Since a visit to Nepal in the early 1970s, God kept the Himalayan nation and its people on David’s heart. Three years after he and Ann married, in 1976 the young couple were looking for opportunities to serve overseas when a door opened with the Christian organisation UMN - United Missions to Nepal - for David to be a science teacher.
The McConkey’s – including their three children, one of whom was born in Nepal - spent 15 years in the Himalayan nation before coming home in 1991. They returned to Nepal (minus the grownup children) in 2001 to work with UMN again. Today they are based in United Mission’s main office in the capital, Kathmandu – David as Liaison Director and Ann who is Personnel Team Leader for 220 people.
What is the principal purpose of your mission?
We are seconded to UMN by Interserve Ireland and both organisations are committed to integral or ‘holistic mission. This means that we strongly believe our spiritual witness has social consequences and that involvement in society must have a spiritual basis. The two go hand in hand and must not be separated - as often happens.
Jesus said that He came to give life and life in all its fullness. This is what we want to see in Nepali communitie people enjoying all aspects of ‘fullness of life’ including a right relationship with their Maker.
What does your mission involve?
UMN works in seven different locations across Nepal in some of its remotest parts, seeking to work with local organisations involved in health, education, peace and conflict transformation projects.
We both work in UMN’s the main office in Kathmandu. Ann is Personnel Team Leader and leads on all issues related to our 160 Nepal and 60 expatriate staff members, while I am UMN's Liaison Director. This involves relating to Nepali government officials and the Nepali Christian Community. I am also involved in facilitating training for Christian leaders in both Integral Mission and Forgiveness and Reconciliation.
What is a typical day life for you?
No two days are the same. Lots of emails, phone calls, one-to-one discussions and meetings to discuss plans and sometimes crises! I often go out on my motorbike to visit government offices and church leaders to talk about current issues.
Ann is often involved with either Nepali or expat staff ensuring that the way we work and the decisions that are made are demonstrating God's values.
What were your expectations when you started?
We joined Interserve as ‘career partners’ when we came to Nepal in 1976, so it was quite an open-ended move for our family. We ended up doing things that we never anticipated, like Ann helping to run an income-generating knitting project for disadvantaged women.
What do you hope to achieve?
We hope to live lives that are honouring to God and while being faithful in this way, we believe that God will draw people to Himself and Nepali people's lives will be transformed.
Any moments you would like to share to encourage people back home and those considering mission?
I was involved some months back in the appointment of a Christian man as a new Hospital Director for one of UMN's hospitals. He turned out to be one of my students in the school in Pokhara over 30 years ago!
Do you have any advice for those considering mission?
If you are a couple, make sure that both of you are convinced that this is God's purpose for you. Also, you don't have to get on a plane to be involved in ‘mission’.
Anything we can do to help?
Continue to pray. Check the news regularly and find things going on in God's world that you can really pray about and down load our latest newsletter. What two things do you miss?
Our granddaughter and our grandson.
Is there a particular verse that has inspired or encouraged you in our journey?
"Be imitators of God therefore as dearly loved children. Live a life of love just as Christ also loved us." Ephesians 5 verses 1&2.
An opportunity to serve our partners UCCI through general maintenance work and building repairs. The work is not complicated, the trip will be inspiring.
An opportunity to minister to women and help them fulfil their destiny for themselves, their families and their nation through training, equipping and empowering.
About CFC
