Judith Ellis March 2009 Newsletter
Relationships 
Today is a holiday in Nepal called holi. A day when children and some adults paint
their faces and throw water balloons and paint at each other all day! The screams
and laughter of the children in the street by my flat is fun to watch and listen to. I
am a little reluctant to join in as, for the past two weeks, I have not had any water
in my flat. I would rather not use the drinking water I have bought for washing off
the paint on my clothes and face. Friends have paid for an 'inverter" at home for
me, so that I can watch a DVD and have a light on even when the power is out
now. This has added a great deal to my quality of life. Thank you
Thank you so much for your prayers and gifts over the last few months. The
school inspection went really well and we passed with flying colours. I had a very special time with family and friends over Christmas and the New Year. I also enjoyed visiting a few churches to give a quick update on life in Nepal. Bhupendra and Amrit, the new Nepali teacher trainers are doing well. We still urgently need primary teachers and special needs teachers for KISC.
l have not been sleeping well recently. but at least it has given me lots of time to think, pray, and read. One of the topics God is teaching me about at the moment is relationships, both with him and with others. God is showing me that as I get hurt by people's lack of time to relate, or desire to relate, that, that is how He feels when I rush into the day or forget to include Him in all aspects of my life. He also reminded me that I need to be wiser in what I say and how I say it. Please pray that my words and actions build up, not destroy, heal, not hurt, bless not blister, bring comfort not consternation and bring order out of disorder. Thank you.
One of the keys to being a good friend is the ability and time to listen. To ask questions in a non-threatening way, to suspend your own emotions and judgements so you get the whole story first. Another skill I am trying to put into practice is to really see things from other people's perspectives, so what I say makes sense to them and does not hurt them. God can show you their perspective if you ask Him to. This is all good in theory but my own fears of rejection, being misunderstood or hurt get in the way. Yet this makes me rely more on God. Here a quote from Dallas Willard has helped me, "Being dead to self becomes a reality when the mere fact that you do not get what you want does not surprise or offend you and has no control over you. You'll no longer have to give your life to looking after your own
interests because you'll have become confident that God is looking after you." He really IS sufficient to meet all my needs.
My desire for 2009 is to recognise that busyness is a choice. So I can choose to be too busy to relate to God or family or friends. to have my life ruled by a to-do-list. Or I can live my life focusing on who I am, my character. Rich Warren
recently said, God is more interested in our character that our comfort. So should I be. I have found some good practical advice on how to make busyness a choice from reading Phil Callaway's book, "Who put my life on fast forward' and 'Finding Sanctuary" by Abbot Jamison.
I have been very excited by the recent events in KISC EQUIP (Education Quality Improvement Program). As a result of a number of months training conducted by ex-KlSC teachers from Norway, we have seen a way forward to really changing people's mindsets so that they can understand truths that will set them free to be who God created them to be. The training focused on six Nepali teachers, two employed by EQUIP. Through questioning and discussion the group began to realise that fatalism, fear and hierarchy ruled their lives. This meant that it was always someone else's fault, the governments, parents, principals, fault why education was poor in their schools. They believed that there was nothing they could do about it. By the end of the course they realised that each of them could make a difference. there is hope.
Bhupendra and I were developing some training for schools yesterday and Bhupendra said to me "Unless we form good relationships with the teachers we want to help, we will not be able to help them see whether what they believe is
really the truth. Please pray for Bhupendra. Amrit, Khim (KISC Administrator), Amanda (who lives and works in Dolpa amongst 37 schools) and myself as we try and build good relationships with the schools and teachers we are involved in.
Thank you.
I pray for real and intimate relationships with your family and friends as we recognise that Jesus has reconciled us to God and enabled us to have a deep and intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father. (Romans 5 v 9-11).
With love
Judith
Prayer Requests
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1 For me to continue to allow God to develop my character 2 For Bhupendra, Amrit, Khim, Amanda and myself to develop good relationships with the teachers and schools we are involved with. 3 For teachers who love God to come to teach at KlSC primary and secondary 4 For the Nepal Government as they try and resolve the crisis of lack of utilities and form a new constitution for Nepal |
5 For my younger sister Rachel. For the quick healing of the wound from an
operation to fix a fistula.