Bimala, a second-year ordinand, traces her faith back to age eight, when a book about Jesus reshaped her view of God from a punishing figure to a loving one. When it said Jesus answers prayers, she asked for a pencil box — and that evening her father brought home two, gifted by a guest at his workplace. A Sunday school invitation soon followed, deepening her faith in Jesus as Saviour and beginning a journey that has since extended to her whole family. “It didn’t happen all at once,” she reflects. “It was a journey over time.”
Bimala chose St Hild mainly for practical reasons — it was the nearest option — but discovering a friend was enrolling too felt like confirmation. She’s since been inspired by fellow students’ faith and calls the college “a real blessing.”
Through an Alpha course at her placement church, she has watched members grow more open in their faith, with two participants recently committing their lives to Christ and preparing for baptism — “incredibly special to witness,” she says. Academically, she admits the workload and dense theological language surprised her, but praises the staff’s patience and encouragement for turning the challenge into “an adventure and a real blessing.”
Bimala’s family in Nepal has close ties to communities affected by recent flooding and landslides. With aid organisations struggling to reach affected areas, her family is working with trusted local contacts to transport supplies into the mountains and remote regions most in need. Prayers for ongoing safety and their relief efforts are requested.
