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January 2001
Dear friends,
As crazy as our recent U.S. election has been, I was proud to
be an American as the constitutional process went forward. I think
we as Americans don’t appreciate that our government is one
of the oldest governments in the world, i.e., there has not been
an overthrowing of government in 225 years—something to be
proud of. I have also come to appreciate the two-party system—which
means you (almost) always have a majority so that the process
can go forward. Of course, this administration will be a challenge
when the parties are so close in strength. In India and Nepal
(there are over 100 registered political parties) the governments
are coalitions of several political parties, which gives any of
those parties the ability to pull out of the government when not
pleased. This results in a challenge and if the ruling party does
not get the majority vote, the government falls. If no coalition
(majority) can be reached, new elections have to be held. This
does not bode well for progress.
Here in Nepal, the Maoists called for all schools in Nepal to
be closed for a week in mid-December. The consequence if they
remained open was bombing. Quite effective deterrent. The sad
consequences are that the government spends money and time dealing
with this, and development suffers. It is now rumored that the
Maoists will call for another strike next week. In the past two
weeks we have had four days of "bund," which means a
general strike, no stores open or public transportation running.
UMN stays open; those who live within five kilometers are expected
to walk to work, which opens a half hour late and closes a half
hour early. But again the economy suffers—especially that
of the daily wage earners who if they don’t get a day’s
income don’t eat that day. Please pray for Nepal.
I am very busy these days. Work is going well. I am helping Health
Services go through a futures exercise to help plan for the future
of the four UMN hospitals. It is a big challenge. Right now I
am gathering information on the health situation, health-care
system and infrastructure in Nepal, as well as the functional
history of the hospitals. Needless to say, I am getting a crash-course
initiation into the situation, so it is very helpful to me as
I get into this position. During off hours I am writing five chapters
of the book on congregational-based health care. That is going
well. Two chapters to go for the first draft.
I recently went to Okhaldhunga, one of the two hospitals that
have no road access. To avoid a six-day trek, I flew into an airstrip
on top of a mountain and then walked four hours to get to the
hospital. The hospital has 30 beds. This is the only hospital
for five districts (about 500,000 people). People travel by foot
(or are carried) for an average of five hours—some have to
make a seven-day walk. The delay in getting to the hospital makes
pregnant women suffer greatly when complications occur. Two-thirds
of women who die of pregnancy-related causes never reach the hospital.
To start with, 25 percent of deliveries occur in the cowshed.
Blood associated with delivery is considered polluted (read Leviticus
chapter 12). So rather than polluting the house, the woman delivers
in the cold, filthy stable. Then there is the problem of ignorance.
Families fail to recognize the danger signs. Ruptured uterus is
all too common. Women in labor for 4-5 days, not being able to
deliver because the baby is too big or in the wrong position.
The uterus finally ruptures. Even when the family recognizes that
something is wrong, then they must arrange transportation. The
woman needs to becarried and this can be very costly. Then the
journey, and finally the woman reaches hospital.
Having just celebrated the birth of Jesus—in a stable, I
wonder if the inn was really full, or did the innkeeper just want
to avoid having his room polluted? I pray that women giving birth
in Nepal will soon be able to deliver in safer conditions and
have access to medical care as they need it.
May you have a blessed new year.
Beverley Booth
The 2001 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 153
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