That was the experience last month for BMS teacher
Sarah Pryor at the Surkhet Primary Study Centre (PSC), which is run by the International Nepal Fellowship for the children of Christian mission workers in the mid-west of Nepal. Sarah writes here about a moving time for all concerned.
When the landlord told me that he had sold the house and that we would have to leave, my heart sank.
The search began for a suitable place. No adverts here or estate agents telling of houses for let.
Sarah praying with the children at PSC
Walking around and asking people if they knew of anywhere seemed the best way and so, on a Saturday morning whilst walking the dog, I got talking to a man who had a relative who wanted to let his house.
The people were still living in the house, but that was no problem – they would move in to the little house next door and let us move in. Rooms seemed to be a good size and, with some work, I imagined it would make a nice place for the PSC. After discussion about dates and agreement that the work would be done for us, a contract was signed.
Two weeks before the move and still no work had started on the house. Finally, work started five days before the move and even with his promises that, yes, everything would be finished in time, we could see that it probably was not going to be.
The children had their last day in school, finishing by saying goodbye to everything as it was and then packing began in earnest.
A wonderful team of Nepali ladies, as well as one of the families, came to help.
The children started well with lots of enthusiasm, taping up all the boxes of maths equipment and puzzles – but later decided that maybe the novelty could wear off and went to play for a last time in the garden.
The cleaner, gardener and night watchman dug up the climbing frame and swing.
Twelve people were involved in the move. The landlord and his family had moved out of our new place that morning and yes, the painting was finished but there was still no glass in the windows.
Five huge Land Rover and trailer loads later and everything was at the site. Packing and stacking began around the glassless windows and, by mid-afternoon, everything was somehow inside.
People went home and I was left with the cleaner to do a bit more sorting before going home for something to eat. Before that though, I went on one last walk to the ‘old’ school to say goodbye to the building and the cat, and check everything was in order for the landlord.
At the end of that day we gave thanks for the physical strength we had to move all the things and thank God for the physical, emotional and spiritual strength he will give us as we put some order to the muddle of boxes, bags and bookcases, and start to rebuild the Surkhet Primary Study Centre.
Jhusi
One of the team helping PSC was a Nepali man called Jhusi. This is his story, as told by another of the moving team, BMS worker Alan Barker.
Jhusi and I fetched and carried as much as we could. We huffed and puffed together when we were moving furniture, nearly ended up with a cupboard on top of us and also shared coffee and lunch together.
When the empty vehicle returned, we then swung into action, loading all the items into the trailer and heaving cupboards or chairs and tables onto the vehicle roof.
Now imagine doing all those things without any fingers or thumbs. That’s what Jhusi was doing.
Affected by leprosy when he was a boy, he was not able to get the necessary treatment soon enough and the disease lead to sores and wounds on his body.
He lost his fingers and thumbs because, if leprosy is left too long, infection sets in and then the bacteria begin to eat away at fingers and toes.
Jhusi hasn’t got leprosy now. He hasn’t had it for about 30 years but he has to live with the effects for the rest of his life.
Jhusi became a Christian after he had spent time with another former leprosy patient. One day he will have a whole body again but until then he is doing an amazing job of overcoming his disabilities.
Leprosy is a terrible disease, which carries the threat of permanent disfigurement and disability and also social stigma and ostracism.
Nepal is one of only four countries in the world where it is still considered a ‘problem’. Thankfully, due to better treatment methods and more awareness, figures for new cases are coming down and more people are being treated earlier.