© Isle LMG 2008

The Minster Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Court Barton, Ilminster TA19 0DU

Parish Office 01460 57811

Nepal Update

With an annual budget of around £100,000 the Minster depends on regular giving.  In 2007/8 sixty members committed themselves to support the ministry through regular envelope giving.  Another 54 made a similar commitment to give through standing order.  Paul commended such regular giving when he wrote – “now about the collection for God’s people, do what I told the Galatian churches to do.  On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income.” (1 Cor.16. 1-2)

The Minster is most grateful for this giving, for occasional gifts in our yellow envelopes and for all the ‘money in the plate.’  It is also grateful for the £16,597 reclaimed from the Revenue under Gift Aid.  But we need more people to share in this commitment.  Please consider –

• Can you support the ministry regularly?
• Can you use Gift Aid?
• Would you like a set of envelopes for 2008/9?
• Would you prefer a standing order?

Minster Envelopes

Thank you to everyone who supported the Nepal Gift Day. A magnificent £1,280 was raised for the 'Get A Life' campaign. This will make a real difference to so many disabled people in Nepal.  The INF Lent Lunch raised another £300, which has gone to the Chahari schools programme.  

Chahari Schools. In the mid-western area of Nepal many people speak Taru or Hindi, but because Government schools teach in Nepali and English, this means that many children cannot go to school. Generally they are children in poorer families in the more rural areas. Sue Kemp, an INF teacher, started teaching a few children some basic Nepali and found that this enabled them to go to school so she encouraged some of the Nepalis in her church to help her.  From these small beginnings the Chahari schools have grown.  The children meet under the tree found at the centre of most communities. The school day starts with a rice meal because many of the families have barely enough to eat and it's hard to learn when you are starving! The children then learn to speak Nepali and to count through play and song.  When they are ready to go to school they are helped with uniform, books and pencils, all of which have to be provided by parents.  This has proved to be an excellent initiative with many children now able not only to go to school but also making excellent progress. An added side effect has been the work that this has provided for young, mostly Christian people in an area where many can find no employment.  

Nepali Election.  On Thursday 10th April Nepal held its first election for nine years. On the whole it went off quite peacefully with a large turnout. The results are not in as we go to print but early signs show success for the Maoists.

A new beginning for Nepal.  Please pray that the situation in Nepal now becomes stable and that the people can live in peace with hope for the future.