Lois Dingley, our dear friend and colleague went to be with the Lord yesterday, the 16 February 2016.
She will be fondly remembered as one of the most British non-British people we know. She was born in Jerusalem and spent much of her life as a missionary kid before going on to spend the majority of her life serving in cross-cultural mission.
Lois joined INF in 2001 and following a period of language and orientation training went to work in Surkhet as a nurse focused on disability issues – she also supported INF mission personnel as the Expat Team Coordinator.
“Lois was a core part of our team and work in Surkhet for many years – always ready to do what needed to be done, without fuss, and generally a big smile!”
From the end of 2009 Lois took a significant change in direction and became INF’s Recruitment and Secondments Officer, a challenging position where she was able to draw on her many skills and experiences, and consistently shine. Lois’ solid dedication led her to recruit and support many of INF’s mission personnel, and has built relationships in the international mission community as well. She made her home in Pokhara and became a valuable member of the team – also serving at various times as a Fellowship Group Leader and as a Warden for the British Embassy.
Lois touched the lives of many through her very clear love for the Lord. She was first and foremost a godly woman whose answer to everything was to commit it to prayer. She gladly put herself out for the sake of others and the part she loved the most about her role was helping others work out their missionary calling for themselves. To that end, Lois was developing her skills further by studying for a Master’s degree in Member Care.
For most of us, when we think of Lois, we see her wearing her trademark hat, striding down the road accompanied for many years by her trusty friend, Rogi the dog. As well as her many gifts and talents, we will also lovingly remember some of Lois’s quirky ways; like her rather endearing way of making herself understood, especially when frustrated, by speaking Nepali louder and with an even stronger British accent! Her stories often made reference to her time in Cambodia and Malaysia, or one of the many countries she’d either visited or worked in.
Lois was dearly loved, and will be sorely missed – “She was a part of INF’s very fabric”. However, we are comforted by the knowledge that her very strong faith has carried her safely ‘home’ and that she is now rejoicing in the presence of her Lord and saviour.
PRAY | GIVE | GO | SHARE Please pray for peace and comfort for Lois’s family as they come to terms with their loss. Let us also pray for each other as we grieve the loss of a dear friend and colleague.