal does not have Hinduism as its official religion, Hinduism composes 85–90
percent of the population, while Buddhism, Islam, and Kirant, are the rest of the
minority faiths that can be found within the country. Christianity has been growing in Nepal, but heavily
oppressed or persecuted, despite the nation’s constitution that allows for
freedom of religion. According to International
Christian Concern, there is an estimated 400,000 Christians, the
majority of whom are heavily ostracized within their communities.Nepal
originally had a monarchy until 1990, when King Birenda instituted a
parliamentary democracy, which allowed Nepalese people to begin electing
government officials, such as Prime Minister. Unfortunately, in 2002, King Gyanendra dissolved the
government and took over command of the military. A civil war broke out between those who were loyal to the
king and those who were part of the Maoist factions that operated within the
nation. Eventually, due to
mounting pressure from opposition groups, the king reinstated the democratic
parliament. The elected government
immediately declared Nepal to be a secular nation and moved to constitutionally
remove the king’s authority and control of the military. In November 2006, the Maoist factions
and the government signed a peace treaty, and in March 2007, the Maoists
officially joined the interim government.
This interim government eventually moved to completely abolish the
monarchy and declared Nepal to be a federal republic. The Maoist factions, since 2008, have had a majority within
the general assemblies of the government.Why are we going to Nepal?
Mike: I have been waiting to return to this country ever since the first
trip. My heart has been touched by
what I’ve experienced and want to be part of what God is doing in this country. I intend to continue being a student
and partner with its people. I
hope that as a student of this nation, those I encounter will hear and see the
words and deeds of Christ through all of us. My desire is to see God continuing to move and perform His
miracles around and through us during those coming weeks.Sofia: Ever since Mike came back from Nepal in the summer of
2007, my desire has always been to join him in his love and excitement for this
country. We were engaged only 6 months at the time he went, and my hope has
always been to go as husband and wife one day. Through the gracious hearts of my colleagues, program and
education director of the Worcester Family Medicine Residency Program, I am
able to join this year’s team with a unique purpose of understanding the
current health care model and health care needs of Nepal. I am also open to any
opportunities that may arise to instruct local communities about safe,
preventative health practices that they may in turn teach others. Mainly, I want to share the love of
Christ through the training that I have been blessed to receive to a people group
that I have heard so much about but have yet to meet. What is even more exciting is that our team will be
comprised of a number of high school students from Boston Trinity Academy who
will have a front row seat to seeing the work of God’s hands!
What will we be doing in Nepal?
Our
team will be collaborating with a secular non-profit relief organization called
the HOPE Initiative. Though their primary focus is in
providing computer education training, they had also taken in 5 orphans from
the streets of Kathmandu. The civil war in Nepal left many children without
parents or guardians to take care of them. Our team will be working closely with the orphanage workers
and assisting them in caring for the children.Other
planned activities include possible health workshops conducted by Sofia in the
village of Pokhara, teaching English and Math at a local government school in
Kathmandu, and visiting local health care organizations and learn of the work
that they have been involved in. We
will also continue to conduct surveys, interviews with survivors of the civil
war, and making connections with other non-governmental organizations.How can you partner with our team?
The
most needful thing I can ask of you is to please pray for our team. For the majority of the team, this is our
first overseas trip, and we are looking forward to serving the Nepali
people. We also know that apart
from Him, we will never be effective or able to communicate the Gospel through
our words and actions to the Nepalese.
That is the most important request I can ask of you as a partner.Some
possible things to pray for:- Pray that we would
be flexible and faithful to the Lord as a team. - Pray for humble
and gentle spirits to be within us, as we become students of this nation. - Pray for
meaningful and effective service to the Nepali people no matter our age or
abilities. - Pray for boldness
and cultural sensitivity should opportunities arise to share the Gospel with
the Nepalese. - Pray for an intense
time of spiritual growth and witnessing for Christ. - Pray that whatever may happen there, God will be
recognized as who He is & receive His rightful praise.
Secondly,
I’d like to ask you to please prayerfully consider supporting us financially. Our total expense for this trip that we
need to raise is $4310, which is for
air travel. Any amount surpassing this goal will be used to support the
work that HOPE Initiative is doing at their computer training centers and care
for the orphans.If you would like to make
a financial contribution, please make a check out to Boston Trinity Academy and write in the memo statement – Nepal Trip – Mike Chu/Sofia Chu.Contact us at MChu.Nepal@gmail.com for further details such as our mailing address.
I will forward all checks to Boston
Trinity Academy.Thank you for taking the time
to read this, and I do pray that you will consider how you may support
and aid our team as we prepare to go out this July. We would greatly appreciate your partnership with us on this
exciting adventure to experience God’s work in cross-cultural ministry. If
you would like to provide us with prayer or financial support, please respond by
June 30th. - Pray that we would
