Neil and Inge live in Nepalgunj, a hot and dusy border town in the south of Nepal, close to the Indian border. Inge is INF’s Public Health Advisor, supporting INF’s maternal and child health work. However, over the last few months she has been putting her community development expertise to work in a different way, working with INF’s leadership to conceptualise a Quality Assurance Department within INF. This will improve INF’s technical capacity and ensure that they can work as effectively as possible alongside as they work alongside communities.
“This has been a unique opportunity to provide input into the next season of INF’s work,” shares Inge, “and I’m excited about this renewed focus on ensuring high quality work.”
A big part of what Inge sees as her work in Nepal is also mentoring young women for personal and professional growth. More broadly, she has also been a champion for gender equality within INF. In June, Inge headed over to Canada with Shakuntala Subedi, INF’s Gender Officer, to attend Women Deliver, a global conference on gender equality with over eight thousand delegates.
“It was a great privilege, challenging and highly inspiring,” says Inge. “We came away full of new ideas and motivation to become better at working towards gender equality within INF, our projects and Nepal as a whole.”
Neil has also been busy travelling over the last few months. He’ s been working with INF’ s Holistic Officer, Amos Gurung, to survey all INF staff and volunteers in order to develop a self-care program. Neil has been deeply touched by the experience. “INF staff face a multitude of challenges each day,” says Neil. “Their faith and commitment to INF’s mission is inspiring.”
With Neil’s background in counselling, he has also been researching suicide prevention. There are currently little to no services of this kind in Nepal, though there is a real need for them. Please pray for Neil as he seeks to build a suicide prevention team.
Both Neil and Inge have felt that during their time in Australia, God has been encouraging them and allowing them to reflect on the past year. “We feel really blessed to be called to be part of the work God is doing in Nepal,” reflects Inge. “We are ready for the next season of ministry, each in our various roles and as a couple together.”
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If you’re in Sydney, come and hear from Neil and Inge this Saturday 3 August at “Mothers, Mental Health & Mission in Nepal.”