Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Transcription

1 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

2 We have a lot to be thankful for and we would like to begin this issue by giving thanks to the Lord for his gracious answer to prayer for requests that were made in the months of August, September and October. Thank you for standing with us in prayer. Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise, his greatness no one can fathom. Psalm 145:3 The Finance Team gives thanks for the satisfactory completion of the annual accounts. We are particularly grateful for Roger and Jen Marston s presence during the preparation period and for all the help they have given in many areas of our work. We would also like to give thanks that many new Nepali staff members are settling well into their roles and responsibilities. Continue to pray that the vision and mission of UMN will be worked out through them. Give thanks for our donors and their continuing financial support which enables our planned work to be implemented. Most of our budget for the year ending July 2007 is now funded and we move forward in faith that any shortfall will be covered by new grants and donations. Also give thanks for expatriates returning from furlough to serve a further term and pray for those coming to the end of their time in Nepal or with UMN. Give thanks for safety in the many journeys that staff make and pray for continued safety. We are so thankful that we now have two staff members responsible for promoting Professional Development for all staff. Pray for them especially as they plan to visit most clusters.

3 Although the Maoists declared a ceasefire a few months back and agreed to cooperate with the government, there is still considerable unrest within the capital, Kathmandu and in the villages. There have been reports of wide spread robberies, money extortion and abductions in several parts of the country. The country, in the last few months has also experienced demonstrations with many people taking to the streets demanding to be heard on several political and social issues. This has resulted in road blockades and demonstrations on an almost daily basis. NEPAL The political party alliance and the Maoists have agreed to peace talks in the coming months to discuss ways of resolving the peace and conflict situation in Nepal. We pray that these meetings will bear fruit and that the coming New Year will be a season where we experience peace, progress and prosperity. Also pray for the significant amount of unrest in institutions and industries, that issues will be resolved through positive dialogue. 3

4 4 November In our last prayer update we asked you to pray for the quick resolution of the visa situation but our lobbying with the government for free visas has not yet borne fruit. We ask that you continue to pray that this will be successful so that we and other similar organisations, such as International Nepal Fellowship, will be granted free visas. During the past few months UMN has been involved in discussions about the process of new cluster selection. Please pray for the process for selection of the new clusters as information about the possible areas is collected and studied. Remember new expatriates, Joel and Agnes Kavari, Joe and Janet Campbell as they adjust to all they meet during the first weeks and months in Nepal and then settle into work. Pray for good language acquisition and cultural understanding. The UMN Board meeting will be held on 16th and 17th November. Please pray for God s wisdom and discernment as the Board members make important decisions. There has been yet no appointment of a dentist for the Oral Health Programme, please continue to pray that this will happen, so that we would be able to build their capacity to implement the National Oral Health Plan. Also pray for the Oral Health Programme as it moves towards transitioning into a non government institution that it will be able to sustain its present activities and impact and successfully maintain its own identity. Psalm 67:1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us.

5 UMN staff in Rukum 5

6 6 December Christians all over Nepal will be celebrating Christmas this month, for the first time in a secular country. This will be in Nepali churches right across Nepal and also the Kathmandu International Christian Congregation, which mainly serves the expatriate UMN 2005 Christmas celebrations community. Let us join with them in praising our God. The closure of some of our former UMN projects including Yala Urban Health Programme has left many staff members without jobs, please pray that they will be able to cope and that the Lord will provide new opportunities of service.

7 Keep in prayer staff members working in remote and rural areas, especially those who are separated from family members and who at times feel quite isolated. There are still some vacancies for both Nepali and expatriate staff in some areas of our work. Pray that God will bring along the right people to fill these posts. 711

8 8 January Pray for the cluster officers and the technical advisors, this year will be the first time that they will be working and planning according to their new strategic plans in the areas of work. UMN is trying to promote, by example as well, the whole concept of Integral Mission. That God s concern, and our responsibility, is to whole people not just part of their lives. People s problems are inter-related. We need to grow in our own understanding of this, as well sharing it with the people with whom we work. We are looking for a suitable expatriate to lead our Finance Team from autumn Pray that the right person will feel the call to serve in this capacity. Other work opportunities also exist within the Finance Team. Join us in praying that the information that was gathered during the Mid-Term Strategic Plan Review will be used to help UMN make mid-course changes to improve our effectiveness. The new constitution of Butwal Technical Institute (BTI) is in the final stage of approval by the BTI board and related government ministry, which would ensure an autonomous governance structure for the institute. Continue to pray for its quick approval by the board/council of ministers and that the future board would have capable members who would be committed to promote the institution s interests. Pray for the prospective BTI/ Institute of Technology and Industrial Development (ITID) leadership team that they would be able to run the institute in line with its objectives so that the poor and marginalised will continue to benefit from the apprenticeship training. UMN s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Team requires funding to develop and renovate ICT equipment and infrastructure respectively to meet UMN s ICT needs. Please pray that the necessary funding will be obtained.

9 Psalm 67:2 That your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. 9

10 RUKUM Psalm 67:3 May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. In May 2006, work in the Rukum cluster officially started. The cluster team would like to give thanks for: Protection from disease, danger and disaster. Completion of their office set-up. A successful community orientation programme. New cluster staff. As the team settles into its work, they would like prayer for: Wisdom in the selection of partners. Protection of staff and the office building from civil unrest. Safety in travel for the visiting technical advisors from Kathmandu. Upcoming partner meetings.

11 SUNSARI Keep in prayer the ongoing work with new partners and old partners in the different areas of work so that they will transition to self-reliant organisations. We have started working in neighbouring Morang district and we especially need God s favour as we build relationships with the district and local government officers. DHADING Pray for a quick resolution to the ongoing political conflict because it has a direct impact at the local level. Pray for the Christian community in Eastern Nepal as they share and promote the concept of Integral Mission work in their churches and communities. One of our cluster staff members is involved in an ongoing legal case and desperately needs prayer and justice. Psalm 67:4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth.

12 12 Please pray for our potential partners so that they can understand UMN s way of working approach. They are the ones who are directly working with the poor to achieve our goal of addressing the root causes of poverty. The political situation in Nepal has changed and communities may have different expectations. Please pray for smooth relationships with the communities in which we work that we can work efficiently. DHADING Pray for the Dhading Cluster team members so that they can be an effective and model team and are able to build the capacity of partners. There was not enough rain during the harvesting season and people couldn t plant their normal amount of rice and other grains in their fields. Pray that they may be able to secure their necessary food. Pray especially for the northern and middle parts of Dhading district where there are no access roads and people have minimal income.

13 Please also pray for the minority people of Dhading district so that they can have access to secure health, education and other basic needs. Pray for child labourers along the highway so that they can access their right to education, health and a good low-risk environment in which to grow. Pray for opportunities to contact church groups in the far northern parts of the district so that we can support them to be involved in their own community development. Psalm 67:5 May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you.

14 MUGU We praise the Lord for the ceasefire and a more peaceful situation, which allows for more opportunities to get out to the community in many field visits. We also praise the Lord for two approved proposals, including plans for a learning resource room in a partner school, which will be a model in Mugu district. Pray for: Those who have been badly affected by recent heavy rain - especially villagers from Rowa who have lost houses, land and everything in landslides. The poorest of the district who are suffering from food shortages. Pray that the rice being flown in will reach the neediest.

15 Continuation of the relatively peaceful situation and that infrastructure (especially bridges) will be rebuilt. Team health / travel / unity as they work in the difficult conditions of Mugu. Safety and good relationships with partners and the community as UMN staff spend time in the field. The safe and productive visits of Technical Advisors to Mugu. The launch of a new programme, through one of our education partners that integrates education and food security in a literacy project for adults. 15 Also keep in prayer The decisions being made regarding the exploration and establishment of another model village in a Dalit area. The successful implementation of plans on much needed food storage and local processing techniques. Mugu cluster staff training programmes and workshops. Plans to expand our women and children area of work to include another health post. The establishment of District Network Against Hunger in Mugu district. Psalm 67:6 Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us.

16 16 RUPANDEHI

17 Rupandehi cluster is planning to expand their women and children area of work to include another health post. The cluster team therefore asks prayer for God s wisdom as they select committed and needy catchment areas so that they are able to serve the poorest women and children in Rupandehi. The team also asks prayer for: Wisdom during the next phase of action planning with partners and for their commitment to implement the plans. Many of our local partners do not have an organisational vision, mission, goal and objectives but deeply desire to understand and put in place these important concepts. Pray for the trainers and trainees that these important concepts will be easily communicated and grasped by both parties respectively. Wisdom in the selection of partners in line with UMN s vision and goal of service to the poor. 17 The people living in Rupandehi are most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. Our partners are planning to carry out a situational survey to determine the number of infected people and consequently plan the necessary interventions. Let us keep them in prayer that as they do this they will exemplify the heart of God through mercy and compassion for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Psalm 67:7 God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.

18 18 Changed lives Clad in a crisp white shirt, Dev Narayan Rauniyar stands tall among his classmates. A third year student at Mahendra Multiple Campus in Dharan studying for a Bachelor of Arts degree, his determination and will to study motivated the campus to waive his tuition fees. UMN is providing additional funding for his food and lodging. Dev was born blind in a rural village in Sunsari, in the eastern plains of Nepal and from a young age after the death of his father, the family struggled to survive. Raised by his mother, Dev's dream was to go to school. While studying at Shree Purbanchal School in Dharan, the principal of the school contacted UMN and requested support for Dev through the UMN scholarship fund. The scholarship was granted. He reads through the use of Braille and often times his friends will help with parts of the lecture that he has missed or not understood. 'The biggest problem is the unavailability of books in Braille' says Dev. 'I am able to listen and take notes in class but because I don t have a tape recorder, I sometimes miss the teacher's explanations' he adds. Dev's goal is to complete a Masters in Arts and become a lecturer and social worker and serve his community. Given the opportunity he would like to work in an organisation like UMN. We praise God for his provision through your generous contributions to the scholarship fund for the blind that has resulted in a changed life. Let us continue to commit before the Lord, the disabled people living in

19 19 Nepal who experience physical or mental disability that they will find encouragement in the knowledge that they are loved by God and that their communities (which often discriminate against disabled people) will be able to see their worth, care for, love and support them.

20 Dear Prayer Partners, We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 Thank you for your constant prayers made on our behalf and the people of Nepal. We continue to request your support for the same in the coming days and New Year. Note: If you would like to receive your Prayer Update via , please let us know at marketing@umn.org.np P O Box 126, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: (977 1) , Fax: (977 1) marketing@umn.org.np Website: