Quit 'yer... complaining!

It is easy to get weary just driving to meetings. The driving is nerve-wracking and takes longer than the meetings themselves. It is nearly impossible to keep on schedule and the days go much longer than planned.

We took a one hour flight yesterday from Delhi, India, to Kathmandu, Nepal. The flight left over an hour late, and circled for more than two additional hours for fog to clear at Kathmandu. So, our 9:30am arrival was closer to 1pm. Then, we passed a Maoist demonstration that was blocking traffic on half the road, so it took forever to reach our hotel. Late again. There were seven pastors and leaders of our projects that were waiting for us for several hours. We finally made it around 3:30. It was a great meeting and I spent a lot of time answering questions and finding out how the ministries functioned here. As it got dark, the electricity went out at the church we were meeting. No one bat an eye. We continued to meet until dark. After the meeting, I asked about the power situation and was told, “we only have 11 hours of electricity a day.” They can’t afford a generator and diesel fuel, so they function with lanterns if they meet at night. (As I write this, the power just went out in the hotel – thank goodness for long battery life on this netbook computer.) Then it was another long, interminable, ride back home.

Our regional director, Satya, and I felt like we needed to stretch our legs after the long plane ride and car rides. We walked through a market section of the city where every other store was a “Trekking” store. Young Americans and Europeans are in abundance. North Face clothing and other brands are made here in Nepal and nearby China, so it’s very cheap. Yeah, I bought some jackets for Dee and me and a couple other friends. What would have cost well over $100 back home cost $25 here. By the time we got back to the hotel around 10 pm we were exhausted. We got up at 4 am yesterday morning to catch the early flight.

The headline in the newspaper this morning was how traffic was becoming unmanageable in Kathmandu. Buses spew plumes of smoke into the air, and it catches in your throat – I’ve been coughing a bit. I’ve never seen so many people wearing masks over their face and mouth. They come in all colors and designs – face masks are a fashion statement here.

Today we met at three different locations with pastors and project leaders. If I had any hair, I would be pulling it out. We passed another group just starting a demonstration march, but thankfully we got ahead of them before they blocked traffic. It is a way of life here, so I’m sure people don’t face the level of frustration that I have. On top of that, it’s cold in the evening and the hotel room has no heat, so it was difficult to sleep last night.

I’m sad that my travel to Nepal won’t allow me to leave the city. I hope to get back here – I’m told the countryside is incredibly beautiful. Tomorrow morning, we attend a school chapel service, visit an orphanage and then run to the airport to catch a flight to Thailand.

I know I’m complaining a lot. This is the way of life here in Nepal, as well as so many other areas of the world. The cities are run down. Slum areas pop up everywhere. Beggars approach us on the street. And the traffic is maddening.

This is where Mission of Mercy works. This is what we do. And that is something that I am proud of!