Finding hope in the uncertainties

The first day back at school can be a time of reconnecting with friends, sharing plans for the new term and discovering new trials and highlights. As always, with the positive comes the negative, but what if your first day was laced with fuel and gas shortages, freezing conditions, power cuts and strikes?

These are some of the challenges that BMS workers Dan and Becky discovered at their recent staff training day before the start of the new term at the Kathmandu International Study Centre (KISC) in Nepal.

Excitement buzzed early in the morning as everyone gathered together after having four weeks off for the holiday season. Spirits were high as word quickly spread that two of the teachers had got engaged over the break. It was also the first time for the 13 new staff members to meet, not only each other, but the existing group; a perfect way to start the new term.

The bad news soon struck hard and fast as the day started with the realisation that the school would have to deal with 14 hour days of power cuts. This was only made worse by the discovery that the diesel-run generator, that is used when there is no power, was on its last month of diesel. With the current fuel shortage crisis all over Nepal, the chances of purchasing more diesel seems poor.

It soon became evident that the generator might have to be turned off during the school day if the situation did not improve. In these bleak, rainy conditions, where there is no central heating, the cold can pose as a big threat to people.

Another grim discovery was that KISC was on their last unused bottle of gas. Primarily, the gas is used for cooking and normally there is a large backup supply that anyone can purchase from the school. Unfortunately, people had to be turned away empty handed because, not only does the school have no surplus gas bottles, none of the stores have a surplus either.

The final blow of the day came when word started to spread that the following day, the day when students were returning, would be a bundh (strike) day. A group of squatters living along the river’s edge were going to strike because the government was planning to evict them.

The strike would block the main roads and all the bridges around the city, meaning the school would not be able to bus in the students who live away from the city. While this only affected about 20 per cent of the students, it is not the way any of the teachers wanted to start their first full day back.

With all the bad news and challenges facing the staff, it would seem that this training day was the start to what could be a bleak term. However, a time of traditional staff and parent worship and prayer session brought everyone together and raised spirits high once again. Songs of praise were sung to God and prayers for the country, school, Nepali support staff, and families were lifted up.

The session closed with the parents gathering around the teachers and praying for them at the start of this new term. “It was a great way to ready ourselves for the new term, and hopefully a great introduction for the new staff to the blessings of KISC,” says Becky.

Although the day was filled with many setbacks that could break down spirits, the Parnells, along with the other members of staff feel confident and prepared for the new term. “This is Nepal,” says Becky. “There are some challenges and exciting things we are taking part in as we try to run a school in a country with so many needs. And we love it.”