Sunday 25th February
It’s Sunday, so therefore it’s time for church, right? Not in Nepal, it’s not. Saturday is church day here as it’s the only day off most people have. So therefore we must have gone to church yesterday, then? Well, no …
Yesterday, the BMS workers in Nepal had a retreat day, led by me, so that was our ‘church’. My hosts, Chris and Debbie Drew, normally go to a Nepali-speaking local-led church. However, when there is a minister visiting from the UK, Debbie takes the opportunity for a day away for the BMS team – about eight couples and their children. I led some reflections which I hope were helpful and we had a good time together. A BMS 28:19 Action Team looked after the children and we came together for lunch and tea.
Television in Nepal is understandably mostly in Nepali and so doesn’t offer much entertainment to people with just a working knowledge of ‘shopping’ Nepali. DVDs are therefore a vital aid to relaxation. Last night we watched an English sub-titled Bollywood film 3 Idiots – the most successful Indian film of all time. It is in a genre that is by no means unusual in Bollywood films, but it is hard to find an English/American equivalent. The best I can come up with is a cross between Mr Bean, Mamma Mia and One flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Weird, but not unpleasant.
Today is another moving day. It’s back to school for the Drew children tomorrow and Chris and Debbie need to get on with their lives without a visitor hanging around. I shall be moving into a hotel in central Kathmandu before heading home later in the week.