I, Mr. Lalu Poudel, was born in a poor family which solely had to depend on farming for livelihood. The house was in a small hamlet situated in the mountain, around 15 km far from Pokhara city, Nepal. I heard through my mother’s mouth, that after my birth she fell into great trouble. When she was walking through the Jungle, a type of big thorn inserted deeply in her foot and she got so trouble that until three years she could not even walk and work properly. The reason is that she could not get good treatment due to the lack of finances. The mark of wound in her foot still seems terrible. On the other hand it was very hard to manage food for home on daily basis without working. I would remain normally inside the swing for the whole day.

When I was six year old then I began my schooling. The school was on the hill top nearly half an hour foot walks up climbing. After winter and before the start of autumn season the descending becomes interesting. At that time all the tree leafs usually falls and covers the way and interestingly sometime we cannot find the way properly. Thus the way becomes so slippery. So sometime I passed the way of descending by slipping over dry leaf till long distance. It was risky and interesting. At my school life, for my food: rice and milk was enough for me. Because, most of the time we would have either cow or buffalo for milk. I was a theft of milk cream, curd and ghee too. But the chance of meat was only once or twice a year. Most of the time, I walked to the school bare footed. Before the winter season the way covered with chestnut thorn. So I used a stick to make a way clear for walk. Likewise I finished my seven years in that school up to grade seven.

And for further study I had to go for another newly established high school. This time the way to the school was through a river bank. So in summer season it flooded and become very difficult to cross. The water level increases heavily and sometime big flood makes the river terrible. Oftentimes, need to stay at home as there were no bridges, unable to go to school because of the flooded river that needed to be crossed two to three times the same river up to school. Normally at that situation I used to hold up my bag over head and crossed the river. The water level comes around chest sometime. In such pathetic condition I finished my schooling. I got first position from class 2 through 7 and second position in 8 and 9 classes. I passed SLC examination in second division. Both schools were government school so the education quality was very low. I remember the English teacher’s attendance in class eight and nine was around two month only the whole year. He finished few chapter only. And class 10 also was not in better condition.

When I was around twelve years old I began to work and help in household works. Such as to bring  drinking water from the streams, washing dishes, gardening  etc. when I was in class eight I begin to earn money. Normally on the school off days I used to go to jungle to collect fire wood and brought to the market place for selling and make money for school books, note copy, fee, etc. I still remember when I went to city to sell the fire wood carrying the load on my back through a long way which was more than two hour by walk. So my body and head get so pained that till 2-3 hours I could not move my head left or right. First time I got 10 rupees by selling it. My two elder brothers also did likewise for study expenses. When I was in class ten the school fee was eighty rupee per month which I make myself often. I remember, I ask my father 300 rupees for the first time for SLC examination fee but he had only 250 and after that I never asked money again. I make all my study expenses myself. The tuition fee was 80 Nepali rupees and when I sell a bundle of fire wood I hardly get around 40 rupees at that time.

When I passed SLC examination, I was totally helpless to join the college. While I was just wandering, one brother from my neighborhood suggested me to fill the college form, so I went to fill the form only on the last date as per the schedule. My desire was to study English but for this, I had to appear English test. And for this test I had to pay 30 rupees, but unfortunately I lack that amount of money required of that time. Anyhow I manage to fill the Form. However, the problem lies even greater than filling the College form and getting admitted because to join the college I need around 1500 rupees for a year and I had a zilch. At one point one, my own biological brother helped me giving 1000 rupees.  Thus, I was able to join the college. I walk to the college walking daily more than two hours one way. I opted Geography, Economics and Nepali literature in +2 levels and in bachelor level I took Geography and Nepali literature as my major study. 

At the age of 22, in-spite of hardship, I somehow managed to clear bachelor degree. I was yarning for the higher studies but because of deep poverty I was compelled to drop off my studies.  And after bachelor I went to give the selection exam for Nepali Army officer but I failed in IQ test. Being jobless, I was wandering here and there like a vagabond. I met Kalpana and grew into intimacy and not very long after our meeting we got married. What A MEETING! THIS TURNED INTO A LOVINNG AND ENDURING RELATIONSHIP. She than suggested me to go for university studies. Hearing to her voice, I went to Katmandu, the Capital of Nepal and joined University with Nepali literature as my main subject. However, I couldn’t uphold the expense and therefore I withdrew from the University, only to return back home within three months being unsatisfied. Then my wife and I started a small business, meanwhile I got a teaching opportunity in private school at a minimum payment.

A MOMENT- WORTH TO RECOLLECT

I am uncertain of the exact date; most probably it was the time when I was in class eight. Once I went to stay at Pokhara city to one of my relative’s house. And one evening, being unaware, along with my related brother I attainted a Christian home fellowship. I did not know at that time what it really was. I was ignorant about that fellowship in particular and church in general. My related brother’s home was near to that Christian Brother’s home where the fellowship was venue the first time I attended. Thus I make a normal or a hai-bye relation with that believer. As my stay in my related brothers’ home continued, I could see believing brother running for the church in hurry-burry every Saturday. I found a bible in my related brother’s room.  I read it although I did not understand the things I was reading. I guess that it may be either a story or a history book of Israel. None explained to me about the Bible being the word of God. I was also immature to comprehend and reason.

I finished my Bachelor in Arts in 2000 A.D.  Then I met Kalpana and married her in 2002. After marriage the life was going well. I had a small business for Kalpana and for me teacher job. But I was not satisfied with that income and began to worry about our future and children education. We had no house of our own. Even now we stay in a rented room. Then I begin to seek the opportunity for overseas employment. Meantime I was deceived by an agent costing me around 100 thousand rupees. That was the beginning of another big bang. I left the job being hopeful for abroad, which resulted into jobless and zilch. The business which my wife was running went down being stagnant. So we were compelled to leave the business in loss.

I got no job over one year. I was just a wanderer. One day I met that Christian Brother on the way near to his house. Then I share him all of my bitter story  hoping that he may help me to find a job or at least a means  for the  survival because he was  a lecturer of forest campus and had good connection with high class  people. He gave no response to my sharing. But he took me to his personal room and prayed for me. When he prayed for me, I felt a difference and descended a wonderful peace in my heart.  The seed of my belief in Jesus Christ was sown and began to grow and I become bold in heart. Then i began to think that my life will be better with Jesus, and all of my problems will be solved. He invited me to the church. So I began to go to the church regular. Nobody stopped me from going to the church. I was jobless which also aided me to attain the service on regular basis. My parents were living in village.  Before the point of my conversion, my wife was a secret believer in her heart. Before the conversion, sometime my wife used to talked about Jesus but neither I gave interest nor tried to understand. I didn't care about these matters. She never attended church before but she was also not a pagan since our marriage. When I began to go to the church on regular basis from June, 2003, she accompanied me. I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and savior on 10^th February 2004, and got baptized on 16^th July 2005. Meeting Christ was the greatest achievement in my life which I never regretted since then. Till date, with all glee I am in His service.

Address: Lalu Poudel, Bethel Evangelical Church, Pokhara- 13.
Email: lalu.poudel@yahoo.com

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