It was a long journey back to Nepal for CMS associates John and Margaret Cannell.
After nine hours waiting in four airports and 12 hours flying topped off by a ride in a dying Maruti taxi through monsoon rain and the dirt and traffic chaos of Kathmandu, they finally reached Dhulikhel.
Margaret and John are spending several months working at the school and university where they served as CMS missionaries from 2000-2006. They have been greatly encouraged to see how people have grown since they left.
"It gives me such pleasure when I am approached by a tall young man or lovely young lady in the street who greets me effusively, often with good English," said Margaret. "And I realise that he or she was my student about five years ago, and now may be studying in a Kathmandu college."
Margaret was also delighted to see that one of her colleagues, was still worshipping at a church in Dhulikhel.
Margaret said: "She tells me that she is so proud that she has learned to pray and be a valued member of her church. I often hear her telling other teachers and people we sit with in the teashop that we are Christians and they can also have Jesus in their hearts, not just in the temple. Then she tells them where her church is and what time they meet!"
John enjoyed meeting up again with Chandra, the local head of Nepali Campus Crusade for Christ. Chandra has five part-time helpers who are faithfully visiting campuses. One of them was Nowaraj whom John taught in Bible studies. He is now Chandra's most reliable evangelist.