Stopping for the unexpected

Ask most people, and they would struggle to point out Chaurjahari on a map of Nepal. It’s a remote municipality in the district of Rukum and Megan Barker was there to visit villages supported after earthquakes via BMS’ disaster recovery fund. Travelling from Kathmandu was no mean feat, involving a one-hour flight, four-hour car journey and two punctures. When Megan set out, she had no idea that God was leading her straight to a young woman who needed her help.

Megan’s pre-planned itinerary was busy, visiting a village where earthquake-resistant houses had been built, a community where a water pump had saved women walking for two hours to find fresh water and finishing up at a school with a new water supply. It wasn’t until the school’s caretaker quietly took Megan aside that she understood God had an unexpected task in mind for her. The man asked Megan whether she would come and meet his disabled daughter.

Mangala, the caretaker’s daughter, had been given a wheelchair in the past, but it had never worked properly. Unable to support Mangala’s back, the chair was also almost impossible for family members to manoeuvre, seriously limiting Mangala’s quality of life. At the home visit, Megan also realised the family’s bathroom could be better equipped with a suitable toilet for Mangala to use. It seemed she was perfectly placed to make a real difference.

Amazingly, Megan had planned to stay in Chaurjahari for a while longer and was able to invite Mangala to a wheelchair distribution camp. Getting alongside staff at BMS’ partner was a huge encouragement as Megan saw how the team adapted last minute to a few unexpected hurdles (including setting up and adapting unassembled wheelchairs on the spot). Being there to support people receiving the wheelchairs was a lot of work, but was well-worth any difficulties. “Each happy face, as they received love and acceptance as well as a much-needed wheelchair, made all the frustrations worth the effort,” shares Megan. “So many had struggled without wheelchairs or with inappropriate ones for a long time.”

God’s plans for Megan weren’t quite over yet, and more blessings were to come from her extended stay in Chaujahari. Megan was able to work alongside the hospital therapist at BMS’ partner to improve the hospital’s physiotherapy room and see a few patients too. And of course, another visit was paid to Mangala by BMS’ partner, to see how life had changed one week on. As expected, the wheelchair was supporting Mangala much better, enabling her to sit up. A new toilet, sourced by BMS’ partner, had also been fitted, further improving Mangala’s quality of life.

There are many biblical parallels in the story of a father bravely seeking help for his daughter. Your support for Megan allowed her to stop and embrace the unexpected, just as Jesus did. Megan’s visit to a remote municipality in a far-flung district of Nepal has resulted in so many blessings – both those planned and those unplanned. From villages restored after earthquakes by BMS support, to giving a young woman the dignity and opportunities she deserves, it’s work that is transforming so many lives. Thank you for making it possible.