November 24, 2005

Dear All,

Please pray for a few things. Our Project Agreement with the government has reached the final step (none too soon—our current agreement expires on Friday). It was presented at the final joint ministries committee meeting on Wednesday, and the decision will be made on Friday. The presentation went extremely well. Please do pray—the Project Agreement determines the way we are able to work for the next five years, including the number of visa positions that we may have.

Please also pray for Nepal. Things are very tense. On Tuesday, the political parties and the Maoists published a joint statement of intent to work towards a form of government that excludes the monarchy. As the king is now in power and controls the army, you can imagine the impact. The king is currrently out of the country (while the cat is away the mice do play). Last night I was coming home from work at 9:00 p.m. and was stopped at a very strict and serious impromptu police checkpoint. Not a good sign. The streets were much emptier than on previous nights. It will all depend on what the king does.

Good news is that the government has embraced our plans for the future of the United Mission to Nepal hospitals, which will be managed by a Nepali Christian organization. We await for confirmation in writing, as well as formal approval, which requires a cabinet level decision. That is never easy, scheduling-wise, and now, as the chaos deepens, this will be even more difficult.

Thanks,

Beverley

The 2005 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 203