Letters from Rev. Devi Bahadur Bhujel
The Ministry:
UMC Centre Building dedication service:
We were waiting for this service since long. This was a historic moment for the UMC people in Nepal. The building was purchased nearly one year ago in 2007. We made a sanctuary in the worship hall. We furnished it. Now the whole building is very useful for worship service, pastoral training and other activities.
It was a blessed service. The special guests Rev. Dr. David Wu, Rev. Jung Song Kim and Rev. Patrick Friday blessed the service along with Nepal UMC pastors, leaders, members and other local church pastors and leaders. We thanked the Lord for giving this gift of building a centre for Nepal United Methodist Church and also thanked the Arcola Korean United Methodist Church for using the source under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Timothy Ahn and Mr. Kim to buy this building.
Rev. Dr. David Wu spoke encouraging words from the Word of God. He highlighted some of the important points how the Lord blessed the ministry of The UMC from the beginning in Nepal and encouraged the members to be responsible for what the Lord has called for. Rev Dr. David Wu had been involved along with Rev. Dr. St. Kimbrough to pioneer and expand the church community and disciple making ministry in Nepal through GBGM-UMC. Late Rev. Karuna Bhujel was remembered for her contribution and commitment to the Lord to establish His community under UMC.
The gratitude was expressed to Bishop Benjamin A Justo and the North West Philippines Annual Conference for their leadership and helps to shape the ministry of Nepal UMC.
Rev. Jung Song Kim led the building dedication Service and also brought greetings from GBGM office General Secretary, other officials from the office and also from Arcola Korean United Methodist Church, New Jersey that made a great contribution to purchase this building.
Rev. Patrick Friday led the intercessory prayer.
A Book of Worship was released. The emerging Nepal UMC pastors and leaders needed a book that would guide them to lead the worship and other various ministries of the local congregation. The book was prepared by Rev. Devi Bhujel using mainly United Methodist Book of Worship and other related sources.
The special guests also spoke to the pastors and leaders and encouraged them to carry on the ministry the lord has entrusted them.
Church Growth and the ministry:
The United Methodist Church and the ministry are growing. By the end of 2007 the congregations established were 35 in different parts of Nepal. In each congregation there are local leaders appointed to lead the ministry. There are six pastors helping to conduct the sacraments.
Medical Camp: a service to the community:
Kurt and Jan Kaiser, UMVIM-WJ coordinators (United Methodist Volunteers in Mission-Western Jurisdiction) conducted the Medical Camps with doctors and nurses team in two different villages in Kathmandu area. It was a great service to the community and had a great impact. The camps were organized with the cooperation of the local health posts and health workers. The team not only provided the medical care but trained the local health workers as well. They distributed huge quantity of medicines free of charge to the local Health Post so that the local community should be benefited.
My family:
My first daughter Keren in her second year of college at Knox College. Second daughter Shema is graduating from Woodstock, India. She is looking forward to joining the college. Son Eben at KISC in Kathmandu is in 9th grade. They are growing up well and becoming more responsible.
Nepal:
The situation of Nepal is very-very worst these days. The load shedding is so much that we can't work on the computer as we want to, no light and the work schedule is changing. There is a great fuel shortage. In a way the transportation is in stand still. Every now and than there is strike so can't travel to one place to another. There are many things they want political solution but almost everyday new kinds of problems are arising and there is no solution.
Thank you so much for your kind prayer. I look forward to hearing from you as well for the encouragement.
Rev. Devi Bhujel
Missionary Code: 14016Z
P.O.Box 3535,
Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone: 977-1-5571994/5573547/Cell Phone: 9851082289
This is indeed my privilege and joy to share with you how the Lord has been good in the ministry in Nepal. The time has been passing doing this and that. I am fine and thank you so much for your prayer.
The Ministry:
The legal process of buying the building has finished. It went well without any difficulty or problems. Now we are furnishing it with the purpose of our activities. We are also making a sanctuary as there was no sanctuary as such in the worship hall. The worship hall is bit small but at present it is useful according to size of our congregation. The UMC centre is going to be dedicated on 3rd of February 2008 as the date is set from the GBGM office. Randy Day will join for the service on Feb. 3. The delegation from Arcola UMC and possibly Bishop Jeremiah Park from New York annual conference will also join for the dedication as well.
24 Hrs. Thanksgiving and Prayer meeting
We have had a very blessed 24 hrs. Thanksgiving and prayer day on August 19 and 20. I invited senior pastors from the local churches, Pastor Robert Karthak, Pastor Mangal Man Maharjan and Pastor M.J.Joseph to inspire us from the Word of God. It was a blessed time. It was very much encouraging to see young and adults participating in this event with full of zeal. We offered gratitude to the Lord for The United Methodist Church for using it for His glory in this land and for the leadership with such a marvelous connectional ministry. Churches in the Washington State, Idaho, Oregon, Arcola Korean UMC in New Jersey and some other churches in the USA, Bishop and NWPAC conference in the Philippines, GBGM office in New York, all have contributed a lot in establishing the UMC in Nepal for the extension of God’s Kingdom. It was 24 hrs non-stop thanksgiving and prayer and to prepare ourselves for the coming dedication service of the centre as well as the ministry of The UMC in Nepal and in the world. It has inspired and brought a great blessing to our local leadership as well as to church members.
Church Growth
In two places two new church buildings have been built. One is in the east Nepal in the city of Dharan and the other one is 25kms west to Kathmandu, place known as D Gaon. The local congregations were very much enthusiastic. Particularly in D Gaon mostly available local materials were used and the congregation worked to construct. We bought metal roof and other necessary things for the building. D Gaon UMC building was dedicated in August 4. Dharan UMC church building is yet to dedicate. The building is ready now. I am looking for suitable date for the dedication service of this new building.
Medical Camp:
All the preparation for the medical camp is going on. In two places the camp is going to take place. One in Dhulikhel, 30 kms east to Kathmandu. The other one is 25kms west to Kathmandu in Deurali. Though Deurali seems near to Kathmandu it is remote. It does not have easy access to the needs daily life. In both places we have UMC. Local pastors and youth are busy making the local arrangements. The local Health post staff and the community of both the places are very much cooperative. They are very much excited for this. The local schools have given their buildings and facilities to use for the camp. We all are excited here. It is going to be a great help service to the community. The Medical team is arriving on Sept.27 and stay here till October 12. Jan and Kurt have also planned to help train pastors in short term basis sometime in April 2008.
My family:
We as a family are doing well. My first daughter Keren has finished her first year of college. She spent her summer vacation with us and going back to college on Sept. 3. Second daughter Shema is in 12th grade at Woodstock, India. Son Eben at KISC in Kathmandu is in 9th grade. They are growing up well and becoming more responsible.
Last but not least:
I have attached some of the photographs of the ministry. Once again thank you so much for your concern and prayer for Nepal and for me.
Rev. Devi Bhujel (Missionary Code: 14016Z)
Prayer letter: Rev. Devi Bahadur Bhujel May 2007
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Greetings:
This is indeed my privilege and joy to share with you how the Lord has been good in the ministry in Nepal. Although, Nepal as a country has many problems to settle yet and tremendous effort is needed to bring the country in right track, the lord has been gracious in the ministry to tell His story of ‘Peace, Justice and Reconciliation’.
The Ministry:
From the beginning of year 2007 have been quite busy. The year 2007 has also brought great blessings to the emerging United Methodist church in Nepal. In this first half of this year, there are multiple things that the good Lord has helped to accomplish.
UMC Centre Building:
The prayer has been answered for UMC center in Nepal. Rev. Jong Sung Kim, GBGM and the delegates from Arcola Korean UMC visited Nepal. Their visit finalized to have a centre for growing Nepal Mission. A building was purchased. It is really a blessing and useful for all the activities particularly in near future we are planning to have short term pastors’ training and seminar. Thank God for this centre.
Church Growth:
In this first half of 2007 the Lord has helped to establish 10 new churches. It is marvelous. Now, we have 30 UMC churches mainly in the east and central region of the country. There are local leaders and pastors to take the responsibility of these local churches. There are seven pastors appointed by the bishop for the pastoral ministry and there are other local leaders to look after the congregations. My involvement as District Superintendent and Mission Personnel includes a number of things for the emerging UMC Nepal. I supervise, guide, train and organize church with local leadership. I visit time to time to all these congregations. Recently we have baptism services in several places. It was a joyful occasion for all of us.
Medical Camp:
Kurt and Jan Kaiser, UMVIM-WJ coordinators (United Methodist Volunteers In Mission-Western Jurisdiction) visited to study the possibility of having a medical camp to help ministry and serve the community with the medical service. Few possible sites were visited where UM churches were located. The plan is to have the medical camp sometime in late September or in the first week of October. We all are excited here. It is going to be a great help service to the community. Jan and Kurt have also planned to help train pastors in short term basis.
Annual Conference:
I had the privilege to attend the North West Philippines Annual Conference and report about Nepal Mission since Nepal Mission is a part of this conference. I had a very good time there enhancing my own learning about the ministry with pastors, leaders and the delegates under the leadership of Bishop Benjamin A. Justo. It was a great moment for me. I am also elected to represent Nepal Mission to attend the Central Conference. Six local pastors were recognized in the conference. It was great.
My family:
We as a family are doing well. My first daughter Keren is finishing her first year of college and coming home for the summer vacation on June 7th. She is at Knox College in Illinois. Second daughter Shema will be in 12th grade at Woodstock, India. Son Eben at KISC in Kathmandu is doing well. He will be in 9th grade. They are growing up well and becoming more responsible. Ishory, another daughter, has been quite helpful at home. She is taking care of the house and studying as well.
Prayer Points:
I would like you to pray for the following:
1. We are in need of church buildings in several places. We have to buy land and construct the buildings for the local congregations. The cost of land and building material varies place to place. We have a plan at least six buildings in different places. These are all in the villages and in a small town.
2. The local pastors and workers need bicycles and for some we need motorcycle too.
3. We have a Building for UMC Centre in Nepal. Arcola KUMC, New Jersey helped through GBGM to buy this building. We have to furnish this. Pray for this as well.
4. We have social help program in church community too. We are helping poor people for income generating program. We conduct adult literacy for church people and also help poor students to pay their school fees.
Rev. Devi Bahadur Bhujel
Missionary Code: 14016Z
P.O.Box 3535,
Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone: 977-1-5571994
Email: k_bhujel@wlink.com.np
