The month of May brought me back to Nepal, one month and one week after I left , finishing a two year commitment with the United Mission to Nepal . SACYN’s ( South Asian Christian Youth Network ) third conference brought together Christian youth leaders from India , Nepal , Pakistan , Bangladesh , Sri Lanka , Myanmar and Bhutan . The Focus: Building Bridges in a region plagued by conflicts both within and between countries.
I arrived in Nepal a week before the conference to catch up with friends and people I had come to know during my years here. Enjoyed fellowship and reconnecting with them and then it was time to meet up with the CMS group and head out to Pokhara .
The venue was the Fulbari Resort which was located in the midst of breathtaking scenery and set on a lush green table top plateau . Looking down one can see the shimmering Seti river snaking its way between banks carpeted by rice fields , look up and the feeling of awe is inescapable when one beholds the mighty Himalayan snow capped peaks towering over the lesser densely forested mountains .
The conference kicked off with a small rally -actually a walk down the immediate driveway of Resort buildings – with people marching in their respective national attire. What followed were days of sessions, workshops, group discussions and the all important informal personal interactions. It was heartening to see the passion and commitment of the participants to be instruments of change for God and their countries and communities.
There were an interesting range of speakers which I found fascinating. There were those who had different socio political leanings as well as those who had different ideas on the scope and limit of the great commission, some strongly moved by complete focus on evangelical pursuits while some stressed on the failure of fulfilling the commission in its entirety by concentrating on just that. Overall I hope it gave a lot of food for though for folks to chew on and appreciate diverse views which may be different to their own.
Spend a lot of time interacting, especially with folks from Pakistan and Nepal and had some interesting discussions. Acquaintances were made and friendships forged and I hope in this age of virtual social networking, they would sustain.
It is easy to feel helpless and discouraged looking at the subcontinent and taking in the sheer scale of long running conflicts, corruption and social and structural inequalities, but I still believe change will come. It may take years and decades perhaps, but it will happen; and it will have to be bottom up. These young people and countless others, in their own small way;driven by love and commitment for issues, people and places they are concerned with; being salt and light wherever they are, will make this happen.
Now I head back to Delhi for a day before heading up the Indian side of the Himalayas , to a small hill station called Dalhouise for the CMS co Mission Partners retreat . It would be good to catch up and spend time with old friends and also hope I will have a clearer idea of where the Lord leads next work wise.
South Asia represent !
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