After 4-year posting,
WiV man’s mission
is only beginning

ONE WOULD think that Gordon McConkey’s West Van-
couver home, Journey’s End, is appropriately named con-
sidering he recently returned from a four-year missionary
posting in Nepal. But in fact, McConkey’s journey is in

some ways just beginning, as he now takes on the task of

educating Westerners about the much-needed missionary
work that is taking place in the world’s third poorest coun-

try.

The retired businessman is cur-
rently travelling throughout B.C.
and Alberta showing church
members hew their mission dollars
are spent. He returits io give a slide
show and talk at the West Van-
couver United Church — of which
he is a member — on Saturday,
Nov. 18, then he is off to Saskat-
chewan. McConkey's goal is to
travel across Canada with his
message.

McConkey was in Nepal under
the auspices of the United Mission
to Nepal, a body composed of 37
different Christian organizations
from 26 different countries. The
approximately 400 United Mission
missionaries active in Nepal at any
given time work in health services,
education and economic devclop-
ment.

As a participant in the area of
economic development, McConkey
worked with a hydro electric com-
pany jointly owned by the mission

Apan inch
in width
~—any length

fFOR EXAMPLE:
; 76"x84”
76”x $1.99 =

By PEGGY TRENDELL-WHITTAKER

News Reporter

and the Nepali government.

The various projects he worked
on are bringing irrigation water
and power to villagers who have
been fiving at the subsistence level.
One important result of having
electricity, says McConkey, is that
the families Go not have to burn
wood to cook their food.

The fact that children have to
walk five or six hours to find wood
for the family fire is evidence of
Nepal's widespread deforestation,
which is causing serious problems
such as erosion.

North Shore people came to the
rescue after one village fire that
destroyed several thatcfied build-
ings. McConkey cabled West Van-
couver United Church for help,
“and within 24 hours I had $2,000
in my bank account.’”’

if

wy

McConkey himself had to get
used to quite different living con-
ditions during his time as a mis-
sionary. Although he was one of
the few missionaries who didn't get
sick at all, he dropped from 176 to
149 Ibs. in his first six months. All
his water had to be boiled, and
food ranged from water buffalo
riilk to peanut butter sandwiches
to goat — ‘‘It takes you forever to
chew that.”’

He participated in Hindu feasts,
was bitten by a stray dog and
underwent a series of rabies shots,
and learned to live with rats and
scorpions. (‘tI was scared to death
of those things,"’ he says now.)

McConkey says that his return
to West Vancouver found him with
a different perspective on the
world.

“Coming to a place like West
Van is a real cultural transforma-
tion,’’ he noted, referring to the
waste, commercialism and con-
sumerist attitudes that suddeniy
struck him. ‘‘l experienced
tremendous spiritual growth (in
Nepal) .... | hope ! don’t lose that
vision and balance.’*

For more information about
McConkey’s presentation at West
Vancouver United Church, 2062
Esquimalt, call 922-9171.

49 ~ Wednesday, October 25, 1989 - North Shore News

: eg

° NO
NEWS photo Mike V/akotiel¢
MISSIONARY GORDON McConkey recently returned from a four-year
missionary posting in Nepal. Moving from one of the world’s poorest
countries to West Vancouver, Canada's richest community, has given
McConkey an interesting perspective on the world. He wiii share his ex-
perience during a Nov. 18 presentation at West Vancouver United

hurch.

HEN YOU WORK HARD ALL DAY THE
LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS
CLEAN HOUSE ALL NIGHT.

YOU CAN RELAX WITH SEARS

Getting your carpets, upholstery as clean as they can be isn’t a monster chore for us. It’s our
full-time job. And our trained professionals do it thoroughly, efficiently and in less time than

you ever thought possible.

Better sull, our patented processes get out embedded grime and stains. They even get rid of
nagging odors so your house will smell as fresh as it looks.
So don’t waste your precious spare time on carpet, furniture and drapery cleaning. Call Sears

today and relax instead.

Clean your liv. rm.
dining rm., hall
and three bdrms.

119”

3M Scotchgard Half Price

© Lurnace and duct cleaning. Refringing available.
© Area tug cleaning, prises on request,

© Lingrgeney flood services,

Clean your sofa
and chair
(Most Fabrics)

8 4°?

521-3011 Charge it on your Sears account.

Your money's worth . . . and more.

Call now offer expires Oct.

31/89

Professional cleaning made affordable.

rast