Dear Praying Friends,

The answer to the question in Jeremiah 32:27 is a resounding, 'No!' We have experienced a miracle again. God did it.

Bachelor of Divinity Study Programme Begun.
On May 15, Sunday, at ATEN we had the orientation-day for six BD students. The next day, May 16, Monday, the pre-theology classes started. During the week, one student dropped out. Now, we have four doing pre-theology and one, who has a Senate of Serampore BTh, doing BD I.

I still cannot believe that for the first time in Nepal BD classes are running under affiliation with the Senate of Serampore University and that our graduates will, after four years, have a theological degree recognised all over the world. I give all the credit to God. He has taught me again a biblical lesson-when God wants something done, he can use a minority (which you can see-the pictures of the BD students, staff, faculty-on our website.)

Although we thank God for 12 church groups/institutions who decided to become sponsors for the BD programme by paying an annual membership fee of Rs 10,000 and 11 individuals who contribute Rs 2,000 each, ATEN expected more to back this historic venture. Till October 2004, even the board members were dithering. Many churches and Nepali Christians opted to give 'moral support' but nothing more. However, on September 23, 2004, God indicated to me that ATEN had to press ahead. As September 11 has become important for negative reasons, September 23 hovered over me as a 'do or die' move in ATEN's discipleship. Physically, I could have retired any day-a bout of typhoid last June had weakened me so much; and at fifty-two (fifty-five is the retirement age for the Nepali army) I would have preferred to continue with book-writing rather than rub shoulders with students who can bring joy but also tremendous sorrow. I did not want to become a principal again, eleven years at Nepal Bible Ashram were enough.

My First Senate of Serampore Convocation and Recruitment.
Tough! We already had four students by January 2005. On February 6, I left for Eastern Theological College (ETC), Assam, where the Senate was having its convocation and board meetings. During the two days at Bishops College, Kolkota, I contacted a couple just finishing Master of Theology (MTh), as possible teachers. At ETC, I met Mr Bimol Singh, completing MTh in History of Christianity.

Returning to Kathmandu, I went through depression; and the only remedy was serious prayer, for which I took days off from my annual leave. During early April, we had three students (one from Bangladesh) who had to live at ATEN (two come daily from home). Thus began the laborious task of partitioning (with iron frames and plywood) our hall into hostel rooms, chapel, store. On April 28, Bimol Singh arrived with his lovely wife Nyimang, who has the BD degree.

New Challenges.
Bimol has taken on Old Testament Survey, Nepali Church History for the pre-theology students and History of the Ecumenical Movement for the only first year BD scholar. For the last subject, our library had just two books. Kailash Kumar Chatry of Serampore College is kindly making photo-copies of seven volumes we lack. Bimol helps out also as the warden and kitchen supervisor. Nyimang, expecting her first child in December, is teaching English six hours a week; and has monthly Patan Hospital visits. She also serves as the registrar and practical work director. Administration barely allows me time for one subject-Bible Interpretation, four hours a week. I had to brush up my classical guitar to teach hymns in English. Bimol and Nyimang burn the midnight oil in preparation, and often I am at office seven in the morning. Meanwhile, Stuart and Mary Lock of Ashtead, UK, have spent most of their free time helping ATEN, which does not have a credit card, to purchase rare books for BD from the Internet.

The ATEN board which met on May 31 has given permission to add the last floor allowed to our building so that proper staff quarters (for one teacher family) and student-rooms can be built. Work will commence in December, provided God sends the resources. We plead with Him during the weekly ATEN worship every Friday (2:00-4:00 PM).

The start of BD required more helping hands. Ms Sita Airy is our new library assistant to Durga Dahal. Divya now has more administrative chores. Krishna and Rajkumar also serve as cooks.

Towards a New Library.
The one for Pokhara (west Nepal) never took off. Meanwhile, churches in East Nepal had already taken initiative towards a common theological library. So, ATEN has sent funds given by FirstFruit for buying land through a government registered Christian NGO. I will go to Itahari during July when the purchase will be made.

Personally.
Jivan has completed his first year at Hesston, and is working during the summer holidays among friends. The international director of Hesston College, Dave Osborne, and wife Sena were at our home on June 15. Roshani will finish BSc nursing in October and return. Despising fame, Ujwal doesn't want his news to be written. Shanti is growing younger, lovelier. Last month, God answered my prayer for health in an amazing way-he led me to eat meat (white) again after vegetarianism since 2000! Now, my retirement seems ages away because nothing is too hard for God.

Sincerely,

Ramesh

Update--July 10, 2005

We began with five students doing the BD studies. On June 30, four rebelled.My pleas for them to repent and set things right with our teachers failed. Our husband and wife teacher team decided to go home. Without our teachers, the BD programme could not continue. I declared it shut.On July 3, God led our two teacher to remain with the BD studies, provided they could teach the one student that did not rebel. We are advertising for more students for the second semester to begin on October 17, 2005. Please refer to the pictures in the home page. Please await our next newsletter for happier tidings!