Miku tells us about the diocese of North India
Nirwan, John & Miku
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| | | Twinning church visits St. Mungo's
22 September 2019 |
Story and photos Jim Paterson
Rev Nirwan Subba, Rev John Urquhart and Dr. Miku Foning
For
the morning service on Sunday 22 September we were joined by Dr Miku
Foning and the Rev Nirwan Subba from the Eastern Himalaya Diocese of
the Church of North India. St. Mungo's is 'twinned' with the church in
Saontalpur. John introduced our visitors and asked Miku to tell us
about the Diocese during the informal time.
Miku opened by
offering the greetings of both himself and Rev Nirwan Subba from the
diocese of the Eastern Himalayas, Church of North India. We were taken
back some 130 years to explain how they are here today. Missionaries
from Scotland set sail to North India. Today it takes some 20 hours by
plane, back then we were told it took 6 weeks by clipper from Liverpool
to Calcutta, plus another couple of days to reach Kalimpong. While it
was an arduous journey just to reach the diocese area, the missionaries
had to put up with diseases like malaria, with some dying from these
infections.
 The
main role of the missionaries was evangelism, preaching the Gospel with
the intention of spreading the message and teachings of Jesus Christ.
But when they reached the area they found that the children had no
education, so they started building schools. Even today there are many
schools operating that were built in those early times, and Miku
himself was taught by missionaries, whom he met on a previous visit to
Scotland . Similarly there was no healthcare, so they started building
dispensaries. In one village the original dispensary building still
stands, after 150 years, though no longer in use. Hospitals followed,
with many nurses and doctors coming from Scotland. Today their legacy
continues with hospitals and schools formed by those early missionaries
still standing and operating, now with local teachers, nurses and
doctors.
Back in the year 2000 the Rev Mark Wilson worked in
the southern part of the diocese on the plains for some 25 to 30 years,
where it can reach 45 to 50 degrees Centigrade, returned to Scotland.
On his return he realised there was no longer any contact between the
Church of Scotland and the diocese of the Eastern Himalayas. The
twinning project was created as a solution to this situation,
re-establishing this lost link.
Miku told us of his experiences
that the impact of the Church of Scotland missionaries has had on his
life. We heard how the twinning programme grew, involving Lothian
Presbytery churches and the diocese of North India. Miku continues as
the twinning co-ordinator in his diocese, working with Lothian
Presbytery. Today there are 16 churches twinned with churches in the
Kalimpong district, with another 2 looking to twin soon. Janis Hogg is
the St. Mungo's twining correspondent, working with the church in
Saontalpur. Miku told us about the people, mainly agricultural farmers,
hunters, fishers, and the facilities in Saontalpur.
Finally
Miku offered an invitation to the congregation to visit the diocese,
which is bordered by Tibet and China to the north, Nepal to
the west, Bhutan to the east, and Bangladesh to the south. Some 10
languages are spoken across the diocese. Miku also offered to be your
tour guide to show you the beauty of the region.
Miku closed his talk with a prayer for us all.
Published - 24 September 2019
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