Page 5 - Moravian Messenger August 2018

Following the recent visitation to South Asia by the British Mission Board, the report moves onto Rajpur .
Rajpur visit
Last month, through Sr Zoe's photo diary, you had the opportunity to experience a little of our trip to Assam. By the end of our time there, we were energised for the next leg of our journey as we hopped onto a plane back to Delhi to catch a connection to Dehradun, taking us to the Moravian Institute and the Moravian Congregation at Rajpur.
The Moravian Institute, and subsequently the congregation that grew from there, dates back to 1963 and was founded by Rev Eliyah Thsetsan Phuntsog. Br Phuntsog had been undertaking work, translating the New Testament into Tibetan when he met Tibetan refugees who had fled into India across the Himalayas. Br Phuntsog started literacy classes for adults and a day school for children, with boarding facilities beginning in 1967 to provide security and food for child refugees. Since then the work has continued to blossom from nursery age to 18 for boys and girls. The work continues to grow under the leadership of Rev Thsespal Kundan and a hard working board of management. The Institute is steeped in Moravian tradition with an objective of demonstrating the love of God in Jesus Christ and ensuring education for all. Students come from all backgrounds, many non-Christian: Hindus, Tibetan Buddhists, Muslims and Sikhs.
The work is gratefully supported by the British Mission Board and by many more around the Unity.
A congregation was established not far from the school and having opened their new building in the last number of years they are continuing to flourish. Br Kundan is currently serving as pastor in charge of the congregation.
Again our time there flew by quickly, and we spent the majority of it in meetings with the school and church, providing us with an opportunity to review and consider the structures of the ministry in the area. However, it was also an opportunity to spend some time in fellowship with our brothers and sisters from the Dehradun area. Our visit to Rajpur was one marked by great hospitality and enthusiasm from everyone we met from the students in the school, to the vibrant youth in the congregation and the determined committee. The Moravian presence in Rajpur, the education centre of North India, is firmly established with a great reputation and promise as it goes into the future.
Sr Roberta Hoey
British Mission Board
Rajpur Moravian Church
Looking out over the
Indus River in Leh © Sr Roberta Hoey
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The Girls' new dormitory at the Moravian Institute, Rajpur © Sr Roberta Hoey
Teachers at the Moravian Institute, Rajpur © Sr Roberta Hoey
© Sr Roberta Hoey