Nabin Samal

Editor’s Note: In the April issue we introduced Nabin and the “Nepali Anugrah (Grace) Church” to our readers. In this issue, Nabin shares more about his refugee experience.

After moving to St. Louis, Nabin and his family quickly learned one set of challenges had been replaced by another. Work, though available, was not easy for a refugee to find. Bus routes could be complicated and punctuality at any work site was expected. Accustomed to walking three, five, eight miles or more to shop or attend school, they had never imagined a vehicle could be regarded as a necessity. That quickly changed however, and the search was on. It took four months to find a vintage, high mileage, entry level vehicle they could afford.

And there were cultural challenges as well. For example, in the shame/honor society in which Nabin grew up, to make direct eye contact during a conversation was regarded as a sign of disrespect. In American culture however, anything less than direct eye contact could make a conversation awkward, or worse. Ditto for questions having to do with identity. Here Nabin learned that identity is determined pretty much by what you do. In Nepal on the other hand, you had no identity expect insofar as you were a member of a group.

Shortly after arriving in St. Louis, Nabin began leading a small Nepali house church, which rather quickly began to grow. In need of more space, they reached out to St. Johns Lutheran Church located nearby, where they began meeting as members of the Nepali Anugrah Church. What began as little more than a commercial transaction, however, developed into a relationship, even as a bond with the pastor of St. Johns (Rev. Michael Tanney) began to grow.

The story of what became of the relationship between the Nepali Anugrah Church and St. Johns Lutheran Church will appear in the next issue of CFNA E-News.

TO BE CONTINUED…

By Rev. Al Buckman with Rev. Michael Tanney

News Articles

Emerging Church Leader (Part 2)

Nabin Samal