Paul and Sarah Wright
Paul and Sarah Wright served in Nepal, working with the United Mission to Nepal in 2007 - 2014, with their children, Jack and Asha. Paul worked on UMN's climate change strategy; learning techniques that could be used with communities to help assess the impact of climate change.
Many women there lacked a basic understanding of puberty, conception and pregnancy so Paul and Sarah decided to start at the beginning!
Q & A's with Paul and Sarah from their time in Nepal
In a paragraph, how would you summarise the work you are doing as mission partners?
We have been working in Nepal for the United Mission to Nepal since 1998. During that time Paul has done four different jobs. At present he is seconded by UMN to Nepal Christian Relief Services. NCRS is a small local non-governmental organisation that responds to disasters using donor funds and tries to mobilise churches to respond to disasters in their communities. Recently they have also started a small disaster risk reduction programme. In addition to that Paul also works in the Disaster Management section of the United Mission to Nepal where he does various advisory tasks. He is currently helping them to produce a climate change strategy.
Sarah is a full time Mum and in her spare time (!) does discipling work in a local womens group, occasionally teaches in a Bible college and together with Paul helps to train Sunday School teachers in their local fellowship. Sarah also assists in the UMN personnel department, covering staff absences usually in a pastoral and/or language/orientation role.
What has been your greatest challenge?
Paul would describe his greatest challenge in UMN is seeing where he personally makes a difference while working in a large organisation that has many partners and many irons in the fire. In NCRS, the challenge is persuading the organisation to try to do things differently. For Sarah it is in making deep relationships in a culture that primarily makes relationships within family groups.
What impact do you feel you have made?
Paul has helped to keep the NGO he works with going through some difficult situations and new challenges. He has also been able to pass on skills and help them improve their ways of working. He has helped some churches see how social service and in particular, disaster management, is a part of mission.
In our work in Sunday School we have seen the teachers grow in confidence and competence. We first established a young childrens group and now, since those teachers became able to run the group alone, we have started working with new teachers in
a new teenagers group.
How do you think God is guiding you in your work?
Paul: When we started working here we felt certain that God had called us to Nepal but not to a specific group of people or place. Over the years, we have lived in different places and done different jobs. Each time we have faced a change, we have prayed and each time God we feel that has given us clear direction. Through all the political upheavals in Nepal and the difficulty of working in a country with such instability that sense of calling has been very sustaining.
What has surprised you most of all?
Sarah: I'm not a natural linguist but I have worked hard on learning Nepali. Recently I taught in the teenage fellowship from Revelation. I was surprised that I could do it!
Paul: We've been here 11 years so surprises are few and far between these days. Can't think of anything specific at the moment.