On March 2, Church Women United will host a World Day of Prayer event at the Albert Lea United Methodist Church. Guest speaker will be Bijaya Ghimire.

Ghimire is the program manager for the Nepal Social Service Fund, a non-profit organization founded in 1984 by Earl an Bev Thompson of Clarks Grove with operations in the country of Nepal.

Ghimire first met Earl Thompson 27 years ago when he knocked on her door in the Nepali village of Bhandar. Ghimire’s three month old baby, Obin, was on her back — she had just returned from filling her water jug at the well. She thought the American man standing outside her home was a tourist looking for a place to stay the night. Little did she know that this energetic and enthusiastic man from Minnesota would change the course of her family’s life — and that the Ghimire family would in turn become much-loved members of the Thompson family.

Today as the NSSF program manager, Ghimire oversees and administers all NSSF’s educational, health care and agricultural projects. Speaking 10 different languages comes in handy for Ghimire as she spends her days troubleshooting, fundraising and tirelessly advocating for the people and the communities in which she serves.

Coffee will be served at 9:15 a.m. followed by the program at 10 a.m.

The public is invited to attend.