My Experience at “Haggai Institute”

The next 26 days spent at “Haggai Institute” was the most memorable, exciting and blessed time of my life.

Haggai Alumni association organized a get together programme on 24 august at Hotel De’ L Annapurna. Around 50 alumni were gathered. The gathering was opened by welcoming message by the chairman Pastor Dev. Kumar Chhetry , national director R C Timothy shared about the past, present and future of the Haggai alumni association Nepal. Mr. Mitra Satluri was the chief guest.

Some member of alumni shared there experience with Haggai training. During the sharing Mr. Francis Chetry shared as follow:

My Experience at “Haggai Institute”
Maui-Hawaii
March-Aprial-2008

Dear Friends,

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I’m happy to be sharing about my personal experience at “Haggai Institute” that I attended recently this year, and I appreciate the opportunity given to me by the Haggai Alumni association.

It was in the year 2004 while working with “EKTA BOOKS” that I was asked to apply for “Haggai” training by Mr. RC Timothy. Though I had heard about “Haggai Institute” I did not know much about the institution then. I filled up the forms and submitted it as instructed. I joined World Vision soon afterwards. While working with World Vision I was able to learn and know more about “Haggai Institute” and the nature of training it provided to young Christian Leaders from all over the world. The people who had attended “Haggai Institute” spoke about the life changing experience they had witness in their lives. They spoke about the new beginning, hope, strength and blessings that had been reinforced in their lives, families and their ministries by undergoing the training. They all had a positive effect on me and I was looking forward to the training with enthusiasm.

Soon afterwards I received the 1st invitation to attend the training in Singapore in 2005 for October session. Though I accepted the invitation I had to postpone my session at the last minute due to official engagement. By and by I had to postpone 3 more sessions for the same reasons. There were times when I felt like giving up altogether, as somehow things never seemed worked at the last minute. It was only this year that I was finally able to attend March-April session at Maui, and now when I look back I’m grateful to God that I had made it. Otherwise I would have missed one of the most wonderful and life changing moment in my life.

I flew out of Kathmandu on 15th of March on a long flight towards Maui-Hawaii, with mind full of hope, expectations, anxiety, prayer and above all with plenty of fears of flying. My prayer used to get louder with each encountered turbulence and many a times I really wished I would never have to fly again. I arrived at the beautiful island of Maui-Hawaii on the morning of 16th March. The next 26 days spent at “Haggai Institute” was the most memorable, exciting and blessed time of my life. During the span of 26 days I was blessed in so many ways it’s truly amazing. For me the visit to “Haggai Institute” in Maui, has been a life changing experience. It is one training that has helped me to equip and grow not only in my personal and family life but also professionally. I was also deeply touched by the serving attitude displayed by the staffs, faculty and the volunteers at the Institute. These men and women of God, most of them of International caliber were so humble and kind that first lesson I have learned is to be humble and kind no matter how important or how much knowledge, education and experience that sometimes I may feel I possess. In our Nepali Christian society I feel we have much to learn from them. Jesus Said,” If you want to be great in God’s Kingdome you should be the servant of all” and this servant hood quality is what I found displayed at its full splendor at “Haggai Institute”

It was also an opportunity for me to interact with people from 24 different countries and to know about their culture, way of life, and ministry in their part of the world. Some of the people coming for this training were from the countries that are under suppression, hunger and famine for many years now. Some of the real time stories that were shared were so hard to believe, that there are people living in such a miserable and pathetic condition, and where finding a mouthful of food becomes a daily struggle. In these countries dawn brings forth struggle for survival and for many hope and the life itself fade away with the approaching darkness of the night. Hearing their tale made me feel I’m blessed to be living in a country like Nepal although many a times I don’t realize it. Many a times I feel anger and frustration by the disturbances and difficulties and violence happening in our Country but now I realize, it is nothing compared to the pain and agony, hunger and the suffering faced by millions in many of these Countries. Pictures of Christians beheaded for the sake of their faith was the ultimate price paid in some of the Muslim Nations. One brother from Egypt, who had come to participate in the training was unsure, if he will be able to return home because somehow the police had come to know about his visit and red alert issued for his arrest and his name posted on the net. Yet the Gospel continues to grow and thrive in these countries. I have made many friends from these countries and we continue to be in touch and encourage and pray for each other.

Teachings on various topics were imparted by top class International faculty. I was inspired, motivated and blessed by many of these faculties. The teachings were done in a simple and easy to understand approach involving two-way interaction and group works. The subjects like World Religion, Majority, Discipline, Pluralists and Mandate were interesting and in depth knowledge giving. I have specially found the subjects like Goal Setting, Discipline, Writing Skills and Communication very useful both in my personal and professional life. Goal setting is one particular subject that I have incorporated in my personal, family and professional life since returning. I have further plans to build my knowledge and skills in the areas of Goal Setting and Communication so that I will be able to impart those teachings to others. Morning devotions, group prayers were another important events that helped form a spiritual bonding between participants from across the continent. At “Haggai Institute” it was an ultimate journey towards Hope, fulfillment, self-realization and spiritual nurturing. I’m truly blessed by the time spent at “Haggai Institute” and I pray that many others from Nepal and across the Nations would continue to reactivate their zeal and be a blessing to millions across the globe.

Towards the end I would like to express my sincere thanks to Haggai Alumni committee for organizing this event. Each one of us here has a mandate to fulfill. I wish and pray that this event will be a steeping stone towards fulfilling that mandate and that Haggai Alumni association will continue to play an active role in the days to come.

With Best wishes to everyone here…Amen…Jaimasi.

Republished in new layout on 7/30/2013

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